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Thread: Yamaha 642 Neo

  1. #11

    Yamaha 642 Neo

    Originally posted by: JakeGuilbo

    AndyCat on TubeNet posted this video from Yamaha showing the Neo Tuba and Euph with playtests:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...tKryE&feature=youtu.be



    Very beautiful sounding instrument!
    I found the comment about the lack of a trigger to be interesting. It's noteworthy that Yamaha is the only major contender that doesn't provide a trigger out of the factory, and I've always wondered if that was due to some lack of R&D on Yamaha's part, or an indication of Yamaha's confidence regarding the intonation of their instruments. Judging from his comment, it would seem to be the latter!

  2. #12
    Join Date
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    Yamaha 642 Neo

    "euphdude" asked about the lead-pipe height on the Neo. Yes, it's the same height as the 642 and NOT low like it is on the 842. I downloaded some images and tried to make a comparison picture. The Neo is on the left, the center picture is the 642 (lacquer) followed by the 842 on the right.



    Even from this crude picture you can tell the lead-pipe height for the Neo is the same as the 642. Also... they moved the lyre holder to the first slide... a good move I think.
    Last edited by RickF; 07-04-2017 at 02:48 PM.
    Rick Floyd
    Miraphone 5050 - Warburton BJ / RF mpc
    YEP-641S (recently sold)
    Doug Elliott - 102 rim; I-cup; I-9 shank


    "Always play with a good tone, never louder than lovely, never softer than supported." - author unknown.
    Symphonic Band of the Palm Beaches
    El Cumbanchero (Raphael Hernandez, arr. Naohiro Iwai)
    Chorale and Shaker Dance
    (John Zdechlik)

  3. #13

    Yamaha 642 Neo

    Rick makes a good point about the lyre holder, which was moved. When I used to play a standard 642 it would gouge my left hand; nice to get it out of the way. A small point about intonation: I have to pull the tuning slide far less than in most euphoniums to tune to 440.

  4. #14

    Yamaha 642 Neo

    Originally posted by: tjonp I found the comment about the lack of a trigger to be interesting. It's noteworthy that Yamaha is the only major contender that doesn't provide a trigger out of the factory, and I've always wondered if that was due to some lack of R&D on Yamaha's part, or an indication of Yamaha's confidence regarding the intonation of their instruments. Judging from his comment, it would seem to be the latter!
    That sure sounds like it - their confidence in the intonation seems quite high. I haven't tried one yet, but it would be nice to know if they have made serious changes to the intonation of the 641/2. It is not greatly improved (and it was already quite good), I still think a trigger could be a useful addition for intonation alone. However, a trigger adds weight, maintenance, cost, and affects the vibrating qualities of the horn. The first three of those factors are easy enough to consider. Some buyers of the Sterling, for example, don't feel the need for a trigger, or at least don't feel the tradeoff's are worth it. But I'm a wimp about bending pitches, even with the fairly even scale of the Sterling, and I have gotten very comfortable having the trigger available. It's hard for me to comment on the last factor. I haven't taken enough time to really know how an otherwise identical horn would respond with & without a trigger.

    Frankly I can't imagine intonation so good that no player would feel a trigger is useful in some situations. Not every player would feel the need, but I think there is no way to make the horn perfect as long as we are using a 4-valve system. For the sake of argument I'll assume the 6th partial is perfect. That is not the end of the intonation story.

    If the 1st valve is tuned correctly, 12 is probably sharp. But it's easy enough to tune 3 to cover for 12. But(2) if you do that, then 23 is probably going to be sharp. But(3) if you tune 3 so it centers the 23 combination, then you don't have a perfect choice between 12 and 3. And what if you actually need to play a low B natural, just above pedal Bb? It is quite sharp on every compensating horn. It's fairly easy to lip, but a trigger would help, just as a trigger can offer help with the 12 vs. 3 issue.

    I've heard some players on the old Bessons do a really good job playing in tune with all the normal fingerings and no trigger, so that seems to prove that a trigger can't be called a necessity. To me, it's like the various euphonium stands, pillows, etc. You don't have to have one to play, but it can make life easier if the trade-off's aren't a problem for you. Same with a trigger.

    So if I had to guess, I'd say Yamaha might feel that the weight and possible affect on vibration aren't counteracted enough when you're dealing with an already good scale. Seems like they should offer the option, though.

    It's also possible they aren't happy with the design and operation of any triggers they have seen; they really like tidy engineering, and that's not a phrase I would apply to euphonium triggers.

    Dave Werden (ASCAP)
    Euphonium Soloist, U.S. Coast Guard Band, retired
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  5. #15

    Yamaha 642 Neo

    The NEO slots well, and the notes, especially in the 6th partial, can be bent into tune easily. That isn't to say a trigger would not be useful -- it would -- but it isn't needed nearly as much as with some other instruments I've played.

  6. Yamaha 642 Neo

    If I decide to move to a compensator in a couple of years, I think this one would be on my short list. I just got my 321 in two days ago. I have never seen such a well made horn at that price range. So, I can imagine the Neo is a nicely made horn.


  7. Yamaha 642 Neo

    Just thought I'd point out, this euphonium has completely replaced the standard Yamaha YEP 642 on wwbw.com.


  8. Yamaha 642 Neo

    Originally posted by: Euphinator

    Just thought I'd point out, this euphonium has completely replaced the standard Yamaha YEP 642 on wwbw.com.
    That's the point!

  9. #19

    Yamaha 642 Neo

    Neo update: still working well for me -- darker, smoother, and perhaps even better in tune than the original -- very consistent from top to bottom -- may sacrifice rub for weight in sound (sonic mirror image of the Sovereign), but I am adding rub using a DC3 mouthpiece exclusively now -- heavier than original, less sound for same effort, have to really blow at times (sonic mirror image of the 5050), but then horn comes to life, even at ppp -- soloistic in a controlled way.

  10. #20
    Join Date
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    West Palm Beach, FL
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    3,853

    Yamaha 642 Neo

    Sounds good John.

    I just stumbled on another short video about the Neo. It shows Wayne Preusker (low brass specialist in Australia) playing the Neo. I don't think the acoustics were that good in the store, but interesting just the same.

    Yamaha 642 'Neo' from Melbourne Brass & WW
    Rick Floyd
    Miraphone 5050 - Warburton BJ / RF mpc
    YEP-641S (recently sold)
    Doug Elliott - 102 rim; I-cup; I-9 shank


    "Always play with a good tone, never louder than lovely, never softer than supported." - author unknown.
    Symphonic Band of the Palm Beaches
    El Cumbanchero (Raphael Hernandez, arr. Naohiro Iwai)
    Chorale and Shaker Dance
    (John Zdechlik)

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