John Packer JP231 Rath Trombone
Thursday, April 8, 2010
This is the first we are told, of a number of collaborations between retailer John Packer and manufacturer Michael Rath, with Rath having had a hand in the design of the instrument and Packer finding a quality manufacturer in China.
The 231 comes with a large bore and a very playable, lightweight slide. The build quality is excellent and the finishing is nothing short of superb. It’s a very responsive instrument, particularly in the middle-to-lower register, where it can really bark. The upper register needed a little getting used to, requiring as it did a lot more puff. But the tone is warm and the character of the sound suggests that the 231 would be just as comfortable in a symphony orchestra setting, as it would be used by a jazz group or big band. At a fraction of the price you might expect to pay for a horn of this quality, it all packs into a standard nylon denier semihard, zippered shaped case, with exterior zippered pocket, grab handles and a back harness with a velcro flap cover.
For more go to www.johnpacker.co.uk