Hello friends, I need advice.
My E3 is in the shop with serious tuning trigger alignment issues. My tech hasn't yet gotten back to me with repair costs because he's reaching out to Miel to find out how much ordering two additional main tuning slides is going to cost. I bought the horn second hand and fully understand that this is part and parcel with buying a used horn - I have no idea if any of this will be covered under warranty even though it is a factory defect.
Here's the problem: I am not in love with this horn. It plays fine - it's a fine horn. But it is not as good as the last E3 I had and is definitely not as responsive. Part of this may be that the last E3 had a yellow brass bell compared to now a silver bell but the tuning trigger may play a role.
This is also not the first horn with a tuning trigger that I've had problems with. Without exception, almost every other horn I've ever played with a tuning trigger has BUZZED from the main tuning slide. I don't know what it is about my playing but I get a lot of resonance from the main tuning slide assembly. The two Geneva's I had buzzed and could not be fixed. The first Yamaha Neo with trigger buzzed. The second one buzzed but WAY less and I was able to mitigate it with heavier tuning slide grease to the point that it didn't buzz at all. As soon as that grease wore down though, the buzz returned. This E3 is in between the two Yamahas - I can manage the buzz with heavy grease for a time but it always returns within a day or two.
My tech claims that the tuning slide and tubing leading to it are out of alignment, causing this problem. This is why he reached out for new slides, he is going to realign it himself. I'm wondering though if maybe I should think about ditching this completely and going another direction. I'm also tired of horn swapping - it is an anxiety I just don't need in my life right now.
Here are my options as I see them:
Mainly I'm just curious to see what other people would do in this situation. Should I go back to the Neo, which I sold because I didn't like the presence in brass band? Maybe the 842 with trigger? Maybe the new Prestige, which I can't afford right now? I played an Eastman 526 for about two hours and really liked this horn. 6th partials were a mess but the valves were amazing and the resonance outstanding.
I just feel lost and need advice. I'm trying to get our brass band going again and I have to be the dependable one - I need to get this horn mess straightened out.
My E3 is in the shop with serious tuning trigger alignment issues. My tech hasn't yet gotten back to me with repair costs because he's reaching out to Miel to find out how much ordering two additional main tuning slides is going to cost. I bought the horn second hand and fully understand that this is part and parcel with buying a used horn - I have no idea if any of this will be covered under warranty even though it is a factory defect.
Here's the problem: I am not in love with this horn. It plays fine - it's a fine horn. But it is not as good as the last E3 I had and is definitely not as responsive. Part of this may be that the last E3 had a yellow brass bell compared to now a silver bell but the tuning trigger may play a role.
This is also not the first horn with a tuning trigger that I've had problems with. Without exception, almost every other horn I've ever played with a tuning trigger has BUZZED from the main tuning slide. I don't know what it is about my playing but I get a lot of resonance from the main tuning slide assembly. The two Geneva's I had buzzed and could not be fixed. The first Yamaha Neo with trigger buzzed. The second one buzzed but WAY less and I was able to mitigate it with heavier tuning slide grease to the point that it didn't buzz at all. As soon as that grease wore down though, the buzz returned. This E3 is in between the two Yamahas - I can manage the buzz with heavy grease for a time but it always returns within a day or two.
My tech claims that the tuning slide and tubing leading to it are out of alignment, causing this problem. This is why he reached out for new slides, he is going to realign it himself. I'm wondering though if maybe I should think about ditching this completely and going another direction. I'm also tired of horn swapping - it is an anxiety I just don't need in my life right now.
Here are my options as I see them:
- Fix the horn. Pay the cost or maybe have it covered under warranty. Could be $1000? $1500?
- Remove the trigger completely. Lose valuable feature (horn is sharp with 6th partial Concert F) but gain resonance and responsiveness. I know this because I tested it this way with the tech and the horn felt like a completely different horn.
- Sell the horn and move on to something else.
Mainly I'm just curious to see what other people would do in this situation. Should I go back to the Neo, which I sold because I didn't like the presence in brass band? Maybe the 842 with trigger? Maybe the new Prestige, which I can't afford right now? I played an Eastman 526 for about two hours and really liked this horn. 6th partials were a mess but the valves were amazing and the resonance outstanding.
I just feel lost and need advice. I'm trying to get our brass band going again and I have to be the dependable one - I need to get this horn mess straightened out.
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