Hello everyone! This is my first post here, so I hope to provide a good start with some useful information relating to a specific instrument that not many people actually know about. (It's the euphonium clearly, but you all know what that is already.)
A few months ago, I decided I needed to upgrade my instrument from the really crappy chinese stencil horn that M&A rented out to me as a beginner, and went looking for a very specific instrument. In my specific community, owning a YEP-621 is a statement in itself, but I won't get into that too much. Let's just say that a certain character from a TV show plays on that same instrument.
I eventually found one and bought it for about 2.8K USD, and it's well worth the price. I've documented a lot about this instrument in the 3 months I've owned it, even going so far as to create a 3d model representation of the instrument itself.
I plan to make the model available for free as soon as it is complete.
Now, back to the topic at hand, I'll be skipping the specifications that are readily available on Yamaha's website here: https://europe.yamaha.com/en/product...l#product-tabs
To start off, I'll address playability. It is important to note that I am not a professional by any means, and so my experiences could certainly be different that someone who has been playing for their entire life, whereas I've been playing for all of 7 months. The instrument is solid, yet light, which is a result of the lack of the extra tubing and metal mass of a compensating system. This does appear to affect the resonance slightly, but it is not even noticeable to all but professionals. The instrument takes a modest amount of air to play, as it is a large shank, however it does not present much resistance with the 4th valve depressed as a compensating horn. (Specifically, the Mack Brass euph which I got a chance to try a while back.)
The instrument is certainly felxible enough for my endeavors, and the range is incredibly usable. I am able to use the entire range from pedal Bb (and a few lower, but very untuneful, notes) to D5, and on very rare occasion E5, but that is simply my inexperience, and a professional could certainly play with a much better range.
It is important to note that since this instrument is non-compensating, B1 is an unusable note. The fingering 1+2+3+4 is actually a very in-tune C, not a B natural. I have provided a chart below for reference on the tuning tendencies of the lower register:
This is with a very minimal mount of lip correction, but even I have well enough flexibility to bring thse in tune again.
The tone of the instrument is good, unfortunately there appears to be no audio upload option so I cannot upload an audio demo. It has a full, dark sound and prefers lyrical passages over flashy loud stuff. I have found that it is incredibly difficult to get a "brassy sound" out of it, unlike a YEP-321 which is very much the contrary. This isn't to say that it isn't possible, but it is very difficult. Projection is the main downfall here, and this instrument will certainly not be heard over your section. Depending on your preference, that could be both a good thing and a bad thing. It will suffice as a solo instrument in a pinch, but it should not be relied on by any soloist who is performing seriously.
The 621's biggest downfall actually has nothing to do with the instrument. It is almost impossible to find one for sale in the USA. I had to have mine imported from Canada, but even that was pure luck. Even the US customs office didn't have the correct labelling for it, and slapped the model number of a Jupiter clone on the side of the box. You will probably pay more in time simply trying to find one of these rather than actually buying it. I was a rare example of someone with enough time, money, and most importantly dedication, to find and buy one.
If you're in Europe or Japan though, they pop up like flies. Pretty much every high school has several of them, and they are seen as the go-to instrument for the ensemble.
Here's my advice though:
If you want to use this instrument, I suggest that youextract every last ounce of tone out of it with a nice, deep mouthpiece. I used a 51D for a while but recently I switched to an Alliance E3 (admittedly just because it had the gold rim and it matches both my needs and my french horn mouhpiece aesthetic) and the difference is insane. If you simply give in to what the instrument tends toward, then it will reward you with an amazing sound.
Another quick thing to note is the placement of the 4th valve. It is peculiar due to the fact that it is placed in between the 3rd valve tuning slide and the main tubing section leading into the bottom crook, instead of behind the instrument. It has no valve lock, but it should fit in any case designed for a compensating euph. One drawback to this is the fact that it is now located directly below the main valves, which makes the 3rd valve bottom cap difficult to remove, and when the valves inevitably leak water, it leaks directly onto the 4th valve casing, which then runs down to eventually reach your left hand directly. It is much less of a reach, however, so it is good for younger players or those with smaller hands.
To conclude, here are a few pictures of the instrument for your reference:
If you have further inquiries, feel free to send me a message, or alternatively you can contact me on Discord @Floof#0289
I will try to relpy ASAP.
I do hope that this is helpful to somebody, take care!
A few months ago, I decided I needed to upgrade my instrument from the really crappy chinese stencil horn that M&A rented out to me as a beginner, and went looking for a very specific instrument. In my specific community, owning a YEP-621 is a statement in itself, but I won't get into that too much. Let's just say that a certain character from a TV show plays on that same instrument.
I eventually found one and bought it for about 2.8K USD, and it's well worth the price. I've documented a lot about this instrument in the 3 months I've owned it, even going so far as to create a 3d model representation of the instrument itself.
I plan to make the model available for free as soon as it is complete.
Now, back to the topic at hand, I'll be skipping the specifications that are readily available on Yamaha's website here: https://europe.yamaha.com/en/product...l#product-tabs
To start off, I'll address playability. It is important to note that I am not a professional by any means, and so my experiences could certainly be different that someone who has been playing for their entire life, whereas I've been playing for all of 7 months. The instrument is solid, yet light, which is a result of the lack of the extra tubing and metal mass of a compensating system. This does appear to affect the resonance slightly, but it is not even noticeable to all but professionals. The instrument takes a modest amount of air to play, as it is a large shank, however it does not present much resistance with the 4th valve depressed as a compensating horn. (Specifically, the Mack Brass euph which I got a chance to try a while back.)
The instrument is certainly felxible enough for my endeavors, and the range is incredibly usable. I am able to use the entire range from pedal Bb (and a few lower, but very untuneful, notes) to D5, and on very rare occasion E5, but that is simply my inexperience, and a professional could certainly play with a much better range.
It is important to note that since this instrument is non-compensating, B1 is an unusable note. The fingering 1+2+3+4 is actually a very in-tune C, not a B natural. I have provided a chart below for reference on the tuning tendencies of the lower register:
This is with a very minimal mount of lip correction, but even I have well enough flexibility to bring thse in tune again.
The tone of the instrument is good, unfortunately there appears to be no audio upload option so I cannot upload an audio demo. It has a full, dark sound and prefers lyrical passages over flashy loud stuff. I have found that it is incredibly difficult to get a "brassy sound" out of it, unlike a YEP-321 which is very much the contrary. This isn't to say that it isn't possible, but it is very difficult. Projection is the main downfall here, and this instrument will certainly not be heard over your section. Depending on your preference, that could be both a good thing and a bad thing. It will suffice as a solo instrument in a pinch, but it should not be relied on by any soloist who is performing seriously.
The 621's biggest downfall actually has nothing to do with the instrument. It is almost impossible to find one for sale in the USA. I had to have mine imported from Canada, but even that was pure luck. Even the US customs office didn't have the correct labelling for it, and slapped the model number of a Jupiter clone on the side of the box. You will probably pay more in time simply trying to find one of these rather than actually buying it. I was a rare example of someone with enough time, money, and most importantly dedication, to find and buy one.
If you're in Europe or Japan though, they pop up like flies. Pretty much every high school has several of them, and they are seen as the go-to instrument for the ensemble.
Here's my advice though:
If you want to use this instrument, I suggest that youextract every last ounce of tone out of it with a nice, deep mouthpiece. I used a 51D for a while but recently I switched to an Alliance E3 (admittedly just because it had the gold rim and it matches both my needs and my french horn mouhpiece aesthetic) and the difference is insane. If you simply give in to what the instrument tends toward, then it will reward you with an amazing sound.
Another quick thing to note is the placement of the 4th valve. It is peculiar due to the fact that it is placed in between the 3rd valve tuning slide and the main tubing section leading into the bottom crook, instead of behind the instrument. It has no valve lock, but it should fit in any case designed for a compensating euph. One drawback to this is the fact that it is now located directly below the main valves, which makes the 3rd valve bottom cap difficult to remove, and when the valves inevitably leak water, it leaks directly onto the 4th valve casing, which then runs down to eventually reach your left hand directly. It is much less of a reach, however, so it is good for younger players or those with smaller hands.
To conclude, here are a few pictures of the instrument for your reference:
If you have further inquiries, feel free to send me a message, or alternatively you can contact me on Discord @Floof#0289
I will try to relpy ASAP.
I do hope that this is helpful to somebody, take care!
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