Anyone know anything about Tuba Exchange Euphoniums?
These Chinese clone compensating euphoniums have been so successful and so universally lauded that they now have to be considered even by quite serious players. The quality and player acceptance of them has recently resulted in Tom McGrady of Mack Brass (where I got mine for $750 -- the price has now gone up about $50 I think) to adopt a return policy where he will refund your full purchase price AND all your shipping costs if you're not happy with the instrument.
There is another thread in this forum that discusses the benefits of ordering or buying from a variety of vendors (cost, speed of getting the instrument, warranty, support, etc.). There is a significant cost difference (over 100% in terms of purchase cost) and difference in warranty. You should look at that thread ("eastman compensator") and then decide where in that spectrum you fit. For these sorts of things I'm a rather low cost/high risk kind of guy, and I've been very happy with mine. But a lot of people will not be comfortable going that way.
Gary Merrill
Wessex EEb Bass tuba (DW 3XL or 2XL)
Mack Brass Compensating Euph (DE N106, Euph J, J9 euph)
Amati Oval Euph (DE 104, Euph J, J6 euph)
1924 Buescher 3-valve Eb tuba (with std US receiver), Kelly 25
Schiller American Heritage 7B clone bass trombone (DE LB K/K10/112/14 Lexan, Brass Ark MV50R)
1947 Olds "Standard" trombone (Olds #3)