How best to order an Adams?

[John Morgan]

Hi all, thanks for the input. Just chiming in to say I purchased an E3 with SS bell, and after a few weeks of playing it's clearly light years ahead of my venerable Willson 2900s purchased new in the 90s. Slotting is better, tone has more core, far fewer "bad" notes in the upper register. The only issue I'm having is that the horn is playing flat; with tuning slide all the way in I can just barely keep Bflat at top of staff in tune with good tone. But, I suspect this is mostly an embouchure/air support issue as I continue to get back into shape. I'll give it a year of solid playing and order the shorter tuning slide if I must.

Thanks!

Rich

Hey Rich,

My E3 that I got in 2016 tends (tended) towards the flat side as well. I usually needed to warm up good before tuning. After having it going on 6 years, I have no intonation issues. I have the main slide out perhaps 3/4 of an inch when all warmed up. My first slide is all in, second all in (of course, or it would be falling on the floor!), third slide is out maybe a half inch, fourth slide out maybe 3/4 of an inch. These settings have been working well for me. When I play with others, no intonation issues, even when playing duets with a trombone player.

I got my E3 with a main slide tuning trigger as well. I don't use it much, but could on notes like F above the staff and others around that note. But I can easily lip those notes, so the trigger was something that I ultimately did not have to have. Still like having it though, as I have said before, it is a great conversation starter.

I do think that over time, I have settled in with this horn, and I think that has something to do with having no intonation problems today. Love, love, love this horn. After six years no less.

John

[davewerden]

The shopping/choosing experience is always interesting. Gary Curtin (with Fodens in the U.K.) just switched to Adams. He had the luxury of going to the factory to try various models/options. Here is what he reported:

From his 4barsrest interview:
"Having tested roughly 15 or so instruments of all different shapes, sizes, thicknesses and materials, I believe I have found a truly great instrument to work for me as both a band player and a soloist.

My inclination was to go with the E2 before I arrived, which is composed of a thicker metal, .80 gauge, as it's important that the instrument can endure some real fortissimo dynamics that are played by top class brass bands."
...
"My final choice was an E1 .70 gauge, with heavy valve caps. The great thing about this for me was that I felt the instrument was open across all registers.

The instrument could really sing, the tuning is fantastic and all the notes, even the elusive C# above the stave is open."

Gary also revealed that he opted for a brushed antique finish with ornate engraving design.

"It has certainly gleaned some attention at the band room, online and at our first Christmas concert over the weekend,"Gary said.

Indeed, E1 .70 guage in brass with heavy caps.Thought an E2 would be my choice but this seemed to cover everything for me.
Excited to play on it.
Will have my personal one built in the next while.

Here is his photo with the horn he tested, but I'm not sure if he will be opting for the engraving. (Given his serious expression, perhaps he was going for an 'Addams Family' look):

[John Morgan]

That's interesting that he settled on an E1. I would have thought that he would have thought that an E3 would handle loud dynamics better. It is nice that a really amazingly good euphonium soloist and player in a brass band has picked an Adams. Perhaps Adams is going to become more ubiquitous in the brass band world in the UK.

[davewerden]

That's interesting that he settled on an E1. I would have thought that he would have thought that an E3 would handle loud dynamics better.

My thought exactly! HOWEVER, there are a number of factors, as we all know. His initial thought was that an E2 might be best. At the ITEC in Indiana (2014??) there was a guy about my age or older who wanted something that would be like his classic Besson. He chose the E2, and I have to say it did seem like the Besson is a couple ways, even though it was intended to draw from the Willson market. There was something about the "core" and weight of the sound that was similar to Bessons of old.

...Perhaps Adams is going to become more ubiquitous in the brass band world in the UK.

He allowed for that possibility in his comments, saying that British players are starting to be more willing to try other brands (besides Besson). I've thought about this a couple times. If it starts to gain traction, do you suppose Miel will have to come up with a worthy baritone horn next??? That could be fun!

[Davidus1]

I recently bought an Adams Sonic, which I ordered from Baltimore Brass, a company which advertises on this site. They had to special order it from Adams because it's a new model. They were easy to do business with and I have no complaints. You might want to talk with a couple of shops, there might be a small difference in total cost to you from shipping, etc.

John

I have also had very positive experiences when dealing with Baltimore Brass and would recommend them to anyone. best wishes!

[John Morgan]

...If it starts to gain traction, do you suppose Miel will have to come up with a worthy baritone horn next??? That could be fun!

Indeed!! So many possibilities (and horns), and alas, so little time in the grand scheme of things...

[Magikarp]

It's interesting that for some reason Besson seem to be offering "endorsements" to players who are not as well known(David Childs aside, obviously) - Sterling, Geneva, and now Adams are offering serious alternatives and attracting the highest quality players to their stable. How much of this is to do with money, I don't know (it's always been an issue at the highest level of British brass banding). The big drawback will be convincing dealers that stocking another brand will be in their interest, and a brand that offers a lot of individual options. The brass band world is extraordinarily conservative and resistant to change, so if Adams can pull it off, they deserve to do well. I've said it before the only new instrument I would be genuinely keen to audition would be an Adams as the others are simply meretricious variations on an extremely old theme.

[davewerden]

It's interesting that for some reason Besson seem to be offering "endorsements" to players who are not as well known(David Childs aside, obviously) - Sterling, Geneva, and now Adams are offering serious alternatives and attracting the highest quality players to their stable. How much of this is to do with money, I don't know (it's always been an issue at the highest level of British brass banding).

It is still an issue, and I know of some specific cases where players who chose one of the "other" brands you mention were drawn away by money to endorse another horn. I have commented on this before, but to recap:
I have always had the luxury of playing the horn I believed was the best of the breed. I was not seeking to "go everywhere and do everything" and for my Coast Guard career the band was delivering me to places all around the country to do solos as the band toured.
HOWEVER, if I were much earlier in my career and wanted to "go everywhere and do everything" I would need money to help me; I'm not independently wealthy! In such a case I might have thought I needed to play another brand that was willing to help me in this career goal. In the case of Besson, now with deeper pockets, I certainly would not have felt I were playing a clunker! They are fine instruments, and I have a soft spot for Besson after playing one for so many years. There are other companies that seem to offer good support to artists, and their instruments are also high quality.

Such are the realities involved. And I suppose I have a "price" as well. If Brand XYZ were to offer me a hundred K or so a year to play their horn, and assuming it was a respectable company, I might make the move. BUT I would have to change what I say about the horn I play. I would not be willing to say it was the best unless I believed it to be so, but I could no doubt say very positive things about it, because all the top brands have attributes that are noteworthy.

[spkissane]

I agree that Austin Custom Brass is your best bet if you're in the states. Outstanding customer service.

I wanted to follow up on this comment, as I had an interesting/nice little experience at Midwest last week. I was walking around the exhibit hall, trying horns and whatnot, with my Adams case on my back. I was perusing the Adams booth when Trent Austin said hello to me, mentioned the horn I was carrying, and somehow without me telling him my name AND with a mask on my face, he remembered my exact horn (which I'd originally tried out at the last in-person ITEC and later ordered from Austin over email/phone conversations) Made sure I was still thoroughly enjoying it, and had some really nice words of encouragement as a pretty newly-fellow dealer/retailer.

What I'm saying is, you cannot go wrong with Trent and his shop. Really a great person.

[Eupher6]

Slightly off track but which E model would best suit for principle euphonium in a british brass band

This is a very subjective question, and it will no doubt lead to very subjective answers. The individual player's sound is the driving force and that sound can be replicated on almost any horn.

But, I'll offer solely my OPINION. When I played principal euph in both the Utah Premiere Brass and the Brass Band of the Western Reserve some years ago, I played on a stock Besson 967. There are so many good horns available now, however, that sticking to the standby British horns doesn't have to always be the case. Since I played on that 967, I have played on the Sterling Virtuoso, the Adams E1, and now the Adams E2.

I get the sound I want out of the Adams E2. But I no longer play in any British-style brass band, so the MD might think differently. But I get the sound I want, soloistically and tutti, so that would be the horn I would play on should that gig come my way again.

[Eupher6]

The preferred method is to contact a dealer in your country and order from them. If you are looking for a dealer who is well integrated with Adams and don't have anything close by, check out Austin Custom Brass. They were one of the first U.S. Adams dealers:

https://www.austincustombrass.biz/se...ection=product

Dave - you may want to update ACB's forum listing. They relocated to Kansas City I think a couple years ago. The link above still works OK.

[davewerden]

Dave - you may want to update ACB's forum listing. They relocated to Kansas City I think a couple years ago. The link above still works OK.

Thanks - taken care of!!