Geplukt van Brass Forum:
Re: Virtuosi Instruments
Reply #28 - 12/29/05 at 02:06:32 I am a friend of Jim Pagington, aka JPBrass. Jim is an excellent repairer of brass instruments and his services are used by many of the best brass musicians in the West of England. Not only is Jim a repairer but he sells new and used instruments from his workshop and imports Virtuosi instruments from the Far-East, not India. The Virtuosi instruments are designed by experts from the UK under the supervision of Jim and his son. The reason for importing the instruments rather than having them made in this country is the labour cost; it is simply not possible to employ British craftsmen and women in Britain to make good quality instruments at low prices.
I was fortunate, recently, to have the opportunity to try out many of the range of Virtuosi instruments and they certainly come with my recommendation.
The Virtuosi trumpets and cornets are splendid instruments. Very professionally made, they play easily and with a good tone, as well as costing much less than Sovereigns (Jim Pagington himself is a cornet player). The student trumpets and cornets are made to the same design as the professional model but with stainless steel valves instead of monel valves and without triggers; some do have finger rings to adjust the 1st and 3rd valve intonation. The flugels were also remarkably good, comparing favourably with many more expensive models. The professional euphonium is again a splendid instrument: easy to play through its whole range and with a lovely singing tone which again compares favourably with many more expensive instruments. The student trombone is a medium-bore instrument which again plays very easily and sounds good. Unfortunately I was unable to try the professional trombone, but I can only believe it to be better than the student model. I believe that tenor horns, baritones and tubas are coming soon.
If you are looking for an inexpensive instrument I would advise you to consider Virtuosi as a real alternative to many other instruments. Virtuosi utilises modern technology to produce remarkably good instruments at a remarkably low price. The specs are available at
www.jpbrass.co.uk.
Good Luck.
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