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[Stewbones43]

If any of you are lucky enough to be going to this years ITF at Aarhus, spend some time trying a new trombone on Mick Rath's stand.
This is a joint venture between Mick Rath and John Packer and I had the chance to try it today. WOW! What a trombone. It is a medium large bore (?.525in) straight tenor with an 8in gold brass bell and it blows beautifully throughout the register. I tried it with a Wick 5BS and it had a big fat sound from pedal F up to super F, but yet when I cranked the volume back it was superbly lyrical. The balance of the instrument was extremely comfortable, neither front nor back heavy and the slide was one of the best I have ever tried, straight from the box+ slide-o-mix.
The trombone is a JP231 Rath.
Try it and I think you will be pleasantly surprised----------------------------- Then ask the price

Cheers

Stewbones

[Richard Tadaki]

What's the price?     No, seriously...   

[Duffle]

Not listed on the John Packer site - so what is the price?

[Stewbones43]

It is not on the website because it has only just come out. The launch is at Aarhus.

The price is £286 (inc. VAT) I guessed at £500 to allow for the low prices of Packer's other stuff so I was more than pleasantly surprised.

Worth a look!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers

Stewbones

[MoominDave]

It is a medium large bore (?.525in) straight tenor with an 8in gold brass bell and it blows beautifully throughout the register. I tried it with a Wick 5BS and it had a big fat sound from pedal F up to super F, but yet when I cranked the volume back it was superbly lyrical.

Any relation to the old Besson 10-10? Sounds very similar!

[Stewbones43]

Any relation to the old Besson 10-10? Sounds very similar!

Interesting comment, Dave.
I likened it to the old 10-10 when I tried it because of the way it is built with the bell and slide sections parallel- no dog-leg bend.
It is such a long time since I tried a 10-10 that I prefer not to comment on playing similarities in case my memory fails yet again.

Cheers

Stewbones

[Duffle]

Did Mick Rath design and build it, or did he just design it - if so who builds them? What's Mick's involvement? What established .525's does it compare to? Sounds interesting......

[Stewbones43]

Did Mick Rath design and build it, or did he just design it - if so who builds them? What's Mick's involvement? What established .525's does it compare to? Sounds interesting......

From what I understand, Mick was responsible for the design but the instruments are made in China.
Packer's are using top designers to collaborate with them in some of their projects. Some of their trumpets and cornets have Smith-Watkins lead pipes, etc.

The only ML bore trombone I have is a Conn 74H which has an 8.5in red brass bell. This trombone plays similar but with a little more edge and it slots better. I found it to be more "solid" than a regular 3B and not as dark as a 36. I compared it side by side with a Yamaha 4** ML straight tenor and I felt that it out-performed it all round.

You said "Sounds interesting" I would change that "Sounds good-is interesting"

Ignore where it is made-would Rath's or Smith-Watkins" put their name on anything which wasn't up to scratch? I think not. Mick and Richard Smith/Derek Watkins have too much at stake-They know what they are doing. (Same with Shire's-Eastman)

Cheers

Stewbones

[Duffle]

Looks like we are going to have to reappraise what is coming out of Chinese brass instrument factories in the light of this and Eastman horns.....

[Liche]

http://www.johnpacker.co.uk/instruments/101521.htm

Says it's available from August. (The review link still seems to point to the 131, which appears to be a standard .500 student model - photo is suspiciously similar...)

I have their alto, which for 100 quid inc. delivery was excellent value - and that hadn't even been anywhere near the Midas hands of Mick Rath. Not a good time to have money burning a hole in my pocket! 

[MoominDave]

I have their alto, which for 100 quid inc. delivery was excellent value - and that hadn't even been anywhere near the Midas hands of Mick Rath. Not a good time to have money burning a hole in my pocket! 

There's a hell of a lot of alto trombones in and around Oxford these days... At least 6 that I can think of immediately.

Sarah Hutchinson has one of the JP altos too - I concur, having tried it - it's of comparable quality to instruments that sell for most of an order of magnitude more.

[Stewbones43]

http://www.johnpacker.co.uk/instruments/101521.htm

Says it's available from August. (The review link still seems to point to the 131, which appears to be a standard .500 student model - photo is suspiciously similar...)

I have their alto, which for 100 quid inc. delivery was excellent value - and that hadn't even been anywhere near the Midas hands of Mick Rath. Not a good time to have money burning a hole in my pocket! 

Yes, the link is confusing-I will have words with the shop

I think that the new trombone will come with a Rath mouthpiece as well

Cheers

Stewbones

[Stewbones43]

http://www.johnpacker.co.uk/instruments/101521.htm

Says it's available from August. (The review link still seems to point to the 131, which appears to be a standard .500 student model - photo is suspiciously similar...)

I have had words with the shop and they are going to take steps to rectify the confusing link. They apologise for the error and say thanks for pointing it out. It seems that the sales team were not consulted by the backroom people; a case of "Right hand Left hand" I understand that a new website is not far off.

Cheers

Stewbones

[dj kennedy]

WILL  TRY  IT  TODAY  AT  SHOW 
prolly  nothing like  the  10  10

[Duffle]

WILL  TRY  IT  TODAY  AT  SHOW 
prolly  nothing like  the  10  10

How did it play?......

[Stewbones43]

WILL  TRY  IT  TODAY  AT  SHOW 
prolly  nothing like  the  10  10

dj, I will look forward to your comments and will pass them on to the people at John Packers, whatever flavour they are + or -

Cheers

Stewbones

PS I only said that its looks reminded me of the 10-10, too long ago to remember how they blew.

[Erling]

Here's my comment on it: Student horn, they call it. To me outplays a modern Bach 36. Very nice horn - like a slightly lighter version of my formidable MtVernon 36 and 34. I can fully endorse it - after 10 minutes - as a great, professional horn. Well worth its price - whatever that is.

[Stewbones43]

Thanks for your comments, Erling.

Much appreciated

Stewbones

[JimR]

Is there a US distributer?
JR

[Stewbones43]

Is there a US distributer?
JR

Sorry I can't help on this but I will put the idea to them next week.

WILL  TRY  IT  TODAY  AT  SHOW 
prolly  nothing like  the  10  10

Just a thought dj. I suspect it will be much "lighter" than the old 10-10; the old B&H/Bessons were heavy artillery.

Cheers

Stewbones