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Just got a new York Eminence 4052 to replace my Hirsbrunner, loving the sound and response, but it has a weird intonation issue. Third space Eb in the staff is about 15 cents flat, and the Eb above the staff is at least 20 cents sharp. The main slide trigger helps a bit, and this seems to be the only serious tuning problem with the horn. I've spoken to some friends who play bessons, and have heard that they have experienced similar problems with their instruments. Any york or besson owners out there have a similar problem, and if so, any suggestions?

Martin Cochran

Martin,if you only have 2 bad notes on a horn,REJOICE! and be glad in it...

mceuph wrote:Third space Eb in the staff is about 15 cents flat, and the Eb above the staff is at least 20 cents sharp

If you look at the Dave Werden's intonation chart for the Besson 967, you'll see that the flat 3rd space Eb and sharp Eb above the staff (BC, concert) is characteristic of Bessons, so it's not surprising you're seeing it in the York, although the 3rd partial Eb was only about 8 cents flat on the 967 Dave tested. (If you spend some time perusing the various intonation charts, you'll discover that the third and sixth partials are a problem for everyone).

Since fixing one will aggravate the other, there's not much you can do except lip up the 3rd partial and lip down the 6th partial. Since your horn has a trigger for the sixth partials, it may make sense to push the 1st valve slide to bring the third partial Eb into tune (assuming the first valve is not already all the way in), and employ the trigger along with lipping down & opening your oral cavity to bring the 6th partial into tune.

Sharp 6th partials (Eb, E, F, F#) are a characteristic of all compensating euphs, but particularly the Bessons. I had an old 967 and just purchased a new 2051-2 Prestige. The trigger is the solution to these notes. If you notice Youtube recordings of David Childs, you can see him using the triggeron the Eb's mentioned. By the way, the F in the staff on my 2051 is quite sharp. I have to use the trigger on that note.

Doug

druby wrote:Sharp 6th partials (Eb, E, F, F#) are a characteristic of all compensating euphs, but particularly the Bessons. I had an old 967 and just purchased a new 2051-2 Prestige. The trigger is the solution to these notes. If you notice Youtube recordings of David Childs, you can see him using the triggeron the Eb's mentioned. By the way, the F in the staff on my 2051 is quite sharp. I have to use the trigger on that note.

Doug

F# is a partial above those others

That said, the Yamaha 321 euph has a similar charactaristic - I'd puch in if a could, but I'd have to cut the slides - it's flat all the way in.

Shoemakers kids go barefoot again...

J.c.S.

The intonation characteristics you mention seem consistant with the three York euphoniums I have seen. The trigger takes care of the sharp sixth patial and the lower Eb can easly be lipped up. Great horns overall.

I have a student with a brand new Sovereign which is very sharp on that Eb above the staff; I am glad to hear that she is not the only one with that problem. We found that 4th valve (instead of 1st) works pretty well for that note.