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Thread: First time shopper--please advise.

  1. #11
    It all depends on what your price range. If you can afford it, then I would certainly recommend the higher-end horns from Besson, Willson, Yamaha, Miraphone, and the like.

    I tried the new Wessex as well. Not bad, but I honestly have yet to try a Wessex (or any other Chinese horn, for that matter) that did not feel somewhat like a "toy" in how it played.
    University of Miami - BM Euphonium Performance '21
    Indiana University - MM Bass Trombone and Euphonium Performance '24



    Besson Prestige 2052S
    Courtois 551BHRA
    Conn 88HCLSGX
    Various Greg Black mouthpieces

  2. #12
    What grade will your son be moving to and what are his musical inclinations? If he's really enjoying his playing life and looks like he'll continue to enjoy it down the road, you might be able to set your sights on the high side. You'd hate to drop $4-6K on a higher end horn and have him change his interests unexpectedly. If it looks like he's really got "the itch", you'll want to find a horn that will keep up with him, and that won't frustrate him with usability issues or hard-to-fix intonation problems.
    Sterling Virtuoso Euphonium, Denis Wick 4AL

  3. He's in college and will probably play forever. I believe he has enjoyed the Willson, I just didn't want him to buy one without checking out what other options are available.

  4. Quote Originally Posted by EuphoniumMom View Post
    He's in college and will probably play forever. I believe he has enjoyed the Willson, I just didn't want him to buy one without checking out what other options are available.
    Willsons are one of the grand-daddies of euphoniums, and you aren't likely to go wrong purchasing one. I've never heard of anyone owning a bad Willson....and if your son decides the euphonium isn't for him long term you can resell it relatively easily and recoup a good part of your investment (and probably all of it if you find a used one).
    James Kircoff
    Genesee Wind Symphony - principal euphonium (Adams E3 Custom .60mm yellow brass bell w/ K&G 3.5)
    Capital City Brass Band (2019 NABBA 2nd section champions) - 1st baritone (Besson BE956 w/ Denis Wick 6BY)

  5. #15
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    Truro, Cornwall, UK
    Posts
    111
    A few things I’d add, and this is from working in a specialist high end brass showroom. It’s something I’d see every day and every time people’s shortcomings or utter lack of preparedness would amaze me.

    1. Know what you want, sound quality wise, chances are if you want a dark British sound, don’t buy a Yamaha, ace though they are.
    2. Bring trusted ears and do blindfold tests.
    3. Don’t take too long.
    4. Don’t audition more than three at a time.
    5. Memorise music so you can concentrate on what the instrument is doing.
    6. Don’t spend any time at all in extreme registers (this always got me - people auditioning hooters with attempted high concert F, yet when quizzed, the customer doesn’t go above a C).
    7. Work a break into the audition.
    8. Ignore salesmen. They’ll have instruments which they’ll want gone.
    9. If you have a budget of 5k, don’t audition a banjo at 8k.
    10. Don’t try mouthpieces or music.
    11. Sound is critical. All other priorities (range and technique) can be developed.

    These are not entirely serious, but having just bought another euphonium I applied them all, successfully.

    Good luck!
    1983 Boosey & Hawkes Sovereign
    Denis Wick SM4 (original series)

  6. Quote Originally Posted by 58mark View Post
    Don't forget to try the Packer 274. Beautiful tone, great intonation, and it's about the same price as the wessex

    Wessex is coming out with a new euphonium model that is very impressive, but I would choose the Packer over the dolce (and did)
    Hello Mark,

    I'm so glad I read your post. We are also looking into our first purchase of a Euphonium for our son entering college.
    So far we have looked at the Wessex Dolce and the Eastman models. The next thing (very high on the list) to try is the JP274.
    Unfortunately, it's difficult to find a local store that has one in stock. Thanks to this site we did find a store near Glendale, CA that sells the upgraded JP374 model.
    Biggest difference between the two is the 374 has a trigger and is has the "Sterling" approved name.

    We prefer to save the $1 grand and go with the 274, and are hoping the 374 will have a very comparable tone when we test it.
    The JP274 appears like it could be our favorite choice too. I'll report on our findings once we can demo the upgrade Packard.
    In the meantime, your post gives me good hope that we may have finally found our perfect match.
    Last edited by EyeInSky; 05-23-2019 at 01:32 AM.

  7. #17
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Anderson, Indiana
    Posts
    270
    Once you experience the din of the exhibit hall, you'll appreciate the John Morgan's advice to arrange to audition favored instruments in a nearby practice room, outside (if the day is nice), or in your hotel room. And I also second his advice to bring both his medium shank as well as a large shank mouthpiece. (If you can't borrow one, you can buy one there.) Good luck!

  8. #18
    Quote Originally Posted by EyeInSky View Post
    Hello Mark,

    I'm so glad I read your post. We are also looking into our first purchase of a Euphonium for our son entering college.
    So far we have looked at the Wessex Dolce and the Eastman models. The next thing (very high on the list) to try is the JP274.
    Unfortunately, it's difficult to find a local store that has one in stock. Thanks to this site we did find a store near Glendale, CA that sells the upgraded JP374 model.
    Biggest difference between the two is the 374 has a trigger and is has the "Sterling" approved name.

    We prefer to save the $1 grand and go with the 274, and are hoping the 374 will have a very comparable tone when we test it.
    The JP274 appears like it could be our favorite choice too. I'll report on our findings once we can demo the upgrade Packard.
    In the meantime, your post gives me good hope that we may have finally found our perfect match.

    I like the tone and feel of the 274 more than the 374. they are different instruments, and it shows in the way they play

    Before you buy, talk to Joe Sellmansburger at mid south music. http://www.citysearch.com/profile/94...uth_music.html

    I know it's probably not close to you, but he'll beat any price out there. Another place to try is Baltimore brass.

  9. I am a newbie here, and was given a Holton as a gift. I bought a mouthpiece on line but its shank is too large to fit the tuba. Does anyone have advice on where I can buy a mouthpiece that fits? Thank you in advance.

  10. #20
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Farmington Hills, MI
    Posts
    472
    Quote Originally Posted by bassparrish View Post
    I am a newbie here, and was given a Holton as a gift. I bought a mouthpiece on line but its shank is too large to fit the tuba. Does anyone have advice on where I can buy a mouthpiece that fits? Thank you in advance.
    Is it a euphonium or a tuba? Which Holton model?

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