WTB - Compensating Euphonium

[EuphMan84]

This is probably a pretty strange request, but I'm in the market for a new compensating euphonium & I'd really like to test drive some before I make a final decision.
I've called around & none of the stores have anything in stock or are unable to set a test drive appt due to COVID.
Thus far only the Wessex Showroom in Chicago is willing to let me come & they have a 10% discount towards travel expenses if you buy at the showroom but if I don't choose them then that's quite the gamble.
So I'm hoping to find people local to me (Los Angeles County) on here who have newer horns & don't mind me trying it out.
My max budget is $3K, so if you have anything that sells new under that price point please PM.
I'm mostly interested in Wessex & JP euphoniums.
Thanks!

[guidocorona]

An effective alternative to visiting the Wessex showroom in Chicago may be to take advantage of the very generous Wessex product return clause, as outlined in the Wessex Warranty statement, which states in part:

"Unlike most leading brands, Wessex Tubas offers a 3-year warranty against manufacturing defects on all our instruments, and in the unlikely event that you are dissatisfied with your purchase, we offer a full refund and return within 2 weeks.
You can return any item bought from Wessex Tubas within 14 days of receiving it for a full refund, minus shipping costs. However, please contact us before returning your item so we can provide you with return labels and a collection booking with our dedicated courier to ensure the safe return of your item/s. When returning the item, it must be in its original packaging and in ’as received’ condition. Please note that shipping charges apply to refund upon return of your item and any damage will also result in reduced refund."

This would let you evaluate Simfonico, or other Wessex euphonium, for a full 14 days at home, instead of the couple hours you would spend at the Wessex showroom. And in the unlikely case you decided to return the eupho to Wessex, your out of pocket cash outlay is likely to be much less than the cost of a trip to Chicago.

Regards, Guido

[leisesturm]

Very sound advice from Guido. Precisely due to Covid it is unlikely that strangers, regardless of how good hearted they usually are, will be able to facilitate a request such as is being made in the original post. I've never played a Euphonium before but I have ordered one. It's a leap of faith I am prepared to make. All of the reputable sellers offer some kind of return policy and/or a warranty against defects in the instrument. My budget also runs towards what would allow the upper tier instruments of the Wessex and John Packer lines but I've decided to get the JP274 and save the difference for lessons (possibly), accessories and instructional material and repertoire.

[JTJ]

True, but the shipping and insurance charges on a returned euphonium are not trivial. I've done it before--it's more like renting a euphonium for two weeks.

[guidocorona]

Good point JTJ, I am inquiring with Wessex USA and so clarify shipping&insurance charges for returning a Sinfonico before the 14 days deadline.

Perhaps Jonathan can chime in on the subject.

Regards, Guido

[Richard III]

Related story about my experience, though it was a french horn. i read all the reviews and researched the horn. I am west coast and the store was east coast. It was Chinese made but the seller supposedly went over each horn to verify the quality and workmanship. Their shipping to me was $85. The horn costs around $1000. It was terrible. Intonation was awful. Sounded like it was made of cheap tin. I go to send it back and my shipping was $135. So for all of that, I played it for one hour and I'll never do a trial again.

[Shawn]

I've got a Sinfonico on order, sight unseen.
I wish I was more of a romantic, but I'm doing it based on risk/reward.
I want a top-quality Euph. The Sinfonico might be that, or it might not.

If it is, I've saved thousands over an Adams/Willson/what-have-you.
If it's not, I'm out something like $300 on return shipping.

Given the positive reviews of the prototypes, and the attentive e-mail customer service I've received, I think I'm at least 40-50% to be pleased with what turns up on my doorstep this autumn. So I like the bet I've made. We'll see how it turns out.

[Snorlax]

If you're near LA, try HORNGUYS.COM and see if they're taking visitors.
I know they carry JP; the 274 has received excellent reviews and is approximately in your price range.

[EuphMan84]

Great suggestion, Snorlax. Here's the reply I received from Steve Ferguson.

Thank you.* Since the Thing it's just me, Steve the owner, two afternoons a week shipping web orders.* Business is sort of idling along at 1/3 power.* I don't have plans to reorder much at the moment...a few trombones. * I'm fairly sure the JP euphs are available from the US warehouse and could arrive here in a week if you'd like to order one.* I'm not making showroom appointments due to Pasadena health dept rules.* For special orders, it's buy and keep, I'm sorry.* Times are so different for business now.* But...I'll make sure it's mechanically perfect and plays fine before shipping or pickup.

So unfortunately it's not a viable solution at this time. ��

[Charlie Baker]

Try EBay if you’re not committed to new. I just looked and there several in your price range. Some folks will accept returns as well.

[Rodgeman]

I got my John Packer from https://www.facebook.com/midsouthmusic79 . I contacted Joe Sellmansberger <midsouthmusic@aol.com> . It was also the best price. I would contact Joe. My JP274 has made me very happy and the price was great.

[davewerden]

There is a JP 274 MKII on eBay right now. The price is $1,750 and the horn is new. That is pretty close to standard discount price, so you might take advantage of the Make Offer button and see if you can get it for a couple hundred less.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-JOHN-PA...E/324212435452

[guidocorona]

Hello Shawn, congrats for ordering on Sinfonico!

according to the email below which I received a couple of days ago from James Garney at Wessex, an out of pocket cost of an unsuccessful 14 days Try&Buy of Sinfonico is likely to be in around $100 USD. Here is the note I received:

"[...] The way our return process works is as
follows: The customer reaches out to me to let me know that they wish to return the instrument. They pack it up in the box with all the packaging. We issue
a return label to either our warehouse or to me here in Chicago. They get refunded minus the total cost of shipping once it reaches us and it is determined
that nothing was damaged. On a Euphonium, it's around $100. Sometimes it can be less depending on where they are located and where the instrument is returning
to. We ask that our customers reach out to us prior to just shipping it back to us as they can take advantage of our corporate shipping rates and we can
figure out where the inventory needs to go. [...]"

Regards, Guido

[davewerden]

There may be room for confusion on shipping costs. It is clear enough that Wessex will deduct THEIR corporate return shipping costs from the refund. But I don't think it is clear if the original shipping costs TO YOU are also deducted from the refund. If so, that would be a very generous policy! I think being responsible for shipping one way is more common. But maybe I'm missing some details.

[EuphMan84]

Thanks Dave!
I've reached out to the seller before & he was willing to take $1,500.
I'm just trying to be as thorough as possible before I purchase.

So here's what I've decided to do.
I have an upcoming family trip to visit my in-laws in Cincinnati.
Thankfully, the Buddy Rogers showroom has some of the better JP models & a few other mid level compensating euphoniums on site that I can test drive.
So I'll do that on Sat, then drive up to Chicago to test the three Wessex models on Sunday. At that point I'll have all the info I need to make my decision.
So I'll either purchase at the Wessex showroom or I'll make an online order for the JP.
Probably sounds a bit crazy, but I'll have no regrets in knowing that I got the horn that fits me best.