E.K. Blessing and Sonare USA Brass

James Becker

I've been waiting awhile to share this. As of June 17th 2015 V.Q. Powell is no longer in the brass instrument business. Their factory at 2995 Paul Dr, Elkhart is shut down and they're no longer making E.K. Blessing or Sonare USA brass instruments. Sonare flutes and piccolos continue in Maynard, MA.

The E.K. Blessing brand (name only) has been sold to St. Louis Music http://www.stlouismusic.com/st-louis-music-the-new-home-of-e-k-blessing-brass/

It's sad to see another domestic manufacturer of band instruments, especially one with over 100 years of history, close it's plant on these shores.

I've enjoyed my affiliation with all involved during my five years as Sonare trumpet tester from 2005 to 2010 for V.Q. Powell in Maynard, MA.

With the help of Allied Supply and Clifford Blackburn we'll continue to service Sonare and E.K. Blessing products here at Osmun Music.
_________________
James Becker
Brass Repair Specialist Since 1977
Osmun Music Inc.
77 Powdermill Road Rt.62
Acton, MA 01720
www.osmun.com

Our workshop is as close as your nearest UPS store http://go.mappoint.net/ups/PrxInput.aspx

James Becker · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 10:37 am Post subject:

More regarding the end of production at the Elkhart, IN plant.

http://www.elkharttruth.com/news/business/2014/03/14/Longtime-Elkhart-horn-maker-stopping-production.html

I can't help but think the focus on hand made saxophones drew valuable resources away from their original mission to build high quality affordable band instruments domestically.

My 2 cents.
_________________
James Becker
Brass Repair Specialist Since 1977
Osmun Music Inc.
77 Powdermill Road Rt.62
Acton, MA 01720
www.osmun.com

Our workshop is as close as your nearest UPS store https://www.ups.com/dropoff?loc=en_US

googanelli · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 2:14 pm Post subject:

It's all about market and getting product in the hands of people to use them. My biggest complaint from them was they announced stuff but you never saw it. They could have gotten into the marching band circuit pretty easily. That could have done quite a bit in getting them some market. Sponsor a corps. Spend a few bucks to get someone to play your horns and you start getting students. Students want to emulate their favorite groups. Then you can expand on the higher end stuff. I play a blessing 1580 and love it. I'm also working on getting the sonare 802r. The design is solid.

Joe
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I play the same chords over and over.....from a train.

qcm · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 3:02 pm Post subject:

Very sad to hear this news.

-Dave
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Dave Edwards

Kanstuls, LA Benges and a Selmer picc.

TrentAustin · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 3:43 pm Post subject:

yourbrass · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 8:31 pm Post subject:

Bad news, and I'm sorry to see them go. Another legendary name consigned to history. Thank you Jim, for letting us know.
-Lionel
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"Strive for tone." -John Coppola
Edwards X-13
ACB MV3C /ACB A1/26 backbore
https://yourbrass.com/

Crazy Finn · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 8:55 pm Post subject:

Sad news. I think I remember playing their 1580 somewhere along the line, and I seem to remember thinking it was a good horn.

I also have a few fairly new Blessing mouthpieces. They're nice. I like their 3C better than the current iteration Bach 3C. I know they are designed by Terry Warburton (supposedly) and made in Germany, but still - nice pieces.

I've got a student Blessing trombone that I play on a regular basis. I've got a nice Olds Recording trombone that sounds great, but the slide on the Blessing is just 10X better.

I've got many Blessing student instruments, both trombones and trumpets in my public school inventory. They're good solid instruments that I try to hand out to the kids who actually practice.

I'm guessing that they will still sell Blessing brass instruments, they will just be built elsewhere and have Blessing stamped on them. Also, I noticed there's no model list of trumpets on their website - especially the 1580.

All of this is a real shame.
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LA Benge 3X Bb Trumpet
Selmer Radial Bb Trumpet
Yamaha 6335S Bb Trumpet
Besson 709 Bb Trumpet
Bach 184L Bb Cornet
Yamaha 731 Bb Flugelhorn

jojocat · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2015 3:50 am Post subject:

I'm sad to read this too...

One thing is sure, they didn't help themselves by putting online their pretty useless website. Today a company can't just miss this like they did. I often did some searches on Blessing horns and can't find any useful information from the company itself.
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The least we can do is wave to each other

Martin Committee trumpet
Yamaha 6335H
Yamaha 6320
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dstdenis · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2015 4:20 am Post subject:

James Becker · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2015 4:38 am Post subject:

When Blessing was acquired by V.Q. Powell Flutes I was kept on board testing the remaining German made trumpets and contributed to new product development of Blessing brass.

What was interesting about Blessing was at that time their best selling product was the B-88 symphonic tenor trombone with F attachment. They essentially could have dropped the remaining products and focused on that alone.

Fred Powell had already designed the new professional Bb trumpet and professional trombone bell, so all that they needed to go forward was the capital to acquire new tooling.

The move out of the Beardsley facility was necessary for safety reasons and would facilitate the expansion of new products, including a line of hand made saxophones. Some might say this was too ambitious for such a small player in the industry.
_________________
James Becker
Brass Repair Specialist Since 1977
Osmun Music Inc.
77 Powdermill Road Rt.62
Acton, MA 01720
www.osmun.com

Our workshop is as close as your nearest UPS store https://www.ups.com/dropoff?loc=en_US

qcm · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2015 7:32 am Post subject:

Jim,

Do you know if Sonare will be made by another manufacturer?

-Dave
_________________
Dave Edwards

Kanstuls, LA Benges and a Selmer picc.

trumpjosh · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2015 8:32 am Post subject:

Does anyone remember the Sonare 600S? It was a silver intermediate trumpet (Taiwan-made I believe) that had a MAP price of $999 and a decent margin for stores that carried it. We sold every one we could get our hands on and usually had pre-orders when we were out of stock. It was literally the best horn at that price range I've ever played. Inexplicably, they discontinued it when they made the switch to Blessing. That was always a head scratcher for me.
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www.milanomusic.com

James Becker · Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2015 7:04 am Post subject:

The discontinuation of the Sonare 600 (lacquered) and 700 (silver plated) made in Taiwan coincided with the acquisition of E.K Blessing. Featuring a Blackburn designed mouthpiece and leadpipe, also MicroLok valve guides made for a loaded student model trumpet at a nice price point.

The plan was to make most everything domestically at the new plant in Elkhart. IN.

Mouthpieces were still sourced from Germany, just as they are for other American brands like DEG, Getzen, Benge and others.
_________________
James Becker
Brass Repair Specialist Since 1977
Osmun Music Inc.
77 Powdermill Road Rt.62
Acton, MA 01720
www.osmun.com

Our workshop is as close as your nearest UPS store https://www.ups.com/dropoff?loc=en_US

Steve Hollahan · Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2015 1:42 pm Post subject: Last of the independents

Sad, but new products never got to the stores. I work for a major music chain and had hoped we would stock a few, but NO! I would liked to have tried one. Oh, well.
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Steve Hollahan
Bach 37, 229 C
Yamaha 9620 D-Eb, 741 C, Flugel
Kanstul 900 piccolo trumpet
Sculptured Recrafting Custom Instrument Repair
and Restoration
www.sculpturedrecrafting.com

Brent · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2015 3:37 pm Post subject: Blessing

Does the St. Louis Company have any plans to make trumpets?

Very sad to see the Elkhart plant close, but what if they open a plant in St. Louis? The article I glanced over doesn't indicate one way or another.
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Brent

Dennis78 · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2015 7:24 pm Post subject:

What's sad is greed! All these companies would still be going if people still believed in good products honestly. There's not one of these companies that don't cut corners to save dimes. Employees are barely paid what their worth and the button pushing desk jobbers are paid twice what their worth and owners, CEO's and all that crap are obscenely over compensated. When the average man can't buy a decent horn on a 40 hour check but the suits at the company have high end cars, giant mansions, and vacation homes something is bad wrong. A big part of me hope China kills the American instruments market. I know if I buy new it will be from an off shore maker. That way Americans aren't getting the shaft from their own countrymen
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a few different ones

Adam R. Getzen · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2015 8:49 pm Post subject:

shofarguy · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2015 8:59 pm Post subject:

LittleRusty · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2015 9:42 pm Post subject:

Dennis78 · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2015 3:41 am Post subject:

Sorry! Election day ruffles my feathers. I do not intend to shaft my countrymen, and reall can't see myself with another TSO. I work for a family company whose live are modest. But there is a problem with greed in America
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a few different ones