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Yes, I have seen MW making euphoniums at their workshop in Geretsried.

I have only tried one briefly at a conference, but I felt it had a really big sound but was a little clunky to hold, very heavy valve springs, etc.

Long and McQuade claim to be a dealer. If they actually sold the products they listed they would have every musical instrument known to man. They might be able to bring one in for you to try. They should at least because they pretty much have a musical monopoly in Canada.

The 451 has some--shall we say--"unique" pitch tendencies that the 551 purportedly (but in my experience, didn't really) fixed.

The 451 and 551 also have a (well-deserved) reputation for "fussy" valves.

Yorks are OK, I personally think Bessons are better -- however, now that York is gone their US distributor has been absolutely blowing them out on ebay. Like half price or better! Keep watching for the model of your choice. Even if I really disliked them, those prices are hard to beat!

http://shop.ebay.com/york.brassinstruments/m.html" target="_blank

I played a York a couple years back. It was a nice instrument, VERY pretty in tone color. It was similar to a Besson, but like I said, "prettier." My impression was it might not have a huge range of different sounds you can get out of it. But it's worth trying out.