Mack Brass Used York Baritone Horn

[tobysimard]

Also, the shine doesn't matter too much. I'm just not sure about 3 vs 4 valves on baritones.

[tobysimard]

It probably plays like a Besson, but just not quite as well. Are 4 valves necessary for a British baritone?

[daruby]

Are 4 valves necessary for a British baritone?

No. I played a 4-valve York (Besson 956 clone). The 4th valve was mostly useless and made the horn more difficult to play due to weight and poor ergonomics. The only horn with a full compensating 4th valve is the Besson Prestige 2056 and the Wessex 4 valver. Again, weight and ergonomics are not as good as a 3 valver. I play a 3 valve Sterling Virtuoso baritone with a heavy brass bell. That horn and the Yamaha NEO baritone are my favs these days. The Black Dyke folks are switching to Geneva, but I have no recent experience yet.

Doug

[tobysimard]

I'll probably nab the Wessex or the JinBao and eventually upgrade to a Besson. I'll go three valve compensating.

[bbocaner]

Not the same firm as the recently defunct one in the UK

*Germany - *That* York was a trade name of Keilwerth-Schreiber.

[bbocaner]

J.W. York and Sons of Grand Rapids Michigan was indeed the company known for the legendary CSO tubas, and many other well-regarded tubas. Nobody really seems to like anything else they made, though.

[bbocaner]

The Black Dyke folks are switching to Geneva, but I have no recent experience yet.

I don't think anyone over here has tried the new Geneva baritone, but it's NOT compensating! It has a tuning trigger, but no compensating system. Might be OK. I don't think Mike and Ben in Dyke are using them yet - both are Besson players.

[John Morgan]

I don't think anyone over here has tried the new Geneva baritone, but it's NOT compensating! It has a tuning trigger, but no compensating system. Might be OK. I don't think Mike and Ben in Dyke are using them yet - both are Besson players.

The tuning "trigger" on the Geneva is really interesting. It looks sort of like the typical 4th side valve on a 3+1 horn instead of the flat trigger placed in the third valve wrap. I am just trying to imagine using the left hand index finger for the tuning trigger. That might be a more natural thing than using the left hand thumb. I would have to try that to know if I liked it or not. The Geneva sure is a stunning looking instrument.

[bbocaner]

Looks like a bicycle type cable connecting it to the tuning slide. That certainly is unique!