J. Michael brass instruments -- experiences/opinions?

[JB]

Greetings.

The music department’s administrator is getting the hard sell by the one of area band instrument dealers to supply J. Michael brass instruments to the university for use in some the music education methods classes. He wants the business, and is trying to undercut the long-term supplier.

My own limited exposure to these instruments has not made a positive impression; quite the opposite in fact. They seem to be well-below the entry-level Jupiter instruments. Intonation problems, questionable quality and workmanship, and so on. Maybe I just saw several dogs in an otherwise great line; or maybe not.

Does anyone have any experience or opinions, pro or con, -- or help in pointing me to any literature including critiques or ratings – that can be used to help decide whether or not to support this change when we have a dept meeting in the coming days?

Thanks.

PS I did a Tubenet search, but found nohing of use.

[Lee Stofer]

JB,
These instruments, with a suspicious-sounding name, are probably in the same class as the Borg trumpets and Antigua Winds woodwinds and such I have encountered.

What you have seen so far of their quality should be sufficient guidance.

I once saw a Melton (Meinl-Weston in Germany) ad that, translated, basically said that the remorse of owning an inferior quality instrument lasts much longer the joy of paying a lower price.

For any institution, the primary concerns should be a) is it of sufficient quality? and b) will we be able to get it serviced?

I would pose these questions to both the company intent upon peddling these ISO's (instrument-shaped-objects), and to the long-term supplier. I would tend to think that the long-term supplier didn't get to where they are by not supplying good quality and by not servicing what they sell. These might be good points to bring up at the meeting.

[JB]

JB,
These instruments, with a suspicious-sounding name, are probably in the same class as the Borg trumpets and Antigua Winds woodwinds and such I have encountered.

What you have seen so far of their quality should be sufficient guidance.

I once saw a Melton (Meinl-Weston in Germany) ad that, translated, basically said that the remorse of owning an inferior quality instrument lasts much longer the joy of paying a lower price.

For any institution, the primary concerns should be a) is it of sufficient quality? and b) will we be able to get it serviced?

I would pose these questions to both the company intent upon peddling these ISO's (instrument-shaped-objects), and to the long-term supplier. I would tend to think that the long-term supplier didn't get to where they are by not supplying good quality and by not servicing what they sell. These might be good points to bring up at the meeting.

Thank you very much Mr Stofer. Very helpful, and appreciated.

JB

[JB]

Anyone else have anything they can add?

[iiipopes]

Some Chinese horns are overseen by good people and companies, and are coming up in quality slowly over time, for example Jupiter (if you include Taiwan) the Virtuosi brand in the UK, some Yamaha subcontracts, Dalyan, and possibly even M&M, and maybe others.

I have not heard that said about this brand.