Looking for smaller, lighter, brighter instrument

[hyperbolica]

I'm a trombone player with some shoulder problems, so I 'm learning valve instruments. I've already got one of the Wessex Festivos, with 4v on the front. Great for ergonomic purposes, and good sound. I used to own an Olds 3v marching trombone, which had a great sound, but I can't go there ergonomically any more with my arms out front, I need an instrument that is more like the Festivo.

I'm looking for a smaller euph with a brighter sound and maybe only 3 valves, uncompensated, bell front probably. Maybe like a King 265 (guessing from what I see visually on eBay). I don't have a great deal of experience with the older valved instruments, although I know tbones well enough. I'm mainly familiar with the 2280, which is cool, but it's a little overkill for what I want to do with this instrument. Something in the King, Conn, Olds, Bach range. Any suggestions?

[JTJ]

Yamaha makes a bell front YEP-211, which would definitely play brighter than the Festivo. Inexpensive used ones are sometimes on Ebay.

https://usa.yamaha.com/products/musi...211/index.html

[davewerden]

There are often used American 3-valve euphoniums ("baritone horns") on eBay. A Conn or King are my favorites, but Holton, Reynolds and Olds are good too. Here is one such:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Bra...C/324497958000

[hyperbolica]

Ok, thanks! So I'm looking at King 625 Conn 20i, Olds Ambassador, Holton 185, Reynolds Contempora/Emporer Thanks

[euphisto]

There are a few of these "tromboniums" on eBay that might fit the bill. They're definitely lighter and brighter than your average baritone or euphonium.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/King-Trombo...QAAOSw6Olfj0yx

Robert Pendergast, DM

[1Cor13:4]

Not sure if you're interested, but there's this Conn double bell on eBay. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Conn-Double...%7C2500%7C1500

[hyperbolica]

Not sure if you're interested, but there's this Conn double bell on eBay. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Conn-Double...%7C2500%7C1500

The tromboniums are cool, but maybe too small. One of those 90i full-bore tromboniums, but they're pretty rare. Actually I'd like a bass trombonium, but I think that would have to be custom made.


That double bell is cool. Best of both worlds. Maybe a little bit heavy though. Not too bad condition.

What do you all think of this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/33225422079...L:COSI:US:1123

[Fujiifilm]

What do you all think of this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/33225422079...L:COSI:US:1123

It looks like the listing ended/sold already, but that's a pretty high price IMO for a horn that apparently will need some degree of work/restoration according to the listing.

Usually on places like Ebay and Reverb you can find a used 3 valve bell front in decent playable condition for around $600 depending on cosmetic condition. 4 valve ones tend to go for a bit more.

[hyperbolica]

It looks like the listing ended/sold already, but that's a pretty high price IMO for a horn that apparently will need some degree of work/restoration according to the listing.

Usually on places like Ebay and Reverb you can find a used 3 valve bell front in decent playable condition for around $600 depending on cosmetic condition. 4 valve ones tend to go for a bit more.

Yeah, the price is high, but that's negotiable. I was wondering about the horn itself. It looks to be in decent physical condition, aside from the valves. I might have offered $250 based on what I can see if that or something like it were still available. I hate to insult people with lowball prices, but it might take some work to get the valves going, and who knows about the slides.

That's about the size I was interested in - a little bigger than the trombonium, but not much.

[1Cor13:4]

This probably isn't what you're looking for, but Wessex does have a double bell also if you want that versatility. It's front valves are ergonomic.

https://wessex-tubas.com/collections...uphonium-ep105

[davewerden]

I would avoid that type of horn shown for the now-sold Reynolds. It is a smaller horn, and one that was not popular. Therefore the response and intonation may not be as good as the horns that were more the bread & butter for the instrument companies - the 3-valve euphonium (often called a baritone horn). The King I linked above would be a solid choice. However, if you want a horn that is easy to play and lighter in weight, I'd go with a Conn 3-valve. Here are 2 current for-sale items, which are similar to the horn I played before I got my 4-valve King in high school. Easy response, sweet tone, good intonation.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Conn-14I-Be...YAAOSwGtdeuwek

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Conn-14i-3-...MAAOSwV4FgHfaO

[ann reid]

This probably isn't what you're looking for, but Wessex does have a double bell also if you want that versatility. It's front valves are ergonomic.

https://wessex-tubas.com/collections...uphonium-ep105

It’s a great horn, very comfortable in the lap and sounds great too, but very heavy.