Adams E3 configurations?

[AwesomeDad]

Just browsing their website and pouring thru all the information on this board. I’m curious if anyone is playing an E3 with .7mm thickness and either the red brass or sterling silver bell?

JJ

[DutchEupho]

Hi JJ,

Unless they changed the available options red brass is not available on the E3. Sterling Silver is 0.55 or 0.60.

I'm playing a E3 0.60 with Sterling Silver Bell and MTS trigger and (for me) this is the best euphonium I've ever played. I play it mostly in Brass Band and I've got only positive reactions on the sound.
It plays easier for me then the Prestige, Geneva and Sterling I've previously owned thus allowing me to focus more on expression and musicallity.

Long story short: I love my E3

[AwesomeDad]

Just going off what’s listed on the website. Everyone seems to love their E3.

[bbocaner]

I really don't like the sterling silver as you really need to push it to get the best results, I imagine a relatively heavy bell would exasperate that characteristic.

[davewerden]

I really don't like the sterling silver as you really need to push it to get the best results, I imagine a relatively heavy bell would exasperate that characteristic.

Interesting observation. I don't find that myself. For example, I recently performed Baadsvik's Ordner Seg again on my E3 ss .60. It starts off at a soft dynamic in a very relaxed style. From the first note I was actually surprised how full and rich it sounded at this low dynamic. My wife was in the audience and made the same observation.

I have never tried a .70 ss bell on either E1 or E3, so I can't say if I would warm up to a .70ss. I know I like the standard yellow .70 E3, but that's not based on a long-term test. As you may have picked up from a few other comments, I don't want a sound that goes TOO dark and/or becomes tuba-like. So I might wind up not liking a .70ss, but time will tell (given the opportunity).

[daruby]

I am playing a yellow brass .70 E3 with brushed brass finish, no trigger. I believe the .70 thickness is only available in yellow brass on the E3. However my horn is also a top-sprung short action valve prototype, so it probably plays a bit differently than a horn with standard "Bauerfeind" valveset. Compared with other E1's and E3's I have played, the intonation is not quite as good (a product of the changes required with the valveset), but the response and tone are quite good. The horn has better ease of dynamic range than the Besson Sovereign it replaces, and save a slightly flat 2nd partial, better intonation. Ergonomics and valve action are 2nd to none. This is significant given that I am playing with a broken right hand just now.

The caveat is that compared with my Sterling, it still comes in 2nd place in all categories except ergonomics. The Sterling has a smoother, velvety sound, response that is just as good, and equal or better intonation except 6th partial (which is handled by the trigger). Thus, all things being equal, I prefer my Sterling for every day playing, but use the Adams when I am less than my best physically.

Doug

PS. Note that I purchased the Adams specifically as backup horn due to my not infrequent tendonitis problems, so it fits my current need fantastically.

[John Morgan]

I really don't like the sterling silver as you really need to push it to get the best results, I imagine a relatively heavy bell would exasperate that characteristic.

I have to second Dave's comments as well. Coincidentally, I performed Baadsvik's Ordner Seg in a church for the Offertory late last month (May 2018). It requires a very delicate touch in much of the piece. Since it is rather slow, it requires a lot of musicality to make the notes really sing and have movement, even slowly. There are parts with a loud dynamic, but much of it is very expressive, rubato like, soft parts. My Adams E3 with SS bell (.60) performed remarkably well. I played the dynamics pretty much as written and asked my wife, Linda, who was in the audience, to let me know if she could hear all the soft parts. She said it sounded wonderful and could be heard all over the rather large sanctuary at the softest dynamic. It felt very solid and the presence of the euphonium really stood out. I could feel the resonance, even at p and double pp. A lot of the piece is in a very nice range for the euphonium, I think it only goes to high G just once, most of the rest is below F.

By the way, this is a great piece to play as a Euphonium solo. The piano part is very nice, not your standard "blah" accompaniment you get with some solos. The euphonium and piano work very nicely together in this arrangement. It really tests your skills with a piece that is technically not hard at all, but to make music, requires all of your skills of musicianship.

The Adams E3 euphonium is the best euphonium I have ever owned.

[davewerden]

For example, here is my recording of Ordner Seg from earlier this year:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CUNn4cpVOs

This is slower than Oystein plays it, but it better matched what was in my mind after I heard Oystein describe the motivation for writing it. He said he woke after a long winter and saw a beautiful sunrise combined with the water and mountains in his view. It put him in a very peaceful mood. But then the worries of the day started to encroach. He finally regained his feeling of peace so he could enjoy the moment.

[JakeGuilbo]

DutchEupho - can you expand more on ease of playing your E3 vs the Geneva you had? I'm finding just the opposite going from a Geneva Cardinal to .6 E3 - I find the E3 much harder to play. I'm actually a bit surprised by this, but it could be the fact that the horn is not truly broken in yet, despite being a demo horn.

[BrandonJones]

Different materials for different folks. I love my sterling silver bell E3. Barry plays with me in Brass of the Potomac... so he could speak to (hopefully) how it can really project... (hopefully) I absolutely love the colors I can get with that material on both the high and low ends of the spectrum. Can blend in the section/band very easily but can also soar when needed.

[bbocaner]

Brandon sounds amazing on his sterling bell E3, that's for sure! I personally just don't enjoy playing on them. Probably sounds fine out in the hall, in fact I got lots of compliments when I played the planets with a borrowed sterling E1, but I like the feel and clarity much better of yellow brass.

[AwesomeDad]

Ok so the .7 is only available in yellow brass, so gonna try and decide between the sterling silver and red brass in a .6.

JJ

[DutchEupho]

Hi Jake,

For me the Adams E3 is easier to play because I feel it resonates faster (and more). I’d say the sound fills the room easier.
I did make a mouthpiece switch after getting accustomed to the E3 though. For me the Warburton Demondrae matches the E3 better than the SM3(ultra) I used before.

[AwesomeDad]

Hi Jake,

For me the Adams E3 is easier to play because I feel it resonates faster (and more). I’d say the sound fills the room easier.
I did make a mouthpiece switch after getting accustomed to the E3 though. For me the Warburton Demondrae matches the E3 better than the SM3(ultra) I used before.

Which mouthpiece comes with the horn? Also is the Warburton similar to an SM3U?

JJ

[daruby]

Which mouthpiece comes with the horn? Also is the Warburton similar to an SM3U?

JJ

AFAIK the Adams E3 does not come with a mouthpiece. The Warburton Demondrae is NOT very similar to an SM3U, though in generally the same size range. What size do you play currently. If you are playing a large shank mouthpiece, I would highly recommend continuing to use what you have and then consider a change after you have gotten used to the horn.