Jupiter low brass survey

[ASTuba]

Ok Joe,

I'm going to bite the bullet and respond as well. I really think Jupiter low brass is a great option when you know what you're getting:

- a solidly built instrument that uses a bit thinner metal than other makers
- a company that stocks replacement parts for their instruments at reasonable prices
- a company that understands and wants to make improvements to what they do

I'd much rather take a Jupiter over a Bach/Conn/King from the point that I can always get parts and supplies for reasonable from Jupiter. I cannot say the same for Conn anymore. I'd still take Yamaha over Jupiter, but Jupiter is very high on my list.

Jupiter has come a long way from their early instruments, which I've had the pleasurable task of having to fix when I was first starting out. I really think it's a great option in the low brass market now.

[Chadtuba]

I own and use a Jupiter 740 bass trombone and love it. It is almost identical to the Conn 112 with one minor modification in an extra brace on the left hand. I paid about $1000 less than the Conn and couldn't be happier. It is of a high quality (not that I have the most experience to know, but high quality for me ) and plays very well. I bought it after trying a couple of them and comparing them to the Getzen Custom that the college owned and a couple of Bachs Yamahas that were available for me to try. I would have liked to have purchased a Getzen or an Edwards, but as bass trombone is not my primary I couldn't justify the extra money. I have never had a second thought about my Jupiter and would highly recomend it to any one looking for a quality inexpensive bass trombone.

The ironic part of this is that while I claim to be a tuba player 1st and a trombone player 2nd I have made more money on my Jupiter than either one of my Besson Sovereigns. Go figure

[Tubaing]

I'd much rather take a Jupiter over a Bach/Conn/King. I'd still take Yamaha over Jupiter.

Aren't the Bach Tubas/Sousaphones/Euphoniums made by Yamaha.

[ASTuba]

I'd much rather take a Jupiter over a Bach/Conn/King. I'd still take Yamaha over Jupiter.

Aren't the Bach Tubas/Sousaphones/Euphoniums made by Yamaha.

Not anymore, they are all made by King/Conn now.

[tubaguy9]

Which low brass from Jupiter? Marching or Concert equiptment?

As far as Jupiter goes, it seems like they're starting to be wanna be's of other instrument manufacturers. For example,
I tried a concert horn of theirs, and it seemed a heck of a lot like a Meinl Wesson.
I'd be able to say good things about their concert equiptment. As far as marching equiptment?
The sousa's they have aren't bad. But the only slide you'd be able to pull is from the 3rd valve.
The other marching horns they have don't seem to be too good. I think they're sort of rip-offs of the other companies. I guess the kick trigger on their marching tubas breaks within a week . I also don't get the screw on bell on those things. I thought the last company to do that on those was Kanstul. There's likely a reason no one else did that. Their Baritone has a weird mechanism for the first valve, and if you need to empty it, it won't be worth it, and you'd likely miss a bit of stuff if you emptied it during a rehearsal. And even from what the reps that I have seen for their marching brass have said that they're sort of copies of the ideas they like from other manufacturers.

[ASTuba]

Considering durability, playability, quality of sound, and maintenance schedules, how would you rate the pricing level of Jupiter band instruments?

- a company that stocks replacement parts for their instruments at reasonable prices
- a company that understands and wants to make improvements to what they do

geez Andy...Can't you color inside the lines? Even at a "jazz" gig, sidemen are expected to (at least) try to play the changes.

Joe,

Sorry, too much time in Academia, where we are taught to question all......
Back to midterm studying I go....

[Tubaing]

I hate the jupiter sousaphones. I've only played 3 and I don't think they're worth the school's money.

1 was a "fiberbrass". The metal was too thin for any durability despite the 2 uses per year. I could not find a comfortable way to hold it. The 1 and 3rd valves stuck way too much even with proper cleaning and oiling.

2 are the 4 valve models: the metal was too thin. The valves were pretty good. The intonation was bad. I could not play with a very focused sound nor could I play a good fortissimo. I found the design limited my ability to march with good form since I could not turn my body as much as I could with other sousaphones (talking field shows not parade). Also, there are not enough braces. The valve section isn't quite stiff and if a valve section to main bugle brace breaks, it really moves.

I defiantly think the school would be better off with 2 more Bach sousaphones.

[MartyNeilan]

I have considered getting my son the Jupiter trombone with the curved gooseneck and ergo handgrip, but the price is way too high for what I would consider a "throwaway" beginner only horn. He plays my smallbore Reynolds Medalist once in a while, but has some difficulty holding it (he is 8.)

[rocksanddirt]

I can only comment on the 3/4 size BBb three valve tuba.

The valves were quite sticky, unless there was a substantial effort made each and every time the horn was to be played for more than about 10 mins. (once it warmed up, they got sticky)

The 186 I bought of fleabay for $600 sounded better, fuller, better intonation, more penetrating sound even before I had any work done to make it playable.

It did come with a nice hard case.

I'd not buy one (it was a rental that I had).

[RadDad2005]

We own a pair of the 4 valve Jupiter euphoniums and I consider them to be decent horns, and a good value. I'd love to have Yamahas, but the price difference is a huge factor for my public school setting. I have to realize that I am buying horns for kids of varying abilities basically. If I have a really hot euph player, they are going to be encouraged to go get their own horn anyway. I've tried the tubas, and like the Czerveny(SP) much better (price not all that different last I checked). Use the student trombone now that King isn't available, and it's decent.
Off topic, but We've had lots of trouble with the Carnegie Trumpets (valves mostly) though, won't get them anymore, and the flutes are crap (IMO). Saxes are OK, and like the euphs, a good value for the level of student I deal with. We have a double horn with a mechanical linkage that is an OK instrument. Hate stringing valves (though haven't had any trouble with the linkage yet, so I'm holding my breath).
Overall? Mixed bag, but it helps us stretch dollars and get decent horns in kids hands. That's a good thing.

[Cameron Gates]

SLIGHTLY OFF TOPIC WARNING!!!!!

Joe, I work in a repair shop that does 7000+ rentals every year. The owners, when needed, buy new to rent. Usually they purchase junk (TR 500's, low end Holtons, Musica clarinets). However they have recently fallen in love with the Eastman brand trumpet which to me looks as if it is made by Jupiter. I have taken the bait too. They seem to be holding up far better than any domestic like-priced horn. (The Eastman trombones and french horns appear to be made by someone other than Jupiter, and therefore suck). If these trumpets are not Jupiter and just a dead-on copy, I stand corrected.

Have you seen many of these in your part of the country?

I'll take these Jupiterman intruments over any student model from Bach (TR 500 - blech) or Holton. Even the Chinese made Yamahas are starting to show signs of suckage.

Just my $.02 from the trenches of rental warfare.

[NDSPTuba]

I still am harboring a dislike for jupiter instruments from my Horn playing days. At the time when I tried them ( some 12/13 years ago ) they absolutely sucked. And that opinion is stuck in my head. I like the design of the 582 ( ie. the open wrap looks cool ) but after listening to Sam P.'s little youtube warmup on the 5V CC Jupiter I found the sound of the instrument to be lifeless. And if Mr. Pilaphian ( sp?) can't make it sing with a sound that I find desirable I don't think it can be done. It didn't have the core/power of the German sound and it didn't have the warmth/color of the American sound. It just left me flat. That said I will definitely try one out at TMEA this year. Though most of my attention will go to the 2341 and 1291 BBb.

[iiipopes]

The trumpets seem slightly better than some of the other entry level horns, and for the price I prefer them to Yammy.

If I were needing to play a flugel as a doubling instrument, and on a tight budget and couldn't get a Couesnon, I'd get a Jupiter and a Curry mouthpiece and go for it. As a matter of fact, I almost did get a used one about a year ago from Dillon; by the time I got around to asking about it, it was already sold.

The 582 doesn't quite have the heft of a King 2341, and if I were an educator, I'd still try to get the extra $1K or so to get the Kings, not only for tone, but because of all the maintenance aspects. The open wrap, although supposedly good for tone, is a dent trap waiting to happen. Consider all of the tuba designs from the first decade of the 20th century, of which many had the longer valve wraps parallel or along the bugle. They all dented in badly over time, and the more compact wraps became the norm.

The upright 4-valve euph is a great intermediate concert band euph. Put a ring of clear tubing around the bell rim to damp overring, and it will function in any section of any band from beginners, through symphonic college bands, to community bands, leaving off only where those who need or want the traditional 4-valve comp setup to take it to the highest level.

I am glad Jupiter has changed their valves in the last few years. I've played the older horns, and the plating wears completely out after only a few years. The new stainless valves are fine.

The trombones are, well, trombones. Made well; the tone depends more on the player than the instrument.

[lgb&dtuba]

I am glad Jupiter has changed their valves in the last few years. I've played the older horns, and the plating wears completely out after only a few years. The new stainless valves are fine.

I had an early student model Jupiter 3-valve euph I bought new. The valves were terrible. No matter what I oiled them with they'd start sticking after maybe 3 or 4 songs. All of them. Not just one. Bad enough that I finally gave the horn away. Didn't even try to sell it. It would have cost more to have them fixed than the horn cost.

Hopefully the newer horns are better.

[Nick Pierce]

The Jupiter four valve sousas seem alright, decent sound and intonation once you mess with the slides a bit, but they have the durability of fine china. My college got new ones one, maybe two years ago, and the valve sections are already falling off on some of them, and the valves leave something to be desire. Definitely prefer the Conn 20k's my high school used, now there's a sousa.

[RadDad2005]

Put a ring of clear tubing around the bell rim to damp overring, and it will function in any section


Good advice, I'll try this. It (the euph)also has a screw mechanism that connects the leadpipe to the body. The screws keeps coming loose and rattles like crazy. My students have a screwdriver in their folder to tighten it when needed! Maybe a little LockTite?
Someone mentioned the Eastman trumpet series. Never heard of it. In these parts it's the Carnegie Series, which has some bells and whistles that student line horns don't have (1st valve saddle, stuff like that) and my advice is don't buy them. Valves suck and in general not that great a horn.

[ken k]

10 - 15 years ago I was not impressed with Jupiters. We bought a 3/4 tuba about 15 years ago and after 4 or 5 years it looked like it was about 15 years old. We also bought a double horn and the valve linkages were useless. it spent more time at the shop trying to get the valves to move. It was linkage geometry that I think was screwed up not teh rotor itself.

But they have been getting better and better. Their trombones and Euphs are pretty darned nice. I am not crazy about the tubas, although I did buy a new 3/4 size horn for my elementary school band for $1800 two years ago. For that price especially it is an awesome horn. It has a nice case with wheels and plays very well. I use the Headstart trombones with teh bent neck ppe and the really cool pistol style hand grip. They are really user friendly for little kids.

Never played their sousy, so i can not comment on it, but they do not seem to get good reviews.

Tubawise I like the King 2341 much better than the 582 (or whatever the number is)

Jupiters pro line bones and euphs are also very nice. The Xeno (? or is that the Yamahs name?) have thayer valves and removeable leadpipes for the price of a standard pro line model. They also have an intermediate line (capital series?) of instruments that are very nice step up horns.

So I would agree that they are defintely a step up from the Chinese/Indian stuff, but maybe not as nice as the Conn/King/Bach lines?

ken k