Originally Posted by
Eupher6
Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong, but harkening back to the older Boosey & Co. and Boosey & Hawkes 3+1 British euphoniums (these had the so-called "European" shank receiver, meaning smaller than today's standard "large bore" receivers), the older horns with the smaller receivers did better with intonation overall.
In fact, comparing my personal intonation graphs between the 2007 Besson Prestige and the 1974 New Standard which has a medium stem mouthpiece receiver, we see a particularly acute partial sixth on the Prestige, but this is no problem as it is can safely handle with the trigger; moreover, having practically no flat notes, I consider it an instrument with almost perfect pitch (using the trigger). The defect, if we want to find one, is the considerable weight, in particular of my specimen (5.7 kg) which makes it unsuitable to be played during march services. For this I use the New Standard 3 compensating valves, much lighter but equally massive and with a dark, sweet and warm sound that I really like.
2007 Besson Prestige 2052, 3D+ K&G mouthpiece; JP373 baritone, 4B modified K&G mouthpiece; Bach 42GO trombone, T4C K&G mouthpiece; 1973 Besson New Standard 3 compensated valves, 3D+ K&G modified mouthpiece; Wessex French C tuba, 3D+ K&G modified mouthpiece.