Mr. Werden:
I found your comparison chart for various brand euphoniums re: intonation to be instructive. Looks like the Adams E3 emerged an intonation winner according to the chart. Have you had a chance to compare intonation of the John Packer 274 MkII with other brands? I noted that Algirdas Matonis got good intonation results with both the JP274 and the Schiller Elite when he did the low cost comparison published on YouTube). But as you pointed out elsewhere, some of that is the earned ability of Mr. Matonis to get the best out of any horn he plays due to his skills as a professional player. On your comparison chart, is it tracking the best that can be had with the various horns with a player of your ability? Or are some horns, such as the Adams that you play, just spot on manufactured to a more true intonation? I sometimes look at my intonation using my tuner with alarm, wondering if I will ever get to the point where I can stay mostly in tune due to a better developed embouchure and ability to hear intonation anomalies and address them with different fingerings, tuning slide adjustments, or lipping adjustments. I've been in community band environments in the past where someone several horns down from me will say I've been flat or sharp on a particular note (years ago) and I was a bit unsure of whether this was a "real" or "imagined" observation. If it's mostly me, I hope I can develop a better ear for intonation over time. At this point, I'd be loathe to blame it on the horn.