Russ Marsh

Russ has played for many of the top bands in the UK either as a member or guest. On graduating from the RCM with a degree and A.R.C.M. (hons) he joined the famous CWS Manchester Band. He was solo trombone for the Leyland Band when they were National Champions in 2006. Russ has guested with Fairey's band, Besses Band and many others as well as enjoying stints WITH many North West Big Bands on lead trombone. He was a brass ionstrument teacher for the first 20 years after leaving college and many professional musicians today started their musical educations with him.

Workshop Grit: Straightening a Severely Bent Trumpet Bell | UK Brass Repair

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We see instruments arrive in all states, but this trumpet’s crisis was certainly memorable. This bell section was pointing so far to starboard it defied physics, looking less like a custom jazz modification and more like a clear workshop emergency. When serious trauma hits a brass instrument, it’s not just cosmetic; the precise geometry of […]

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Close up of restored Conn 88H trombone bell section showing polished brass and seamless dent removal.

Workshop Precision: Rescuing a Battered Conn 88H Trombone Legend

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  When a vintage Conn 88H Trombone, the ‘Maestro’ of symphonic brass, arrived at the workshop in a shocking state, it was an immediate call to action. While our partner Russ—a dedicated 88H owner since 1974—felt the visceral shock of seeing a legend so severely compromised, the technical challenge was passed straight to Paul. The

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Three gold-trimmed Elliott cornets resting in a red velvet-lined instrument case awaiting annual service completion.

Annual Service Secrets Optimizing Your Contest Cornet

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The competitive brass band calendar places significant demands on instruments, requiring peak mechanical reliability under pressure. Recently, we had the distinct pleasure of receiving three exquisite Elliott cornets belonging to our valued clients at Cadishead Band. These instruments, known for their stunning gold trim and bespoke presentation, were delivered for their essential annual service, strategically

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Detailed close-up of a silver-plated Elliott Professional Baritone valve cluster and bell engraving.

Elite Baritone Performance: Rethinking Professional Brass Standards

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For brass musicians and technicians alike, the perpetual challenge lies in balancing performance requirements with budgetary realities. Top-tier instruments often carry a price tag dictated more by legacy marketing than intrinsic material value. The Elliott Professional Baritone, the instrument recently highlighted by musician John, offers a compelling disruption to this standard. By utilizing a highly

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Close-up of a fully restored, highly polished Besson Sovereign EEb Bass Tuba after extreme dent removal and slide liberation.

Sovereign EEb Bass: Extreme Brass Restoration Challenge

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The instrument that arrived at the Elliott Brass workshop was perhaps one of the most structurally compromised brass instruments we have encountered recently: a Besson Sovereign EEb Bass. This powerhouse of the low brass section had clearly endured severe neglect, manifesting in advanced external pitting and heavy corrosion across the entire surface. The initial assessment

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Professional brass instrument workshop and retail services

We needed to reinforce the workbench for this one! 😅🏗️…

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We needed to reinforce the workbench for this one! 😅🏗️ This poor Sovereign EEb Bass dragged itself into the workshop looking like it had been at the bottom of the ocean. The brass was pitted, it was covered in dents, and the tuning slides were stuck fast (we’re talking “welded by time” stuck). It was

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Professional Baritone instrument

The “Anti-Aging” Cream 🧴 They say you can’t stop the aging …

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The “Anti-Aging” Cream 🧴 They say you can’t stop the aging process, but Paul is doing his best! 👴➡️👶 Check out this classic old Imperial Baritone. It came in looking like it had gone 12 rounds in a boxing ring—lumps, bumps, and bruises everywhere. But after a session on Paul’s bench (no botox required, just

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Before and after dent correction on a vintage Boosey & Hawkes Imperial Baritone horn.

Vintage Brass Restoration: The Imperial Baritone Rescue

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We recently undertook a formidable restoration challenge: a classic Boosey & Hawkes Imperial Baritone Horn that presented significant cosmetic and structural compromise. These vintage instruments are revered for their tonal quality and robust build, yet decades of active use can leave them heavily scarred. This particular horn arrived with severe trauma, exhibiting deep indentations and

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Professional brass instrument workshop and retail services

“International Rescue” 🦸‍♂️ (cue Thunderbirds Theme 😉)…

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“International Rescue” 🦸‍♂️ (cue Thunderbirds Theme 😉) When your Euphonium needs fixing, no distance is too far! 🇮🇪➡️🇬🇧 Oscar flew all the way in from Cork just to see us. His Besson Prestige had developed some slack tuning slides and he wanted the best hands in the business to sort it out. ✈️ The Mission:

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Technician Paul working on tightening the slack tuning slides of a Besson Prestige Euphonium at the Elliott Brass workshop.

International Travel For Besson Euphonium Slide Repair

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Dedication to musical excellence knows no geographic boundaries, a truth dramatically proven when Oscar travelled from Cork, Ireland, across the Irish Sea to our specialized workshop in Lowton. The mission? To address a critical functional flaw in his high-tier Besson Prestige Euphonium. While distance is often a barrier to instrument repair, the integrity of a

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