A new "Backup" euphonium??!!

[daruby]

Ok, Ok... I told you all that I was down to just one instrument, my Adams E3. That lasted a whole two weeks. I got to thinking:

"What would happen if I had a gig and my Adams was being repaired?"
"What would happen if I was doing an outdoor concert on a flat bed truck and didn't want to risk my Adams?"
"What would happen if...???"

And I reached the conclusion I needed a backup instrument that would be sturdy but not too expensive. So, I have purchased a euphonium that just happens to be a of a brand and model I played for quite a while years ago but never owned. It will be shipped to me from overseas sometime after I get back from vacation in early March.

Not earth shaking news, but I think you will be pleased with my choice and I hope to have something to show you mid March...

Until then, here is to good playing!

Doug

[iMav]

Keeping us in suspense?

I know James Thornton (whom I’ve mentioned before) keeps two 2900s around for that very reason (if one needs to be repaired).

[58mark]

I had to drop my Adams off at the shop this week to get something fixed, and asked if I could have it back by Saturday, because I have a Sunday Concert. The tech asked "Don't you have 4 Euphoniums???"
I said "yep, but none of them sound as good as this one.

In addition to my E3, I have a packer 274 (Yeah, it's close)
King 2280 (fun to play with quick light valves, but it doesn't have the tone)
Besson 3V compensating Euph. (I gotta admit, I really like this one)

[Arnbone Euph]

At some point I will likely get a backup to my Sterling, although as a non-professional player, it will likely be an excess on my part. And it will likely be an ADAMS e3. Thinking red gold, brushed finish, maybe silver lead pipe, and likely with a trigger just because. But that's years away from now. But once I have two, that's it. I don't have the energy to swap out more than that and the bass trombone also keeps me busy.

[iMav]

I have pondered my current horn collection and what I would get rid of. I currently like each horn quite a bit. (And know I am overdue for some detailed reviews!)

Just getting familiar with the Sterling. While my PT-7C works quite well for me on both JP horns…neither of the other two horns felt good with it. A 4AL seems to really make the Sterling sing (or helps me get it to sing).

[daruby]

I have pondered my current horn collection and what I would get rid of. I currently like each horn quite a bit. (And know I am overdue for some detailed reviews!)

Just getting familiar with the Sterling. While my PT-7C works quite well for me on both JP horns…neither of the other two horns felt good with it. A 4AL seems to really make the Sterling sing (or helps me get it to sing).

Larry,

I have played a 4AL almost exclusively since one came with my 1980 Soveregn until I switched to the Alliance DC4 a year ago on my Adams. You are indeed correct, the Sterling really does sing with the 4AL. 10-15 yrs ago when I first got it, I could use an Alliance E3 and open up the sound even more. If you are interested, I have 2 and could send you one to try.

[DaveBj]

My backup is a 100-year-old Conn 86I

[iMav]

I have played a 4AL almost exclusively since one came with my 1980 Soveregn until I switched to the Alliance DC4 a year ago on my Adams. You are indeed correct, the Sterling really does sing with the 4AL. 10-15 yrs ago when I first got it, I could use an Alliance E3 and open up the sound even more. If you are interested, I have 2 and could send you one to try.

id love to give it a try!

[Matt Summers]

Ok. I’ll bite.

Primary- Adams 5-valve

Backup - 1973 Besson

Just in case- 1930’s Buescher 5-valve Double-bell (my first horn)

Black-tie affair - 1895-1905 Cerveny

Flatbed truck band (I like that one) - 1920’s 4-valve York (kind of a beater, but plays great)

Then on to baritones

1980’s Besson Sovereign 3-valve comp

Schiller/JinBao 4-v non-comp (blingy, but playes better than it has any right to)

And if it’s TEOTWAWKI, I have trombones…

[iMav]

I’ve got three trombones (well, four if you count the “p-bone”) and one trumpet. Perhaps I’ll add them to the signature at some point…

[TheJH]

I have my Willson and '79 Sovereign, I got the Willson first and the Sovereign later when I was... 19-ish? Because I was playing in a community band in my university city and back at my parents' local community bands. Especially early on I was travelling by train almost every week along with my other stuff, so taking a eupho in addition to that was not really an option, so I got the Sovereign so I could always leave one instrument at my parents to play in the weekends, and the other one at my dorm. It also meant I always have another instrument to play on when one of the two is gone for maintenance.

In the case of my baritones, I got my New Standard to play in one of the community bands around my parents' town since I *really* needed a compensated one for the pieces we play, and later on I got the Sovereign which is a band-owned instrument. So I still have the New Standard in the back of the closet just in case... or when I have to go marching

[daruby]

Ok. I’ll bite.

Backup - 1973 Besson

Matt,

I assume this has been your regular horn for years. Is it similar (or identical) to the one that Phil Franke used for many years? Large shank or medium shank?

Doug

[Matt Summers]

Hi Doug-

Up until a month ago, the Besson had been my go-to outside of work. My large receiver '73 and Phil's '75 were the same model (though his has "PDF" engraved on the front of the second valve casing). I used it as my primary concert instrument in the Marine Band from 2005-2014, for exactly that reason.

My other work horns there are a 1997 YEP-642 that was on concert duty from 1997-2005 and is now my marching horn, and a large receiver Willson 2900 bought by the band in 2014 as my current concert instrument. Mark Jenkins has dibs on that one already. My marching/ceremonial instrument for 1997-2005 was Mike Colburn's (medium) concert 2900 that he played on "Golden Age of Brass - Vol.3, and that one is now back in his hands.

[anadmai]

Then on to baritones

1980’s Besson Sovereign 3-valve comp

I love to see a picture of this.

[daruby]

Hi Doug-

Up until a month ago, the Besson had been my go-to outside of work. My large receiver '73 and Phil's '75 were the same model (though his has "PDF" engraved on the front of the second valve casing). I used it as my primary concert instrument in the Marine Band from 2005-2014, for exactly that reason.

Matt,

I seem to recall that when Ryan McGeorge joined the band he had a Hirschbrunner, but he started playing a Sovereign 968. Did he use the 968 in order to blend better with the older Bessons that you and Phil were using? BTW, I first met Ryan in Boston at the US premiere of Blast! in the Wang center. Totally blown away by that performance. Didn't catch up with him again until the 2007 Falcone when he was in the US Marine Band Tuba/Euph Quartet.

Of course, this has nothing to do with backup horns.

Doug