Hello. This is my first post so please bear with me as I get the hang of things! I have enjoyed reading the wealth of information offered here but I could not find exactly what I was looking for so thought I would just ask myself.
My daughter, a trumpet player for 7 years, has become hooked on the euphonium. She was switched by her band director at the beginning of marching season last year due to a lack of low brass as seems to be the case with a lot of euphonium players (loved reading your stories!) and given a nasty, moldy old Yamaha school instrument to play. After giving it a thorough cleaning in my bath tub (ick), a few weeks of tears during band camp and a successful season culminating her school's first trip to State with a marching band of only 9 horns she has decided never to play her collection of trumpets again. Having purchased her a silver Getzen Capri and a beautifully restored vintage Buescher with an engraved bell along with her first Yamaha student trumpet, I am a little disheartened about having to purchase further instruments but happy that she has found her niche.
She intends to play in college, major in music and become a band director herself, so I would like to purchase an instrument that will serve her well through her secondary education and perhaps beyond. As the school was so overjoyed to have a euphonium player, they purchased her a brand new Yamaha concert instrument which according to her will due for the next two years until we can get her her own. However the marching bari has got to go! I am not sure of the model but it's OLD. The only thing she likes about it is it's size.
I looked into the King 1127 Ultimate Marching Baritone but all the reviews I have read indicate it is very bell heavy and she is a tiny girl. I have heard good things about the King 1124, Kanstul instruments and a few Yamaha models. I am also perplexed as to the difference between a "marching baritone" and a "marching euphonium" and don't know which would serve her needs better. I want this instrument to grow with her and don't mind paying a bit more now rather than have to upgrade later. The weight distribution is key. We also do not mind buying used to be able to afford a better instrument and we have the time to try and locate the right one. Our goal is to get her the baritone before summer when marching season starts. May would be nice since my self-professed "band geek" has asked for a baritone for her sixteenth birthday. No car for her...that's my girl!
Are there any suggestions from the experts? Please forgive my ignorance of your instrument and my long winded post. Thank you in advance for any advice you can offer!