JP171 Cornet

The Blues 171 Cornet is part of a new line of student brass instruments which is being manufactured in China for John Packer Ltd. Taking the instrument out of the case, I was immediately impressed by the quality of the workmanship and finish. It looks like a high quality instrument and appears to be very well constructed. The silver-plate finish is excellent; surprisingly for a student model instrument, this comes as standard. The instrument feels light, easy to hold and well balanced.
It is a traditional style short model cornet with a shepherd's crook. The bell is quite small (120mm/4.8"), with a wide throat and quick flare. The cornet has a medium bore, which will help beginners focus the sound and requires less physical effort than a larger bore instrument.
The first and third slides are mobile, with a fixed thumb-hook on the first valve slide and a fixed finger ring on the third valve slide. It's good to see these features included on a student instrument, as they enable a greater control over the intonation, which I believe is a fundamental that should be encouraged from the very beginning of a musician's development.

The Monel valves, in my opinion, are the weakest feature of the instrument in that the valve action can feel slightly lumpy, however, this may be due to the fact that the valves need wearing-in. Nevertheless, given the fact that it is a student cornet, the valves should prove more than adequate.

The instrument comes with a Denis Wick 4B silver-plated mouthpiece, which is a satisfactory all-round cornet mouthpiece and an ideal starter. The injection moulded plastic light-weight case is smart, compact and durable, and included in the price. A number of maintenance accessories are also incorporated into the package which includes valve oil, slide grease, a flexible pipe cleaner, valve rod, mouthpiece brush, and silver polishing cloth.

It was a pleasure to play the Blues 171 Cornet. The instrument is easy to play and very responsive. It encompasses a clear, focussed sound which projects well. I like the sound the cornet makes-it has a warm core but with enough brightness to carry. The intonation is excellent, and feels even throughout the full range and at the different dynamic levels.

The instrument is available through John Packer Ltd at £199 (including VAT) but it would be available through schools at £149 (excluding VAT). I think it's a fantastic buy. It's great that beginners will be able to play such a high quality instrument at an affordable price.

In my opinion, the instrument is good enough to take a student right through from novice to professional level. A thumbs up all round!
 
Christopher Deacon - Trumpet - Royal Ballet Symphonia

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