New Yamaha Euphs with Trigger?

[Cameron J.]

I have known about the trigger Yamaha have been designing for a couple of years now (from some inside information). They have been in prototype stage for a while and have now just fully been released. https://uk.yamaha.com/en/products/mu...ums/index.html

Yamaha seem to still be selling the Custom and Neo's without a trigger as well as with a trigger for preference. I am hoping they will release a trigger adaption kit sometime in the future as well for the guys like me who have a Custom or Neo and can't afford to purchase a new instrument with a trigger on it.

I know both would benefit considerably with a trigger. Due to the traditional flat concert C on 1st valve with Yamaha euphoniums, this allows to have the first sldie all the way in to keep the concert C in tune, whilst having the trigger option to bring concert Ebs and Gs into tune using the trigger. Also this allows Yamaha more competition against the heavyweights like Besson, York, Sterling and Geneva in the UK now they have a trigger option. And for the folks who don't like triggers, the Custom and Neo have pretty solid intonation on their own. A win-win in my book.

The only part of it I question is the build quality. The paddle looks sturdy enough, but I wonder at how strong the attachment is. The belly guard looks a little flimsy (ala Wessex on their Dolce Cantabile), but I may consider just purchasing a new Besson Prestige gold guard to use instead if possible. But I know they have been testing this for a while, so I would expect it to hold up very very well.

Overall, very exciting. Can't wait to try one in person!

[Cameron J.]

Is it really of a new triggger system developped by yamaha or a MTP trigger that can be installation by a repair man?

No it is fully developed by Yamaha.

[Art Lewis]

Comparing my Sterling Virtuoso from 2008 with the Yamaha Neo from 2016: both are rather unproblematic intonationwise. Except one note: I can´t cope with the extremely flat concert C/1st valve on the Yamaha Euphonium. 13-fingering is better but not good. I´m used to lip down the typical candidates on compensated euphoniums. So i hardly use the trigger on the Sterling and don´t miss it on the Yamaha. The problem for me is to lip up notes especially the higher ones. Lipped up High C on the Neo is similar difficult to hit as high B is difficult to hit on most other brands.
If a piece requires high C I don´t need a trigger on the Neo. I simply grab the Sterling for that piece and play the C without trigger in tune.

[daruby]

The trigger on the Sterling I owned was, with all due respect to Paul Riggett, mechanically speaking the biggest piece of garbage I've ever encountered. The Miraphone and Besson triggers are both vastly superior to Sterling.
Don

Don,

As you know, I am quite familiar with the trigger on your horn since I provided the spare parts that allowed you to get it repaired. I generally agree that the first generation trigger on the Sterling was inferior to the Besson or Miraphone. It had WAY too stiff of a spring, the turnbuckle pushrod mechanism was heavy and broke easily, the pivot mounts on the third valve slide were poorly attached and would break off, and the trumpet style screw stop on the main tuning slide made removing the tuning slide a real pain. And yes, it made an already heavy horn, heavier.

The new Sterling Virtuoso's have a vastly improved trigger system. The stops are built into a much more robust lever assembly, the spring is much lighter, and the tuning adjustment is in the pushrod which now has a thumb screw allowing quick removal of the tuning slide.

I have managed to overcome all of these issues on my horn and the trigger now works ALMOST as smoothly and lightly as the one on my 2007 Prestige. Both pivot points on the 3rd valve slide had to be resoldered after they broke, the spring was "de-arched" by Osmun music when they were working on the horn, and the original turnbuckle pushrod was replaced by a new thumbscrew pushrod, reducing weight and making service much quicker. The only remaining limitation is that my horn still uses the screw stop on the slide itself to adjust intonation and trigger throw. Though it did took me more than a few years and repairs to get there, I love the mechanics on my 2009 Virtuoso. The Bauerfeind valves are now perfection, the trigger works reliably and smoothly, and the horn just plays damn fine.

Even though I have had my Sterling for nearly 9 years, I like it more now than when it was new.

[bbocaner]

Doug, where did you get a thumb screw pushrod to replace your turnbuckle one? The Adams mechanism is similar to the old Sterling mechanism, and it's the worst trigger I've ever experienced. I'd like to try a similar upgrade!

[daruby]

Doug, where did you get a thumb screw pushrod to replace your turnbuckle one? The Adams mechanism is similar to the old Sterling mechanism, and it's the worst trigger I've ever experienced. I'd like to try a similar upgrade!

I picked it up during one of my annual visits to see Paul Riggett at the factory. We had pre-measured the length of the old style pushrod and he made up a new one to that length. Sorry, but nothing off the shelf....

[JakeGuilbo]

As an aside and probably as more of a reply to Art, I've found that on the Yamaha's (and the Chinese clones) 4th Valve produces a remarkably in-tune Middle C, way better than 1 or 1 and 3.

[highpitch]

I pulled the trigger on this one...

This is exactly the reason I had this one built; flimsy and you have to use your thumb in what for me is awkward.

Left index for 4th, remaining for trigger.

You just can't break it, and adjustment is easy.

Dennis

[djwpe]

I agree that the Bauerfind valves, when well broken in, are awesome.

Don,

As you know, I am quite familiar with the trigger on your horn since I provided the spare parts that allowed you to get it repaired. I generally agree that the first generation trigger on the Sterling was inferior to the Besson or Miraphone. It had WAY too stiff of a spring, the turnbuckle pushrod mechanism was heavy and broke easily, the pivot mounts on the third valve slide were poorly attached and would break off, and the trumpet style screw stop on the main tuning slide made removing the tuning slide a real pain. And yes, it made an already heavy horn, heavier.

The new Sterling Virtuoso's have a vastly improved trigger system. The stops are built into a much more robust lever assembly, the spring is much lighter, and the tuning adjustment is in the pushrod which now has a thumb screw allowing quick removal of the tuning slide.

I have managed to overcome all of these issues on my horn and the trigger now works ALMOST as smoothly and lightly as the one on my 2007 Prestige. Both pivot points on the 3rd valve slide had to be resoldered after they broke, the spring was "de-arched" by Osmun music when they were working on the horn, and the original turnbuckle pushrod was replaced by a new thumbscrew pushrod, reducing weight and making service much quicker. The only remaining limitation is that my horn still uses the screw stop on the slide itself to adjust intonation and trigger throw. Though it did took me more than a few years and repairs to get there, I love the mechanics on my 2009 Virtuoso. The Bauerfeind valves are now perfection, the trigger works reliably and smoothly, and the horn just plays damn fine.

Even though I have had my Sterling for nearly 9 years, I like it more now than when it was new.

[JakeGuilbo]

Here's a WWBW video of the Yamaha Booth at NAMM2018 showing the Yamaha Trigger in action.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWtGSHIPPcg