it`s taken Woodwind Direct 7 years to gradually sell the total of 35 mixed Stephs (25 Alto 1500s, couple of Baris, three or so sops, one 2000 Alto and the rest in Tenors) I can`t remember who Mark said got the other batch from TJ but TJ stopped doing Stephs when they began the Signature series at that time ..
These things must have been very expensive to make, they're not simple Generic parts-bin Taiwanese models hot-rodded or tweaked to spec TW made horns like Cannonballs , Antiguas , System-54s, Mauriats, TJs, Vikings etc seem to be . that one piece bow alone must have taken some making as would the special cast octave mech on the neck let alone the weird keywork and other bits .......
some may say that was it all worth the bother when you can get a simpler , far lighter TJ RAW with the same kinda sound - maybe if the RAW existed in the Steph's hayday (when it cost near what the RAW does now) , I`d say NO but this is NOW and you try getting a used RAW XS at all , let alone for under £600 !! . there`s also the question of how long the TJ RAW`s keywork will hold up in 10 years or so - Trimmy's report that two Stephs have been holding up in the Maghull Wind Orchestra just fine for 11 years !! .