| OK, a bit more digging shows some reviews that say that the Allora is made by Voglandische...whatever (the corporate umbrella name for B & S), and that they "think" it might be the original Challenger I.
Well, this one definitely is lower quality than the Challenger that I held and played on for a bit in band about three weeks ago! I honestly can't see someone paying over $500 for the brass that I was trying to sort out last night. And my first horn was an old Bundy which I'd take any day over the Allora.
I'm trying to wrack what's left of my brain but I don't recall seeing tuning slide braces neither... in contradiction to the pictures on the WW & BW site. Maybe there is/was a much lower grade model that isn't currently being offered in the US? Or maybe "Allora" (whoever they are) buy different models from different suppliers (Weril springs to mind).
Guess I'll have to wait for next week and take another look at it. But I DO know that the valve indexing was NOT what I would expect in even a good student quality horn. Stainless or nickel plated valves as well. (not that that's an indication of quality... look at Getzen). |