New instruments from Adams (and a word about Hirsbrunner)

[hubert]

In the sixties Mr. Adams (Thorn, The Netherlands) started as a repairman and a retailor of musical instrument and a producer of percussion. Since then Adams has become one of the biggest in the branch in Western Europe. Recently Mr. Adams has started the production of brass instruments. Till now flugelhorn, trumpet, alto trombone and euphonium are available in a variety of versions. In short notice the first tuba will be available as well (a 4/4 CC). The tubas will be modeled after Hirsbrunners. Therefore Mr. Adams has taken over Hirsbrunner. By the way, Hirsbrunner will continue to produce his instruments, but in the future with Adams components, as it seems. See below. For, Adams has decided to produce in his own factory ALL parts of the instruments, he is making. That is an important difference with ALMOST ALL other producers, even of outstanding instruments, on the market: they mainly assemble from a variety of parts produced by others. It characterizes Mr. Adams to take the whole production process in his own hands to be in full control of the quality of his products. At the same time there must be commercial reasons, as I see it. The recovery of the huge investments (it is overwhelming to see the fast growing enormous amount of machines, moulds and other equipment, mainly self built) seems to make it necessary to sell components to other producers hand in hand with the production of an own line of brass instruments. As I feel, Mr. Adams must be convinced that there is a market for that, because ( at least for the production of their high quality instruments) serious producers will not want to become dependent more and more on the moderate or at least not consistent quality of production in Asian and South-American countries.
To stay informed and to follow developments see http://www.adams-music.com/nl" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank.
Hubert

[oedipoes]

wow...

[Wilco]

Wow indeed. I'd love to try one! One is supposed to be on the Frankfurt Musikmesse....

[hubert]

Yes, besides a lot of percussion and the other brass instruments, Adams has produced till now, he will be showing his first tuba at the Frankfurt Fair end of March (CC, 4/4, 4 perinet valves + 1 cylinder).
Hubert

[bort]

The tubas will be modeled after Hirsbrunners. Therefore Mr. Adams has taken over Hirsbrunner. By the way, Hirsbrunner will continue to produce his instruments, but in the future with Adams components, as it seems.

"Modeled after" and "taken over" don't seem to line up to me... actually, when I first read this, it sounded like Hirsbrunner took over Adams. "Modeled after" makes it sound like Hirsbrunner is still the driver of the design, development, etc. (Like the Chinese tubas are "modeled after" a Miraphone 186.)

Sounds to me like Hirsbrunner just found a new parts supplier, and part of the agreement was to let Adams stencil some of their horns with their logo...?

Am I missing something?

Regardless, I'm curious to see what comes out of all this.

[Aaron Tindall]

It is interesting to note after looking at the euphonium section of the "Adams" website, that they have a picture/image of the Besson 2052 prestige euphonium that comes up. What is that about?

[sinfonian]

Did I miss something on the Adams web site, but I do not see an English button or link. Would be helpful.

[chhite]

FWIW, I tried their compensating euph a few years ago at the Musikmesse and was floored. I'm a tuba player, not a euph player, and it made me sound good. But not good enough to pay the price he was asking at that time, oh and it was the prototype. I'm also interested to see what he has this year on the tuba front.

[pgym]

ADAMS is both a manufacturer AND a retailer of musical instruments in the Netherlands and thus distributes Besson products there. Without a complete translation of the website, or the ability to read "Dutch", don't assume anything. I don't believe that the Adams branded brass instruments are currently distributed in the United States, unlike the percussion line which is distributed by Pearl. Hopefully, that will change in the future as the Adams Custom Series horns look to be worth checking out.

The Adams Custom series of instruments is distributed by Custom Music. They had a euph at their booth at TUSABTEC, which will be on display at TMEA, and expect to have tubas at ITEC.

Me, I found the Adams euph underwhelming: very responsive, but extremely light, both in weight and sound (the weight reminded my of the paper-thin Chinese horns of 5-6 years ago); mostly free-blowing, but a few wildly stuffy 2nd and 3rd partials; squirrely spotting above 8th partial Bb; intonation was, at best, decent, but nothing to write home about; no guard wire on the bottom bow (very thin protection cap only), no protection cap on the branches (guard wire only); NO 4th VALVE LOCK; the reach to the 4th valve was humongous (Richard Barth of Getzen tried it and commented, "Now I understand what people mean when they talk about the reach to the 4th valve being too long.")

They'll need to knock 10-15% off the price (more, if you add the trigger and gold bling) to bring it within shouting distance of other premium euphs (Miraphone 5050, Besson Prestige, Willson 2960, MW 751, Sterling, etc.

[hubert]

Just be sure that Adams is knowing what he is doing. If you are able to build a company in retail, repairs and production of the size and quality he did, starting from zero, you must have "the passion", as he always says himself.

Of course it will take some time to reach to "the top", but I am convinced he has a more than fair chance to succeed. They are not only developping new instruments, but improving the existing ones as well. For example, by now you can choose the thickness of material, varying from 4 to 7 mm, and bells of brass, goldbrass and silver. And ...they have a lot of feedback from their customers, working in an area with a high "musicians density".

What I just intend to say: keep looking at them now and then, could be interesting.
And about Hirsbrunner: it is my feeling that we may be happy that Adams took over. That might be the rescue of a renowned and genuine product. Hirsbrunner itself is too small as a company to maintain itself in the longer run without going into "Chinese concessions" as most of them do and he has no successor. I think he has made a wise decision to sell to Adams "with his passion" and enormous drive to succeed and not to a certain person Bloke was referring to.
Hubert

[imperialbari]

Of course it will take some time to reach to "the top", but I am convinced he has a more than fair chance to succeed. They are not only developping new instruments, but improving the existing ones as well. For example, by now you can choose the thickness of material, varying from 4 to 7 mm, and bells of brass, goldbrass and silver.

If Adams will issue tubas with wall thicknesses varying between 4mm and 7mm, then that will open a new market for personal forklifts for tubists.

And composers will have a new market for, if not Hubertus Masses, then Broken Back Masses.

Klaus

[hubert]

I am sorry, Klaus, had to type 0.4 - 0.7, of course. Besides, I am not focussing on tubas here.
Hubert

[imperialbari]

I am sorry, Klaus, had to type 0.4 - 0.7, of course. Besides, I am not focussing on tubas here.
Hubert

No worries, Hubert. Neither is anyone else here...

Now I get LJV:

Lost Joint Venture