Yamaha 321 euphonium 5 valve conversion

[J.c. Sherman]

Good one Bloke!

As for the flat 1/2 step tuning; the only really good reason for this - and it's a good reason, is a balls-on B natural. Low B will be sharp in this configuration, but low Bs are damn rare in Euph music and C is fine; but a flat whole step means you still have a sharp B on the staff.

When I got mine, it had a flat 1/2 step and sleaves added from a bass trombone for a flat whole step too. Not a bad option (like the Eb/D option on a lot of bass bones). Build 'em in +1/2 with the sleaves for an extra $50.

J.c.S.

[tclements]

There is merit in making the part so the end user has the option. It can't be that expensive to make it a long 1/2 step, and include a couple of sleeves to make it longer. Or, offer two options: with or without the sleeves.

[Ferguson]

The fifth rotor. It's finished at last.

It's hard to see the linkage and finger paddle in these pics, but it's most apparent in the third one. You reach through from the front with your left thumb. I'll get a pic of the rotor assembly by itself at some point. It's tuned to a flat whole step, so low Eb is 4+5, D 2+3+4, Db 1+3+4 or 3+4+5, C 2+3+4+5, B 1+2+3+4+5. I'm also working to get a small run of the 321 euphoniums available with large shank receiver.









Best,

Ferguson

[tclements]

Beautiful work!! Quando dinero?

[Ferguson]

$650 USD in silver plate. $550 w/purchase of a 321S euph.

SF

[tclements]

Great price and totally useful to make this 'middle of the road' horn competitive with the big comp horns.

[oldbandnerd]

...... Eb is 4+5, D 2+3+4, Db 1+3+4 or 3+4+5, C 2+3+4+5, B 1+2+3+4+5 ....

I am wondering how people feel about having to use the 4th valve so much with this nifty little add-on. I have used the 4 valve in line setup before . The horns I used for the first 3 years or so ( when I came back to playing ) were like that. Even though I have very large hands with long fingers I never really liked the 4th valve on the pinky. I found it really uncomfortable and a real pain sometimes when playing parts that required a lot of 4th valve usage very quickly. Then to make it even more difficult you would have to train yourself to add the 5th at the right time.

[tclements]

Being a tubist, when I started playing euph, it was not a problem using my pinky for the 4th valve. The 5th valve attachement was a no-brainer. I had REAL problems switching to a 3+1 setup, however.