[JayeLID]

I guess a major factor still yet to be determined is how well they hold up.

But one can see the differing yardsticks used are aparrent right here in this thread. The yardstick of basic necessity and impression of a brand new one from an owner who isn't a tech, and the impression from a tech.

From that, fair enough to state at this time they aren't POS's. Which is the same thing I say about the Jean Pauls as well (similarly priced). So that's something which isn't insubstantial.

With both brands it remains to be seen how often they would need servicing. That's fairly significant because then you get into the situation where initial purchase price may have been sex but within a couple years all of that savings is pretty much moot.

Thanks for your opinion, tho....it's useful.

 

[JayeLID]

So it's a barter system?

Either that or a "roll the dice" system.....🤨

 

[JayeLID]

While I am no tech, I did not find the same issues that Stephen Howard found with the one he saw. Could not find any on any of the rods and I checked all of them. I have no way to predict how well it will hold up, but both horns look and feel very solid so I don't know. I will probably run them both by my local tech.

Tech's impressions will be helpful. Also, assuming the horn becomes regularly played by you, drop on by with updates at, say...6 months, a year, etc....that's where the info starts becoming significant.

The Jean Pauls I have worked on... had been heavily, heavily used by a few pretty dedicated HS players in concert and marching, and hadn't received any servicing in their 1.5-2.5 years in the hands of those young players. My expectation was gonna be they'd be leaking everywhere, yet they weren't. My expectation was gonna be I'd find a lotta key play, yet I didn't. So, that was surprising, and they earned a bit of respect from me for that.

FWIW - a matter of remaining in regulation over the long run has more to it than just whether the keywork is 'hard' or 'soft' or somewhere in between....