4BR has been road testing four new trombones from the new John Packer/ Michael Rath stable over the last month.
The market place for trombonists is a cornucopia of variables and variations.
You want it, you can get it: From instruments for the beginner in the bandroom to the professional player who struts their stuff on world’s finest concert stages.
Mid range/student sector
It is the mid range/student sector however that sees perhaps the greatest degree of competition, with makers stretching themselves to the limit to produce instruments that combine quality design to quantity price.
The result is a level of consumer choice that is faintly mind boggling, with a number of respected bespoke manufactures now teaming up with leading brass instrument dealers to ally their design expertise to their marketing nous.
The latest pairing to combine their talents is Michael Rath trombones and John Packer Musical Instruments, who have teamed up to provide a four pronged midrange/student trombone stable that has attracted a fair amount of interest and debate.
Scrutiny
They have even come under high profile professional scrutiny with the highly regarded Carol Jarvis choosing to use the JP231Rath on multiple tours with the soul singer Seal.
4BR has had its hands on the four instruments for the past month and asked one of the leading young trombonists in the country to put them through their paces.
Sought after
Stephen Sykes (below right ), has fast become one of the most sought after trombone talents in the UK – winning the 2009 Radio 2 Young Brass Soloist Competition, as well as taking individual soloist awards at the British Open and Brass in Concert.
This is what he thought of the quartet of the JP230, the JP231, the JP331 and JP332.
More information on the instruments can be found at: www.jpmusicalinstruments.com
Introduction
I’m always fascinated by the amazing selection of trombones out there for players such as myself.
For a brass instrument that is perhaps the least complex in terms of its basic design than any other, there seems to be an almost endless set of available variations on the original theme.
Small changes
However, even the smallest changes to the basic layout of a trombone can have far reaching effects, and trombonists have a notorious reputation of being inveterate mechanical fiddlers – mixing and matching elements like medieval alchemists to come up with the perfect end result.
For the player who is still developing however, it is sometimes better to stick with a bespoke instrument that does a very good job, and worry about those little variable elements at a later date.
Having a good quality instrument to play on helps of course – but it won’t really improve you as a player unless your own playing elements are up to the job too.
Highly respected
Michael Rath designed trombones are well known and highly respected all over the brass playing world – but until now, the reputation has been forged with his professional level models.
It’s a reputation that could be tarnished if, as he has done with his partnership with John Packer, the instruments he has aimed at the mid range/student market don’t come up to scratch.
So a great deal is at stake with these fully Rath designed instruments.
Finances
As a student with the usual student finances but professional ambitions, I have been intrigued what Michael Rath has come up with in partnership with John Packer and have enjoyed the opportunity to road test the instruments at length thanks to 4BR.
This is what I thought of the quartet in terms of build quality, tone, intonation and overall value for money.
JP230 RATH Bb Tenor Trombone
Price: £299 excluding VAT
The entry level model of the range is a medium bore Bb trombone (.500) that has a 7.5” bell, and comes with a lead-pipe has been specifically designed by Michael Rath to enhance the basic simple design layout.
It’s the key to the instrument for me, allowing greater freedom for the player to push air through the instrument without experiencing a feel of tiring resistance.
The narrow slide is excellent – really slick and responsive, and the instrument is well balanced too – not over-heavy in the bell, which can lead to young (and especially small) players developing a poor embouchure and posture.
It’s very well put together: Rath has kept a keen eye on the build quality, whilst the input with the lead-pipe gives a free blowing well-centred tone and good intonation throughout the range.
The real bonus for me though was that it was an ideal instrument for jazz playing – light, facile and precise and with just enough cutting edge to force through even a heavy sounding accompanying brass band!
It comes in a very good lacquer finish and with a mouthpiece (although your own would be the best bet) whilst the lightweight case offers plenty of protection and straps that mean it can be carried to and from school or college with ease.
At just under £360 including VAT it won’t put too much of a dent in the student overdraft either - especially as it comes inclusive of 20% VAT.
It’s a great instrument for a young player with serious ambitions about the trombone as their long term brass instrument of choice.
For more information:
www.jpmusicalinstruments.com/instruments/trombone/jp230/
JP231 RATH Bb Tenor Trombone Bb
Price: £299 excluding VAT
The next step up is really aimed at the committed student performer – although amazingly it costs the same!
You can tell the difference almost immediately – the slightly larger bore (.525) and 8” bell allowing a greater amount of airflow through the lead-pipe that really does keep resistance at a minimum.
There is a greater depth to the tone of the instrument – fuller, darker, broader, but equally as well centred and rounded as the 230.
It’s still a very flexible instrument too, with great intonation throughout the range and the ability to pierce through heavy accompaniment when required.
Once again I was impressed by the build quality with a great super-fast slide action allied to a balanced feel to the instrument as a whole.
As with the 230 it comes with a mouthpiece (although its not really required) a lightweight case that offers plenty of protection even in the Student’s Union bar and carrying straps so it can be stuck on your bag for the journey home from band practice.
It also comes in an excellent standard lacquer, silver plate, black, satin, antique and even frosted gold lacquer finish (although these cost a little bit more at £407), and provides a really flexible tool for a very competitive price.
For more information:
www.jpmusicalinstruments.com/instruments/trombone/jp231/
JP331 RATH Bb/F Trombone
Price: £595 excluding VAT
The 331 offers the Bb/F combination that is becoming increasingly the popular instrument of choice for young trombonists both in the UK and abroad.
This is where Rath’s experience comes into its own for me – with an instrument that is so well designed and put together that it is hard to think of anything in the same class for the money.
The medium large bore (.525") offers real flexibility throughout the range, a classic well rounded, fully centred tone and great intonation in both the Bb and F guises.
It’s the design, with young student player in mind that impresses most however.
Rath have really put in the hours in the workshop to make sure all the elements blend together to enhance the playing experience.
The trigger mechanism is lightning fast, whilst the adjustable thumb lever is a real bonus – ensuring that even the smallest of hands can work the mechanism in comfort.
The slide has a real slick feel, whilst the warp around design for all the plumbing behind the player’s head has been neatly compacted and expertly balanced with the counterweight. It really does ensure good posture and embouchure even from the smallest of performers.
It’s a really responsive instrument that gives so much back to a player willing to work it hard and with its lightweight case it doesn’t break you back (or your student bank balance) either.
For more information:
www.jpmusicalinstruments.com/instruments/trombone/jp331/
JP332 RATH Bb/F Trombone
Price: £595 excluding VAT
The large bore version (0.547) of the 331 offers an ideal alternative for a student who really wants an instrument that can be exploited to its limits.
As with the 331, it comes with fully adjustable trigger mechanism, compact closed wrap design, razor sharp trigger, slick slide action and high-class build quality.
In addition it produces a lovely rich, well-centred tonality, a dark plumby sound and super intonation in both Bb and F guises throughout the range.
There is a maturity about this instrument that rewards a serious minded player – and it was hard to find the tiniest of faults with it, especially as the build quality and the finish is so good.
For the serious college student in particular it provides everything they need, and comes at a price that is hard to beat too.
For more information:
www.jpmusicalinstruments.com/instruments/trombone/jp332/
Overall:
What an impressive quartet of trombones for any aspiring student of just about any age.
John Packer’s decision to team up with Michael Rath has been fully vindicated. These instruments are much more than just getting a well known manufacturer to ‘lend’ their name to be stamped on a cheap and cheerful product.
Built in China, real care and attention to build quality and design has produced four excellent instruments – all the more remarkable given the price they are being sold at.
What you get for your money are four very instruments designed with the performer and their limitations, but especially their aspirations in mind.
The personal favourite for me was the 230 – a superb basic model that provides an experienced player with an ideal jazz alternative.
Star Buy
The star though is the 332 – an all rounder that will reward the serious student for the hard work they put in.
All in all though – you can’t go wrong with any of them.
For more information: www.jpmusicalinstruments.com
