Hi Ken:
I'm sure you have seen some of these as well, but I've encountered the following, in no particular order: - Maestro: nickel plated Geyer wrap. Serious intonation problems. - Eastman: now producing two models: YB student horn, and a nickel-silver "pro" horn to compete with the Conn 8D. Both horns are pretty good, but somewhat overpriced considering they are still on a "learning curve". I believe they are still improving the quality, tuning and response characteristics, and will eventually be a major player - much as Yamaha did in the 1980s. I'd rather play a pre-owned Eastlake 8D for $2,500 than the Eastman horn for the same price. - Anthem (also marketed under various names as a "stencil" brand). This YB Kruspe model (8D wrap) plays well and is a good value for a beginner or as a school instrument (thru 8th grade). That's assuming you can get it for $1,200 to $1,400. - F. Schmidt: Is a stencil name formerly owned by Dallas-based Brook Mays Music Co. Their horns were originally produced in Markneukirchen, Germany by the Hoyer factory (it you can find them, these are good instruments at a value price). Since Brook Mays' Bankruptcy, the F Schmidt production was moved to China, and the quality is not the same: if the engraving doesn't say "Markneukirchen", don't buy it! - Jupiter: Reasonable school quality - has made strides improving since first introduced. Still, I recommend a good quality pre-owned US made horn for about the same price. - Atkinson: Mark Atkinson lived in China for months (maybe years) while training workers and setting-up production of these horns, which were intended to be reasonably priced student instruments. I believe he gave-up after several years of fighting quality control issues. His hand made horns, produced in California, are quite good. - Winston: very sketchy - using an Anglo or Germanic name to market an Asian product. Anything on eBay with the name "German Engineering" - tho I have no personal experience with these. Anything on eBay that sells for $350.00 I'm sure there are many more: I once heard that there over 100 instrument manufacturers in China! - Dennis Houghton Houghton Music/Houghton Horns, LLC 1021 Conchos Circle West Keller, TX 76248 shop: 817-431-8072 cell: 817-602-9791 www.houghtonhornsllc.com _______________________________________________ post: [email protected] unsubscribe or set options at https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
