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Would the Jupiter 462L baritone qualify as a "British" style baritone? Accoding to the specs, the bore is .512" and the bell size is 9.5". It has 3 top-action valves, non-compensating. As compared to most euphoniums, with bores from .570 to .591 and bell sizes 11 to 12 inches, this model sure looks like one.

There's one of these on flea-bay right now. The pics are a bit murky but it looks OK. These things run about $700-750 new, which is still much less than a new Yammie or Besson.

Has anyone used one of these in a brass band?

I play one of these. It's a loaner, and I play it in a local New Horizons band that needed a baritone player. Its sound is lacking in depth, but it's decent. It's definitely not anything I'd call an euphonium by any stretch of the imagination, but it's a little bit darker sounding than a true baritone. Be warned that it only takes small-trombone-shank mouthpieces.

It plays decently in tune except for one common problem with student-line horns: the second valve slide is cut a little too long, so you're constantly having to fight second-valve-only intonation. The first valve slide is cut at a proper length for middle C, and it's easy to hook a finger into it to pull it for other notes that need the slide to come out a little. Even though it's a 3-valve instrument, it has a surprisingly solid pedal open Eb.

For the price, it's not a bad little horn. Just don't expect a big euphonium tone or feel.

Alex,

Doesn't the taper define if it's a euph vs. a baritone? Does a picture of the critter show how much cylindrical tubing it has, vs. conical? I think, roughly, that the baritone's are over half cylindrical tubing (maybe 2/3), followed by about 1/3 of their total length with a more modest flare to the bell. Whereas the euphs would be less than half (maybe 1/3) cylindrical, followed by 2/3 conical tubing ending in a bigger bell flare -- even a smaller-bore "student" model euph (not that this is necessarily what this particular horn is, but with a smaller bore, it COULD be a "student euph" if the taper is mostly conical).

Cheers,

Jupiter may list this horn on their website with their euphs, but they advertise it with their Eb "alto" horn as a brass band instrument in the UK. No, it doesn't have the physical profile of the classic Besson 3-valve comp we all know about, but it is a smaller bore, and it is more cylindrical, and to quote the description, it has the "traditional 'British' mouthpipe angle," making it a true baritone. Student model, of course. But still a true baritone. Check these retailer blurbs:

http://www.johnpacker.co.uk/instruments/100137.htm
http://www.trevorjonesltd.co.uk/jupiter ... r-462l.htm
http://www.normans.co.uk/Items/jbr-360l?

And, to muddy the waters further, there is the classic "long" model euphonium which to me looks somewhat like a baritone.

http://www.amati.cz/english/production/ ... p_233g.htm

My old Conn Naked Lady euphonium looks exactly like the Amati referenced above.

In the back closet of our Shrine band there is an Italian instrument very similar, kind of half-way between a euph and a baritone. Somebody on another thread a long time ago told me what the Italians call it, but I forgot. My particular example had the worst sharp (bass clef) open F you can imagine. I quietly returned it to its resting place.