I'm now on my 6th euph with a trigger and I'm fed up with them!
Without exception they have all created problems:
-Not least the comfort factor....... triggers add a significant weight and most of the "paddles" go just where we traditionally wrap our left thumbs around the outer 3rd valve slide leg. This diminishes your left hand grip which is where I like to take most of the instrument weight, leaving the right hand more relaxed on the valves. Add to this that I find many of my recent euphs have had the false piece much nearer to the valves than on early Sovs means weight levering on the right thumb instead of Cradled in the web of the hand. For me and my hours of over practicing this has meant severe tendinitis in both thumbs and mid back strain. One very good way of helping with this is the horn rinse lift kit..... I use the cushion when my back is bad and keep the wrist strap on all the time.
-Everyone I have had has snapped at least once in some place or another
-More hassle when it's bath time, I found it prudent to partially dismantle rather than wrap a cloth around and hope for the best on the scratch and snap front!
-the only free easy to use one I've had was a prestige, but I soon found out why......a very loose main tuning slide that constantly dribbles....looks great on my trousers! I planished it so it was a better fit, but unless I over lubricate it with unwatered down Lanalin so I can't use the trigger affectively it still dribbles. And yes I've tried everything from slide cream, trigger lubricants to light greases!
But they are very good for those top Fs and Gs etc (TC) above the stave or a top E on second with trigger to bring it down, below that I find notes very easy to lip. I can lip these notes so far but with some ensembles it's only just enough.... But depending on the euph, alternate fingerings particular on and around those notes can feel quit stuffy.
Sorry got ranting on a bit.........probably as I'm considering going for another euph and fancy not getting a trigger this time.........or is it worth it???? Any thoughts? I know when I changed from my round stamp that non of the new euphs played in tune ...... I was so used to putting the notes in very different places! I think that a lot of younger players seem to think it essential.......yes it makes life easier to be able to blow notes thru the middle with a trigger....but at what cost? Trevor Groom, Lyndon Baglin, David Moore etc seemed to play very nicely without them!
YD