Hi everyone, I?m new to this forum and this is my first post. I?m afraid it?s going to be a somewhat lengthy one, but I hope you can indulge me and help me think through a few questions I have.
I?m a returning euphonium and trombone playing. I haven?t played much for about 5 years and even over the last 20 years, my playing was relatively sporadic. However, 20-25 years ago, I regularly played mostly euphonium in the Eastern Iowa Brass Band, a NABBA band that was very active, including NABBA competitions. I was missing playing and got my horns out about 3 months ago and, in spite of a very heavy work load (spring is always our busiest time of year), I?ve been able to put some time into playing. My chops are starting to come back and I just began to play my trombone in Jazz Big Band, mostly composed of returning players such as myself. I?ve also verbally committed to play in a local community band for the summer, mostly likely on my euphonium, since that seems to be what the greatest need is in that band.
Here?s where my questions begin. My euph is a roughly 30 year old Yamaha 321 that I bought used while playing in the brass band . It?s in basically good shape: only one dent roughly the size of a quarter on the main bow with a handful of smaller dents, roughly 80-85% of the lacquer intact, and the valves working quite well with only a couple of spots of pitting. The horn plays well.
I?ve always thought that I would stay with the Yammie with the possible exception of upgrading to a used King 2280 or one of its stencil clones. I?ve tried out a 2280 and like it very much. Although I?ve tried out compensating horns and liked their sound, the price has always made them out of reach financially in my mind with my level of playing.
However, since coming on this site recently, I?ve become aware of the Jinbao stencil horns. I?ve read every blog on this site about them that the search engine could pull up and they intrigue. It looks like I could sell my 321 for almost the same price as a new Mack, for example, and have a compensating horn. Can you confirm that I?m really understanding the situation correctly?
In addition to the compensating issue, I?ve noticed that my pinky finger is having a bit of a rough time getting back into shape and the 3+1 set-up might be an advantage, it looks like. Years ago, when I was doing regular woodshedding to prepare for the tough stuff that we played for NABBA competitions, I got pretty fair using the 4th valve as an alternative to improve intonation on low Cs and Bs. However, right now my 4th valve is close useless except for sustained tones. I not only don?t have strength in my pinky, but it?s a bit stiff as well. I?m 63 and I know that it?s not going to get better.
I?ve also read about a number of players replacing valve springs, valve tops, valve buttons, etc, on the Jabao stencils. While the S Mead springs would likely be too stiff for me, it sounds like the Yamaha springs from the 642, as well as other parts will fit the Jinbaos? Just how much does replacing such parts cost and how much is really necessary? Is replacing them easy or would I need a brass tech to do that? We have a good brass tech locally at West Music in Coralville, IA (where Steve Shires of trombone fame got his start?couldn?t resist the name dropping!), but Lee Stofer?s shop is only a little over an hour away if necessary. I know that I would need to upgrade my mouthpiece if I got a new horn as well because the Marcinkiewicz I currently play on my Yammie would be a bit too small for the larger bore Jimbao. All of this is simply a reflection that I could possibly be getting a bit more money into a new horn than what it looks like on the surface. I?d appreciated any insight any of you could give.
Thanks for taking the time to think through this with me. I?ve been stewing this over in my own mind for several days. I look forward to your insights.