Stephen Shires quits SE Shires

[SwissTbone]

[Vegastokc]

Wow, this seems like big news but I suspect some in the know (not me) might not be surprised.
Wasn't there something about him not being 100% in favor of the Eastman "merger"?

[Burgerbob]

I thought this was old news.

[Bach5G]

I’d heard he was building horns but was still involved with SE Shires’ trombone and trumpet business.

[brassmedic]

I thought this was old news.

He posted it on Facebook today. Some people may have known about it, but a lot of us didn't.

[norbie2018]

Another trombone manufacturer in the States, another set of options - it is a good time to be a trombone player. Well, a trombone player with money.

[Burgerbob]

Another trombone manufacturer in the States, another set of options - it is a good time to be a trombone player. Well, a trombone player with money.

Stephen has a non-compete. He is making french horns, not trombones.

[JohnL]

I wouldn't think that it would be a big surprise to anyone. He's probably working full time and then some on getting his new company rolling; doesn't leave much time for S. E. Shires.

[Bach5G]

Another trombone manufacturer in the States, another set of options - it is a good time to be a trombone player. Well, a trombone player with money.

Stephen has a non-compete. He is making french horns, not trombones.

Non-competes usually expire. It’s been around 5 years since Eastman bought the company. Maybe the non-compete expired Dec 31/19?

[Burgerbob]

Stephen has a non-compete. He is making french horns, not trombones.

Non-competes usually expire. It’s been around 5 years since Eastman bought the company. Maybe the non-compete expired Dec 31/19?

https://www.stephenshorns.com/

[sungfw]

Stephen has a non-compete. He is making french horns, not trombones.

Non-competes usually expire. It’s been around 5 years since Eastman bought the company. Maybe the non-compete expired Dec 31/19?

While I'm sure there are exceptions, non-compete clauses, aka, covenants not to compete, typically don't kick in until an employee leaves a company.

[Schlitz]

.

[Burgerbob]

Shires also makes a euphonium now. https://www.dillonmusic.com/shires-q-se ... onium.html

I'm pretty sure Steve is going to make very nice, custom french horns on his own. And that's it.

[BGuttman]

Shires also makes a euphonium now. https://www.dillonmusic.com/shires-q-se ... onium.html

I'm pretty sure Steve is going to make very nice, custom french horns on his own. And that's it.

He spent enough time at Osmun. He should know French Horns pretty well.

[mrdeacon]

Shires also makes a euphonium now. https://www.dillonmusic.com/shires-q-se ... onium.html

I'm pretty sure Steve is going to make very nice, custom french horns on his own. And that's it.

I recently got to play one of those Q series. Holy cow it played pretty great. I was genuinely surprised. It played in tune and had a good sound. Comparable to any Besson or Wilson out there, if not better than many. I might replace my Besson New Standard with the 41S when I get the dough.

There are two designs now too! And Euro shank models! Hopefully more to come in the future.
https://www.seshires.com/qserieseuphoniums

[Mikebmiller]

Just out of curiosity, I wonder how many man hours it takes to built a high quality french horn. I bet it is 3 or 4 times as many as a trombone.

[timbone]

Steve is out and Joe is in, or Joe is in and Steve is out?

[GabrielRice]

Steve is out and Joe is in, or Joe is in and Steve is out?

The S. E. Shires Company designed an instrument and established a business relationship with Joe Alessi.

The founder of the company, Steve Shires, was no longer running day-to-day factory operations but was involved in the development of the new Alessi model and the establishment of the relationship.

Then he decided it was time for him to move on. It would be erroneous to assume any connections between these events.

I know Steve well; this was a difficult decision for him to make, but it was coming for a while.

[Bach5G]

Since the bankruptcy, it isn’t his company anymore, regardless of what it says over the door. He’s moved on and found something else to do. Tired of working for the man (Mr. Eastman)?

The good news is the 2005 Shires I bought at the factory has suddenly increased in value manyfold. Yes, I went to the Hopedale shop, selected the components after hours of comparing various options, and spoke to the great man himself (to be more accurate, I was standing next to GL while SS complained about the cost of his daughter’s orthodontics, IIRC). Still, pre-2020, pre-Eastman, horn. Like a pre-CBS Strat or a pre-Norlin Gibson. I’ll entertain offers, line starts to the right. Tongue’s in the cheek lads.

[JohnL]

I know Steve well; this was a difficult decision for him to make, but it was coming for a while.

It's gotta be tough to walk away when it's your name above the door, plus the people you're leaving behind.

OTOH, living in Waterbury Center and working for a company in Holliston, MA? I wouldn't think that would be sustainable, even if he wasn't commuting every day.

When he first started up the new company, I was a little surprised that his initial offering was a fairly conventional Geyer-style layout; I'm sure it's built to a very high standard of craftsmanship, but there's already a LOT of really nice Geyer horns out there - another "really nice Geyer" just isn't going to move the needle. His Series II looks to have the potential to put him on the map.

[harrisonreed]

Steve is out and Joe is in, or Joe is in and Steve is out?

I thought that it would be a 1-for1 trade too, and that Joe would be building and engraving each Alessi model.

[Posaunus]

It's gotta be tough to walk away when it's your name above the door, plus the people you're leaving behind.

OTOH, living in Waterbury Center and working for a company in Holliston, MA? I wouldn't think that would be sustainable, even if he wasn't commuting every day.

Steve has clearly moved on from S. E. Shires; his heart and soul are currently absorbed by the design and manufacture of French horns. And of course life is a little better when the Ben & Jerry's ice cream plant is just around the corner in Waterbury. Holliston is probably by now only a memory.

[timbone]

All these golden parachutes!