Euphonium Testing - Saturday 3rd October 2020

[daruby]

Dean

I was referring to partials. So Eb4 and F4 are 6th partial, then the 4th partial G below is G3, and 5th partial tuning Bb is Bb3? Our pedal range (1st partial) is therefore B0 to A1? And my total stable range is B0 to Db5 with an Eb5 on a good day. Love it.

Many thanks, I am educated! And updated my post.

Doug

[dsurkin]

[snip] And my total stable range is B0 to Db5 with an Eb5 on a good day. Love it. [snip]
Doug

I'm glad I could contribute something useful. And I love the term "stable range!"

[daruby]

I was also pleased to learn that our lowest fundamental is 30-ish Hz B0. That is pretty low.

[Big Ian]

Regarding the future of euphoniums, how about this? Non-compensating, three valve, light weight? Responsive, powerful, with a beautiful tone? And in perfect tune? Is this too much to ask for?
It seems to me that we are offered designs which are full of ‘work-arounds’, in the attempt to make them sound decent across the whole range they are now expected to play in. Complex, heavy, and more difficult to play.
I’m sure a good composer could come up with a tune worth playing, in the mid range of the instrument (where, to be honest, most players feel comfortable), rather than ‘pushing the envelope’.
Just a thought.
P.s. can’t wait to read reviews of the Adams Sonic!

[RickF]

Regarding the future of euphoniums, how about this? Non-compensating, three valve, light weight? Responsive, powerful, with a beautiful tone? And in perfect tune? Is this too much to ask for?!

I think due to the science it’s too much to ask to get a 3v horn with perfect intonation. The valve system is an imperfect design in that it changes the length of tubing the same amount without regard to what partial you’re playing... and also due to needing to play with just intonation. A 3 valve compensator (auto compensating?) would be good compromise I think - but with limitations in the low range.

See Dave Werden’s explanation on compensating and how valves affect pitch:

[DaveBj]

A 3-valve compensator (at least in the baritone) runs into another problem -- they can't make the compensating tubing short enough, and combinations with the 3rd valve are flat rather than sharp. That makes for a bad situation when playing in a section with a 3-valve non-compensator :-O

D

[MikeS]

Another option is a three valve instrument with a tuning trigger, demonstrated with good effect here.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=50uSRATp1-w

[stevevaughn]

Micah,

Would you be willing to take some pictures of the leadpipe area with the brace gone? Any pictures comparing that leadpipe change to the old design?

Thanks!
Steve

Hello Dave,

I really hope that you are well. My new Besson Prestige 2052-2 Euphonium is pretty much the same as the new Gold Lacquer Besson Prestige the only real change is that my new Euphonium is silver plated. I absolutely love the resonant sound of my new Besson Prestige 2052-2 Euphonium. I think both models are quite similar in their sounds with the Gold Lacquer Besson Prestige having a slightly warmer sound than that of my Silver Plated Besson Prestige 2052-2 Euphonium. It was a really hard decision to make but I have always preferred silver plated instruments and I was also very lucky that I was able to make a few requests to Besson which made my decision easier in the end.

I shall have to update you in a few weeks to let you know how everything is going with my new Euphonium.

Best Wishes,

Micah Dominic Parsons

[Micah.Dominic.Parsons-OFFLINE]

Hello Steven,

I shall take some pictures over the coming days and upload them on this post.

Best Wishes,

Micah Dominic Parsons

[Micah.Dominic.Parsons-OFFLINE]

Hello everyone,

Please see the attached images of my new Besson Prestige 2052-2 Euphonium with the new modification to the leadpipe.

Best Wishes,

Micah Dominic Parsons