Sterling Virtuoso Euphonium - NEW vs OLD - Everything I Know.
- Mark Glover
- 16 hours ago
- 12 min read
In September this year (2025), it was announced that the Sterling Musical Instruments brand was making a return with the launch of their new euphonium and baritone.
If you attended the British Open Brass Band Championships in Birmingham UK or the Cheltenham National Finals in 2025, then you might have seen or even tried them.
I had the opportunity to test the euphonium in August 2025 and was impressed. So, now we are at the point where these instruments are a reality, what information can I share to help answer many of the questions that people seem to have?
Let's get stuck into some of the main questions and I will answer them to the best of my knowledge:
Where are the new Sterling Virtuoso euphoniums made?
The new euphoniums are made in China and build on a long and strong partnership between Sterling and John Packer. I have recommended John Packer instruments, based on my own experience of them to students for many years. I first came across the brand when I lived in Singapore and I even visited China on one occasion and further developed my understanding of how instrument manufacturing works out there.
Why did Sterling instruments stop being made?
Something that people probably don't always realise about Sterling Musical Instruments is that it was really just the product of one very skilled person. Paul Riggett founded Sterling in 1987 after working with Boosey & Hawkes. He was the manufacturing manager at "Booseys" and was responsible for overseeing the production of, amongst other products, the legendary "round stamp" models.
When Paul left to set up Sterling, he did it without investors or a big bank behind him and through decades of hard work, built a hugely respected brand on a global platform.
In those early years, Paul was buying valve blocks from the Dutch company Bauerfeild (now owned by Adams) and the bells through a UK company, Bellman Brass (which became Taylor Trumpets). Assembling them in his own workshop and distributing the products worldwide. In the US, he sold hundreds of them through the now defunct, Custom Music.
It was never easy for Paul, and without external funding and support it would be fair to say he struggled against the big manufacturers, but was always proud of the products he made.
So for quite a while now, it has not been possible to buy a new Sterling. This has meant that prices of good used Sterling's has definitely gone up. With the growth of brands like Adams and Besson, it got to a point where you would be lucky to see anyone playing on a Sterling.
Is Sterling owned by John Packer?
Yes, John Packer acquired Sterling Musical Instruments in the same manner that they did with Taylor Trumpets and Rath Trombones. This was a natural thing to happen because there had already been a collaboration between Sterling and JP since as far back as 2010.
Paul has worked closely with John Packer for many years and always wanted his brand to continue long into the future. Paul has travelled more times than he can count to China, with the guys from John Packer and Paul set up the entire production for euphoniums with Packers partners in China.
It is highly likely that if you own a newer 'old' Sterling euphonium, then most of it came from China and was assembled in the UK. This is the case with a lot of brands nowadays. It took Paul time to perfect the valves on the old Sterling and it wasn't really until the current valves (on the new Sterling) were developed that there was complete consistency in them.
The JP Sterling range of brass instruments have proven themselves time and time again to be the best in the market at their price range (in my opinion). I have even been using a JP Sterling euphonium for the last month - Check it out here! While it hasn't been an easy transition for me after playing the same euphonium for about 13 years, it is far better than it's price tag and JP logo might suggest.
The mouthpiece I use, and in this picture above, is the K&G 4D - Check them out HERE.
Even the famous Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag euphonium players are now using the JP374ST and sounding amazing. As seen in the picture below.
And please check out my female euphonium player blog series which featured 2nd euphonium player, Nora! - HERE.
Are Chinese made brass instruments rubbish?
As briefly mentioned, something else to consider is that a lot of parts for the old Sterling instruments (and many other well known instrument brands) actually come from China.
Anyone could make a new company with instruments made in China. You could literally select the cheapest or the highest grade materials and have your own brand made. This is what a lot of companies have done (and tried to keep the 'made in China' part a secret). JP have never kept any secrets and Rob Hanson (the boss of JP) is the nicest, trustworthy person you could meet.
The problem that the old 'made in Great Britain' Sterling instruments had was consistency. Every single one was slightly different. I disliked them for a while, before playing my old Sterling euphonium and falling in love with it.
The old instruments had a reputation for being amazing, but not all of them, meaning customers always wanted to visit Paul Riggett in the UK to select one, putting huge strain on manufacturing and often instruments took a long time to arrive to the customer. I've heard many stories of the problems people had with old Sterling instruments.
The new Sterling's will not suffer any of the same issues. Sales, after-sales, distribution and delivery, repair, maintenance, warranty, future designs, planning, promotion etc etc will now all be handled by JP. A company who just won the King's Award for Enterprise for the second time!
The instruments will be made in the same factory as all the JP products in China and will go through extensive consistency checks. But just because the Virtuoso is made in the JP factory it doesn't make it the same as any other products. Meaning, in many ways, the new Sterling's will be far superior to the old ones.
As mentioned, Paul Riggett visited the factory multiple times over many years and set up the euphonium production lines. Prior to any new Sterling's being made, Paul took one last trip out to China to give the handover his blessing and the whole design and manufacturing process has been overseen by a UK based team.
So, to answer the question, in this case absolutely no, these instruments are not rubbish, they are seriously good, however, many other Chinese made instruments are rubbish, if they have been made cheaply without any professional input.
How is the new Sterling euphonium different to the old UK made one?
The old Sterling euphoniums were known to be big, strong instruments. Solid and sturdy, in many ways like the old Boosey & Hawkes instruments. It was said a few times that if you wanted an instrument that played like an old UK made Besson Sovereign then you should get a Sterling.
I have played an old Sterling euphonium for many years so it is easy for me to compare it with the new one which I tested only a few months ago.
The new Sterling euphonium will have gold slides and accents. It is the same bore and bell size as the largest old one and is made from the same high gauge brass. My old Sterling actually had a smaller bell, because that was the one I preferred. There is only one 12" bell option on the new Sterling.
The leadpipe is a new design, slightly shorter than the old one, but remember most old Sterling's were all slightly different or had been customised for the customer. So in some ways it is hard to compare. I didn't like the leadpipe angle to start with on the new one but as with anything new, it needs time.
My old Sterling's smaller bell meant I noticed straight away a slight difference in resonance and sound quality. The new one has a more direct, projecting tone where as my old Sterling was able to blend a bit better. I much prefer the added clarity and brightness the new one seems to have.
One big difference is that all the old Sterling's had slides which fitted flush into the tubes, with no rings at the openings. Paul Riggett liked the clean look which makes sense but I never liked this as it was not very efficient for slotting the slides back in and was very sharp if you caught your finger while cleaning it. It also meant the plating would chip easily on the old ones. The new ones have rings on the tubes so for me is far better.
I find tuning to be better on the new Sterling but there are still notes that will require work. Adjusting to a new instrument takes time. Never buy an instrument expecting it to be in tune, no matter how expensive the instrument is. I can sit at a piano or with my tuner and play perfectly in tune but playing in a band takes time and patience to get the intonation perfect at all dynamics.
I am so used to the somewhat poor tuning on my old Sterling that playing something that now sits more naturally is also hard to adjust too. I look forward to playing the new Virtuoso at band rehearsals.
The main tuning slide trigger lever is actually a throw back to one that Paul Riggett first designed. One which may have already been stolen a few times by other cheap Chinese brands. It has a larger paddle and allows for a wider field of motion. The new Sterling will also have a heavy 4th valve cap fitted just like the old ones, and this does make a difference.
The new Sterling is slightly lighter in weight and this helps a lot. I have developed back issues as a result of playing the old Sterling I am sure of it!
Here is a video of me playing on my old Sterling in the USA.
To hear me playing the new Sterling euphonium check out this recording:
Or just follow this link below to the website where you can hear more of it in action from when I tested it.
I think that the new euphonium has a clearer sound, has better projection, has better valves and is generally easier to play on. I found that the notes that are flat on my old Sterling were in tune on the new one but some higher notes were slightly sharper which is an easy fix with the main slide trigger.
The new Sterling has slightly larger valve buttons, I prefer a smaller valve top so will probably swap the valve buttons to those from my old Sterling.
The trigger guard on the new Virtuoso is currently the same as the JP374T but I have found that I don't need the trigger guard at all, as the playing angle allows the slide to move out freely when sitting or standing. Obviously if you have a big belly then you might need the guard. 🤣😲 The new Sterling probably won't come with a lyre box although the sample I tested did have it.
How is the new Sterling euphonium different to the JP374ST Sterling euphonium?
This is a question I have been asked a few times about both the euphonium and baritone. Something to realise first of all is that the JP Sterling versions are considerably better than their price tags suggest. Meaning that for most players who want a professional level instrument, the JP Sterling's would be more than enough for you.
I have been using the JP374ST in Grimethorpe concerts and as a soloist for example and while it might struggle a bit at the very loudest dynamics in some ranges, it has performed very well, especially when you look at the price of them. I have found the JP374T is very easy to manipulate intonation wise and this might have made tuning a bit tricky in band for me, maybe this is the same with any brand new instrument.
But, the new Sterling Virtuoso's are a step up on the JP374T. Made with a higher gauge brass bell and with a better leadpipe, they will have a more commanding sound than the JP's.
The new Sterling is heavier than the JP Sterling but for me, I am not interested any more for very heavy euphoniums. They are no fun when performing long pieces like a concerto standing up and the heaviness can just lead to a stuffy, wider sound without enough clarity. Everyone will have preferences of course but always think about how you want to sound before buying an instrument and ask someone you know to listen to you when testing them, so you get an honest opinion.
I believe that the JP Sterling always had and has the same valves as the old Virtuoso and the new ones will be the same as well. All parts, like guides will fit all three models (old Sterling, JP Sterling and new Virtuoso) and are available from John Packer.
I don't even know some of how this new instrument has been designed but the difference in the way they play is worth the upgrade, but don't take my word for it, just give it a try. If you can justify the extra expense, I don't think you will be disappointed.
What is the cost of a new Sterling Virtuoso euphonium?
The price is expected to be around £4500 (GBP). To get the most up to date information about prices please contact Sterling directly here - Contact – Sterlingbrass.
Bare in mind that other professional euphoniums are far more expensive, up to around £8000 which is quite crazy. While some brands such as Adams and Besson warrant this sort of price tag, the new Sterling will be the best value for money that you can get and will hopefully help change peoples opinion about what is an acceptable cost for a professional euphonium.
How do I order one?
For any questions about the Sterling euphonium, you can message me directly or use the contact form above. Silly questions or time wasters will just be ignored. To start with, while demand for the instruments is up or down, it might take longer to get one. As with any new product there will be a settling in period. At the moment in the US they are set to be sold by DF Music.
What to expect from a new Sterling euphonium?
Your new Sterling euphonium will be the most shiny and well presented instrument you have ever seen straight out the case. It might need a bit of valve oil and you might consider giving it a complete rinse through before using it properly.
New instruments often have lubrication in them which help keep it in top condition while in transit or storage. Sometimes, if you do not wash them straight away you can expect your valves to get a bit sluggish from time to time, needing frequent oiling. You might also notice the water you release from the water keys is not clear for a while. This is all normal.
What is my involvement and am I only trying to earn a commission?
I have been involved with Sterling Musical Instruments as a euphonium artist since around 2014. I have never been paid to play the instrument but have received some support allowing me to perform more and have always had my instrument looked after whenever needed.
With this new collaboration and take over of Sterling by JP, I am not sure what my role will be yet and how I will benefit from playing the new Sterling euphonium. What I know is that I wouldn't play it and wouldn't recommend it to anyone unless I was 100% behind it.
If anyone asks me questions about what instrument to buy, I always have and will continue to suggest that any player tests instruments first to see what they like. But I will also continue to recommend the new Sterling's and JP products to anyone because I like the company, trust everything they do and hope that my support of them will just aid their support of me as an endorser of the Sterling brand. I will not receive any commission from making sales and should that change, I will edit and explain more in this blog.
Here is the official new Sterling website containing more information and professional pictures - Sterlingbrass.
Bare in mind, there are a lot of rogue comments flying around online, some from people who know little to nothing about manufacturing brass instruments and probably couldn't tell the difference between any instruments based on their own playing ability. This is not meant as an insult to anyone but just consider that not everything you read online is true. Always do your own 'due diligence' before making comments.
Updates
It is possible that Sterling will also be bringing back the Sterling Royale model and this will be the Virtuoso model, without the gold accents and without the trigger. More news on this will come in time.
It is possible that some customisations will be available on the new Sterlings or that they will be offered in lacquer finish. These things will all depend on demand or will come at a higher cost.
As I find anything else, or answer any other questions that come in, I will add new information to this blog post. For example, information about the case, mouthpiece and accessories that will come with a new purchase.
A similar blog for the new Sterling baritone is here - Sterling Virtuoso Baritone - NEW vs OLD - Everything I know.
Thanks for reading ❤
Mark Glover
21/11/25
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