Title-text to the XKCD cartoon above: "I know the etiquette is controversial, but I think it's rude when the person in front of me reclines their seat into the bell of my trumpet."

Title-text to the XKCD cartoon above: "I know the etiquette is controversial, but I think it's rude when the person in front of me reclines their seat into the bell of my trumpet."

https://xkcd.com/2525/

This is quite interesting - I have had the good experience of discussing some personal variations and modifications with Steve Shires and two of his staff to the Shires trumpet they made for me in 2011, and really appreciated their care and attention to detail. I last spoke to them just as they were being acquired by Eastman.

I presume most if not all of my trumpet was made in the USA, and it is top notch, but not living in the USA I had to smile a little when I read this in the article:
Not all the horn components are made here. Some are acquired from overseas, such as bent parts from China and joints from Germany. An overseas origin doesn't have to mean lesser quality.

I wish Shires and their customers all the best - if their horns are as good or better than ever then that can only mean a lot of happy players and a bright future.

--bumblebee