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Thread: Front Valve Compensating Euphoniums

  1. Front Valve Compensating Euphoniums

    I've only seen the Marzan 2975, those Bessons that were made for the American market in the mid 1900s and the Wessex Festivo.

    Are there any other modern, quality front valve Euphoniums? I've always preferred that layout.

    I've been interested in finding one, but for personal reasons I'm not interested in a Wessex Festivo and I never see the 2975s sold (do they still make these?).

    BTW, someone made a double bell out of a Marzan 2975...

    http://web.archive.org/web/200512280...S/DB/euph.html

    Isn't that fascinating!
    Last edited by 1Cor13:4; 05-04-2021 at 12:43 PM.

  2. Willson still produces the 2975, though I believe they are special order. Their booth had one on display at ITEC in 2019.

    For compensating front-action models, I think the Wessex Festivo, Willson/Marzan 2975, and the old Bessons that you mentioned are the only ones.
    Willson 2900 TA-1 Euphonium - Denis Wick 4AM
    Yamaha YSL-643 Trombone - Bob Reeves BrassArk 5G "Gladstone"
    Yamaha YSL-8440 Trombone - Denis Wick 5BS
    VMI 3301S BBb Tuba - Schilke Helleberg

    Past:
    York Preference 3067 Euphonium - Denis Wick 4AL
    Benge 165F Trombone - Benge Marcellus
    Wessex BR140 Baritone - Denis Wick 6BS
    F.E. Olds Special Trombone (ca. 1941)

  3. #3
    Of course there's the Canadian Brass brand marketed by Getzen which was a re-branded Willson/Marzan 2975.

    The only other one I know of was a one-off rotary-valve compensating euphonium made by Laetzsch, I believe we've discussed it here before. Beautiful instrument, but I think they realized it was going to be too expensive and complicated to make more of them.
    --
    Barry

  4. That's too bad. I guess I'll have to keep my eye out for a 2975...maybe I should have jumped on that Besson that was on eBay recently.

    Thanks for the info.

  5. #5
    The Wessex isn't bad at all. I think the Willson is better, but it's not 4x better.
    --
    Barry

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Location
    Yorktown, Virginia
    Posts
    277
    Dillon’s has a Marzan for sale-

    https://www.dillonmusic.com/used-mar...ium-sn-711025/
    David Shinn
    Peninsula Concert Band
    Yorktown, Virginia



    1971 Besson 181 ‘New Standard’ Euphonium (3+1 compensating) ~ Alliance DC3M
    1971 Besson 176 ‘New Standard’ Euphonium (3 compensating) ~ Alliance DC3M
    1979 Besson 755 'New Standard' Baritone (3 compensating) ~ Alliance DC5S
    1894 Besson ‘Doublophone’ Euphonium (3 + 1 changeover) & Original Leather Case


    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidshinn....ibextid=LQQJ4d
    Peninsula Concert Band: https://www.peninsulaconcertband.org/

  7. Thanks, but I'll wait for a large shank, that's also outside my current price range.

    Are the 2975s large shank?
    Last edited by 1Cor13:4; 05-04-2021 at 10:56 PM.

  8. I'm pretty sure the 2975s Willson makes now come with large shank receivers, if I remember correctly from the last time I tried one.
    Willson 2900 TA-1 Euphonium - Denis Wick 4AM
    Yamaha YSL-643 Trombone - Bob Reeves BrassArk 5G "Gladstone"
    Yamaha YSL-8440 Trombone - Denis Wick 5BS
    VMI 3301S BBb Tuba - Schilke Helleberg

    Past:
    York Preference 3067 Euphonium - Denis Wick 4AL
    Benge 165F Trombone - Benge Marcellus
    Wessex BR140 Baritone - Denis Wick 6BS
    F.E. Olds Special Trombone (ca. 1941)

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    SF Bay Area, CA, USA
    Posts
    102
    Yes, the Canadian Brass / Willson 2975 is large shank.

  10. I have to say I'm sold on the front valve horns, just due to ergonomics. I have the Festivo and a King 2280. I can only play the King for so long, due to the position of the right arm, but I love the resonance, sound and the evenness of the range high to low. It goes past pedal F with no problem, blows away my bass bone in the upper and lower range. I find very little benefit in the compensating system. As a trombone player, I prefer just an adjustment slide/trigger on the main or 4th valve.

    All that to say this. I have a 24i Connstellation on the way. 4v in front, non-comp, bell forward. I hope this is it for valved instruments for me. Well, maybe a flugabone for fun.

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