JP Sterling Euphoniums

[whiteman]

Am looking for advice on this brand of instrument... specifically tunefulness, ease of playing and are there any valve issues eg slowness once instrument has warmed up.

I understand that they are amongst the cheaper variety available and you generally get what you pay for but cost is a significant factor......that said would I be better off to find a pre-loved "brand" name. ??

My location is Southern Hemisphere on the East Coast of Australia, so access to the US market is difficult, especially at present.

[davewerden]

I'm going to move this question to the "Euph Brands" category. And I think you can find quite a few opinions on JP Sterling (most of them positive) if you browse that category.

Here is a link that might help you find them more easily:

JP Sterling search results

[58mark]

it's good, but it's several people's opinion that it's NOT better than the JP274, which is half the cost. What do you get for twice the money? A horn that doesn't play quite as good, a trigger, and the name sterling on the bell

[MikeBMiller]

I got a 274 about 6 weeks ago, largely based on the recommendation of Mark on the tubenet forum. I have been very happy with it so far, although I spend way more time playing bone than euphonium. I think it is a nice compromise between the $1,000 horns and the $8,000 horns, although I am not sure what improvement I would get with one of those, at least for my level of playing.

[whiteman]

58mark....you make a very interesting point. At my stage of life the best days are well and truly behind me and I would like a new model instrument but am not prepared to mortgage the house, so to say, to buy a prestige brand.

I posted some of my problems with Wessex a while ago, so these is no need to go over old ground but because they play so well the cheaper Chinese brands have kept me interested.

[58mark]

For the best price on the 274 contact either Baltimore brass or joe Sellmansberger at mid south music

Not sure about the international market, you can find Rob Hanson on facebook and ask him directly. He's the JP guy

[ChristianeSparkle]

For the best price on the 274 contact either Baltimore brass or joe Sellmansberger at mid south music

Not sure about the international market, you can find Rob Hanson on facebook and ask him directly. He's the JP guy

To add on to this, try checking out Reeves Brass. I am from South East Asia and got my 274 from him! You likely won't go wrong with this!

[whiteman]

Hi Mark....JP Sterling is very available here & a mate is a selling agent but a previous comment did get my attention about the 274 V 374 and a quick check of their online price difference will make me have a good look at the cheaper model.

For me, so long as the instrument is compensating, I think the trigger would be wasted on me & the slightly smaller bell size is no problem either...……...so we are all waiting for the "Corona" problems to disappear so we can resume making music in various ensembles.

Frank

[58mark]

here's the weird thing. the 274 is listed as having a 11 inch bell. Mine measures 11 3/4, which is really close to the 12" bell on the 374, if not identical.

[Rodgeman]

here's the weird thing. the 274 is listed as having a 11 inch bell. Mine measures 11 3/4, which is really close to the 12" bell on the 374, if not identical.

I checked my 274 this morning and it is also 11 3/4" . It plays very well. I received mine in December from Joe Sellmansberger at Mid South Music. I was going to go with a Wessex Euphonium but they were not in stock. I am glad I went with the John Packer.

[whiteman]

Mark....our local Australia JP agent rang me yesterday and is willing to send me either horn to try, so I`ve opted for a 274 and see what happens, if I don`t like it just send it back with "no strings".

As it will be brand new what should I do with the valves, anything or just oil them and play ??

Frank

[RickF]

I’m not Mark, but in case he can’t respond, I would just oil the valves if you’re not sure on keeping the 274. I would oil several times during the play-testing. If you decide to keep it, then a good bath with warm soapy water to clean out any dirt or grime from assembly and soldering would be suggested. Good luck.

[whiteman]

Thanks Rick....will do.

Frank

[58mark]

yeah, just oil is fine. I think I put lighter springs on mine eventually

[whiteman]

Well the new toy finally arrived yesterday, you have guessed it correctly a JP Sterling 274 complete with a quality hard case......had a
phone call a couple of weeks ago from the Australian Agent offering a "no strings attached" track test of this product, needless to say it didn`t take long for me to yes, yes & yes.

Had a couple of blows yesterday afternoon and initial impressions are that it feels much like a Besson, solid and heavier that I would have imagined with a dark euphonium sound that most of us love.

The presentation of the instrument was flawless with the local agent having oiled the valves & slides prior to handing it over...…...the advice from him was as expected to wipe the valves down before each rehearsal and re-oil. The top 3 valves felt a tad heavy but worked without fault, whereas # 4 was definitely sluggish but will improve with use , no doubt.

Upper & bottom register were easy to use, however the next few day will be interesting...…….would be good to have a chance to operate it in an ensemble setting but like elsewhere in our world we are also in lockdown.

Cheers

Frank