ZO Euphoniums

[Davidus1]

Does anyone own a ZO brand Euph? Curious about it. I see Mack Brass carries them:

http://www.mackbrass.com/ZO_Compensating_Euphonium.php

[Sara Hood]

When did Tom McGrady start carrying this? I thought he preferred to stick to the EU1150S as the only euphonium he would stock. Nice to see an option there (smile).
- Sara

[spkissane]

Since the website calls it the "Mack" ZO euphonium... perhaps it's Mack's answer to the Wessex Sinfonico/JP Sterling quality/price point? I don't really know anything about Mack, but that certainly seems like the trend right now.

[dsurkin]

Since the website calls it the "Mack" ZO euphonium... perhaps it's Mack's answer to the Wessex Sinfonico/JP Sterling quality/price point? I don't really know anything about Mack, but that certainly seems like the trend right now.

The Mack Brass euphonium I have has stainless steel pistons. I see that the current model he's selling now has monel pistons, with the stainless steel pistons on the ZO model. I like the engraving on the ZO model (I think the Mack Brass engraving on my horn is the weakest part of the finish, which otherwise is quite good). I'm not a fan of triggers, but considering my level of attainment on euphonium, my opinion is not worth much on this or any other point. The ZO euphonium has a larger bell than the his regular model, so I guess they're going for the Miraphone 5050 sound. In comparison, the Wessex Sinfonico has an 11" bell.

I see that Mack Brass offers a handmade tuba, which it also sub-brands as ZO - a 6/4 CC it calls the ZO Thunderbird.

To me, this says that the JinBao factory has opened up its hand-made division to additional companies besides Wessex. I imagine they'll keep production separate from Wessex, like they do with the non-handmade horns. This also means that the other companies that sell re-branded JinBao horns will have access to handmade models, just like Mack Brass.

Incidentally, I want to reiterate the excellent experience I had purchasing my horn from Mack Brass almost six years ago, and I think it's great that they're offering an upscale model.

[Jonathantuba]

To me, this says that the JinBao factory has opened up its hand-made division to additional companies besides Wessex. I imagine they'll keep production separate from Wessex, like they do with the non-handmade horns. This also means that the other companies that sell re-branded JinBao horns will have access to handmade models, just like Mack Brass.

This is incorrect. The ZO are made at a completely different factory. I have not examined any close up of recent, but their quality a couple years ago was pretty poor.

FWI There are several brass factories of which I am aware in China. Jinbao is just the largest and best equipped.

[dsurkin]

This is incorrect. The ZO are made at a completely different factory. I have not examined any close up of recent, but their quality a couple years ago was pretty poor.

FWI There are several brass factories of which I am aware in China. Jinbao is just the largest and best equipped.

Thank you for the correction, Jonathan.

[Davidus1]

He still carries the 1150 but a while back they started a relationship with ZO and have been offering their tubas for a while now. The Euphonium is a more recent offering.

When did Tom McGrady start carrying this? I thought he preferred to stick to the EU1150S as the only euphonium he would stock. Nice to see an option there (smile).
- Sara

[Davidus1]

My understanding is that the quality of these tubas is very good but admittedly I have not played one. I am curious about the Euphonium as well.

[ajlewis3008]

I got a chance to play the ZO at the army band tuba euph workshop, I thought it was very good overall and a big step up from the other mack brass euph. It is significantly heavier than the other mack brass, and honestly I think it might take the cake as the heaviest horn on display that day aside from maybe the besson prestige or the miraphone 5050. I am an undergrad and one of my studio mates thought the ergonomics were strange compared to his besson, but I thought they were fine. personally the ZO was probably my second or third favorite horn in that room, with the first being the besson prestige, but at less than half the price I can't complain about that. because it was a noisy room with lots of people in it, I didn't get to closely examine the build quality but it seemed very good, nothing jumped out at me that would say otherwise. my opinion is definitely less valid than one of the pros who had a chance to play it there, but that's my two cents on it anyway.

[Davidus1]

Thanks for sharing your experience with the horn!

I got a chance to play the ZO at the army band tuba euph workshop, I thought it was very good overall and a big step up from the other mack brass euph. It is significantly heavier than the other mack brass, and honestly I think it might take the cake as the heaviest horn on display that day aside from maybe the besson prestige or the miraphone 5050. I am an undergrad and one of my studio mates thought the ergonomics were strange compared to his besson, but I thought they were fine. personally the ZO was probably my second or third favorite horn in that room, with the first being the besson prestige, but at less than half the price I can't complain about that. because it was a noisy room with lots of people in it, I didn't get to closely examine the build quality but it seemed very good, nothing jumped out at me that would say otherwise. my opinion is definitely less valid than one of the pros who had a chance to play it there, but that's my two cents on it anyway.

[guidocorona]

All, the new MackBrass ZO-manufactured euphonium referred to above is the EU5500. This eupho has a 12.3" bell made from sheet metal, and is seemingly finalized. EU5500 has its own thread at:

http://www.dwerden.com/forum/showthr...ss-EU5500-(ZO)

See you there!

Regards, Guido