Sterling Virtuoso Price and Others

[iMav]

One person you could reach out to is Mark Glover. He's a Sterling artist (and newly appointed solo euphonium of Grimethorpe!) and has a good knowledge of the horns, and an approachable guy. I do believe that Sterling hasn't been *acquired* by JP - John Packer seems to work with several custom high-end instrument manufacturers on the design of their more expensive line - and I guess naming rights are included with that. I believe they do the same thing with Rath and their trombones.

This is my understanding as well. (I spoke with Paul Riggett about a month ago.)

However, I would not be at all surprised to see the brand sunsetted sometime in the near future.

[Pat]

All in all a confusing story. My impression is that a JP Sterling isn't a "real" Sterling Virtuoso, as those "real" horns were made in England under the oversight of Paul Riggett. The JP Sterling is one of a large number of Chinese horns, this one made with some manner of engineering input from Paul Riggett. How far off base am I?

[iMav]

All in all a confusing story. My impression is that a JP Sterling isn't a "real" Sterling Virtuoso, as those "real" horns were made in England under the oversight of Paul Riggett. The JP Sterling is one of a large number of Chinese horns, this one made with some manner of engineering input from Paul Riggett. How far off base am I?

The JP374 is the John Packer horn is the euphonium produced with design input from Sterling (the leadpipe is produced by Sterling). John Packer does the same thing with Rath on their top trombone line.

JP332 = John Packer “Rath” trombone
JP374 = John Packer “Sterling” euphonium

[Knightstar81]

[QUOTE=iMav;168893]And when they DO have them in stock, they won't sell direct to folks in the US. You have to go through a reseller (just like with their JP horns). (I've tried buying from them direct before.)

That sucks. I would like to get my hands on a Sterling Virtuoso baritone at some point.

[anadmai]

[QUOTE=Knightstar81;169140]

And when they DO have them in stock, they won't sell direct to folks in the US. You have to go through a reseller (just like with their JP horns). (I've tried buying from them direct before.)

That sucks. I would like to get my hands on a Sterling Virtuoso baritone at some point.

I have one and I love it!!!

[daruby]

I spoke with Paul Riggett last week. Sterling has not been acquired (nor would I expect it to be).

[massmanute]

And when they DO have them in stock, they won't sell direct to folks in the US. You have to go through a reseller (just like with their JP horns). (I've tried buying from them direct before.)

Guaranteed you won't see those low prices here in the US.

What about going through a re-shipping service rather than a reseller? There are companies that specialize in having a product delivered to an address in a country that is "acceptable" to the seller and then forwarded on to the buyer.

[iMav]

What about going through a re-shipping service rather than a reseller? There are companies that specialize in having a product delivered to an address in a country that is "acceptable" to the seller and then forwarded on to the buyer.

You’d need to defraud the John Packer company to convince them you are a UK-based buyer.

It’s not a logistical shipping issue for them…it’s a reseller business relationship situation. They won’t sell around their US-based resellers.

[anadmai]

Or buy it from someone here who had it made at the factory. Right, Mister Doug??

[spkissane]

They won’t sell around their US-based resellers.

edit - Deleted misinformation