I've been looking at a couple of different horns for myself. I currently play a YEP-321 that belongs to my university and had the luxury of playing a YEP-642II in my high school wind ensemble. I'm looking into getting a horn because I'm a music ed. major and figured I should have my own horn. But I can't drop $6000 on my own 642. I'm looking towards a Schiller Elite V and the Wessex Dolce. Any advice on what to look for?
Sponsor Banner
Collapse
Buying a Cheaper Professional Grade Horn
Collapse
X
-
Welcome to the forum!
I recommend browsing around the forum, where you can find plenty of discussion about the Schiller and Wessex.
Bottom line: both are fine horns. The general feeling is that these horns approach 70-90% of a pro horn's characteristics. That kind of number doesn't explain a lot, but suffice to say the horns both have a nice tone, decent response and intonation, and blow pretty well. I believe the current runs of these horns will hold up well for years of playing, assuming reasonable care.
In the hands of a known-quantity player, that player will sound very similar to when they play their horn of choice. That would be the 90% part I mentioned. But to the player behind the mouthpiece, I suspect the Chinese horns will FEEL like about 70-80% of what their own horn feel like.
For your purposes, if you are a very good player you would probably notice that these are not quite the equal of the 642II, but they will surely help your sound to be similar. Both will feel nicer than your 321 - at least, that's how I would feel comping the 321 to a Wessex or Schiller.
Of the two brands I would suggest Wessex, because they have put a lot more sweat equity into making their horns better than the other Chinese instruments.Dave Werden (ASCAP)
Euphonium Soloist, U.S. Coast Guard Band, retired
Adams Artist (Adams E3)
Alliance Mouthpiece DC3, Wick 4AL, Wick 4ABL
YouTube: dwerden
Facebook: davewerden
Twitter: davewerden
Instagram: davewerdeneuphonium
-
-
I would second the good advice and comments from Dave. I own a very high end horn AND a Wessex Dolce. The Dolce is a very good horn, no "except for" at all. You are not too awful far from Michigan, where Wessex has a store where you could check out their horns in person.John Morgan
The U.S. Army Band (Pershing's Own) 1971-1976
Adams E3 Custom Series Euphonium, 1956 B&H Imperial Euphonium,1973 F. E. Olds & Son Studio Model T-31 BaritoneAdams TB1 Tenor Trombone, Yamaha YBL-822G Bass Trombone
Year Round Except Summer:Kingdom of the Sun (KOS) Concert Band, Ocala, FL (Euphonium)Summer Only:
KOS Brass Quintet (Trombone, Euphonium)Rapid City Municipal Band, Rapid City, SD (Euphonium)
Rapid City New Horizons Band (Euphonium)
Comment
-
-
Wessex is an excellent choice for your needs. Since you are in Iowa, if you would consider a used horn, contact Lee Stofer over on the east side of the state. He is a first class repair and restoration tech. He frequently has horns available for sale. He primarily does tubas so he may or may not have a euphonium available. He will give you honest and trustworthy answers. It's worth the call.
Comment
-
-
Originally posted by davewerden View Post[snip] I recommend browsing around the forum, where you can find plenty of discussion about the Schiller and Wessex. [snip]Dean L. Surkin
Mack Brass MACK-EU1150S, BB1 mouthpiece
Bach 36B trombone; Bach 6.5AL and Faxx 7C mouthpieces (pBone on loan to granddaughter)
Steinway 1902 Model A, restored by AC Pianocraft in 1988; Kawai MP8, Yamaha KX-76
See my avatar: Jazz (the black cockapoo; RIP) and Delilah (the cavapoo) keep me company while practicing
Comment
-
Comment