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My son is looking for a relatively inexpensive, but decent 4-valve baritone. He can probably afford around a grand. Used is fine.

Here are a few (used) models we have seen that seem to meet our criteria.

King 1166
Weril H980
Yamaha WEP-321

Any thoughts on these or any other suggestions?

Craig

kegmcnabb wrote:My son is looking for a relatively inexpensive, but decent 4-valve baritone. He can probably afford around a grand. Used is fine.

Here are a few (used) models we have seen that seem to meet our criteria.

King 1166
Weril H980
Yamaha WEP-321

Any thoughts on these or any other suggestions?

Craig

Some people really like the YEP-321. I dont like the small shank it has, but other than that, i think it plays pretty well.

kegmcnabb wrote:Yamaha WEP-321

Did you mean YEP-321?

TubaMM currently lists the Jin Bao large shank 321 clone, which is a better-than-decent player, for $475 (lacquer) , which is practically stealing. Hard to imagine your son can do better than that, assuming he's old/responsible enough to take reasonable care in handling his horn. (And even if he isn't, at that price, he can buy two so he'll know better after he trashes the first one. )

derrenba wrote:

kegmcnabb wrote:Yamaha WEP-321

Did you mean YEP-321?

TubaMM currently lists the Jin Bao large shank 321 clone, which is a better-than-decent player, for $475 (lacquer) , which is practically stealing. Hard to imagine your son can do better than that, assuming he's old/responsible enough to take reasonable care in handling his horn. (And even if he isn't, at that price, he can buy two so he'll know better after he trashes the first one. )

Or maybe a lacquer and a silver (because silver ALWAYS brighter, right? )

derrenba wrote:

kegmcnabb wrote:Yamaha WEP-321

Did you mean YEP-321?

TubaMM currently lists the Jin Bao large shank 321 clone, which is a better-than-decent player, for $475 (lacquer) , which is practically stealing.

Yes.

Well, $475 does seem like a "steal" for a quality 4-valve horn. I don't know much about Chinese euphs. I have vaguely "noticed" some tuba threads but haven't really followed them. I just kinda picked the brands I am somewhat familiar with but am certainly willing to be ed-u-ma-cated.

Don't know if this will be in your budget, but if it is not you can wait for one that is.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=45541&p=396180&hilit=2280#p396180" target="_blank

I like the King 2280 a lot better than the 1166.

I am a euphonium player and have been fortunate to have played all 3 models.



- By far the Yamah 321 is your best bet. Have the small shank reciever replaced with a large shank reciever if you can.
- I played a Weril H980 ,that I bought brand new,for 2 years. It's a damn fine horn with a nice mellow tone. It's advanatge over the Yamaha is it comes with a large shank reciever. The quality of the build has improved a lot since I owned mine 5 years ago and it was very good then.
- King 2280 is also a fine horn that has a much brighter tone than the others and is very light. Very easy to play in all ranges. Too easy to over blow... that's my only complaint

kegmcnabb wrote: Well, $475 does seem like a "steal" for a quality 4-valve horn. I don't know much about Chinese euphs. I have vaguely "noticed" some tuba threads but haven't really followed them. I just kinda picked the brands I am somewhat familiar with but am certainly willing to be ed-u-ma-cated.

Read through the thread on cheap euphs over on Dave Werden's site if you have an hour or so and are would like some perspective on the Jin Bao 1150 comp euph. (Don't get hung up on the Schiller brand: Schiller was the low price leader at the time the thread got started, but it's a rebranded Jin Bao, just like the Tuba MM.)

The YEP-321 is an excellent professional instrument at a fairly modest price; parts galore in the world make buying used a very good idea. I never have had a clue as to the paranoid terror of small shanks; it suits this instrument well, as it did the Conns, Kings and countless great instruments over the ages. Getting a large shank simply means you've decided to limit your options on an instrument that in no way could be characterized as gigantic.

I have a student with a Chinese "Berkeley" Yamaha copy and the valves have given us no end of misery. Perhaps they are better now, but this was purchased only 18 months ago.

The 2268 (the 1166 is retired) is a too-maligned excellent American "Baritone". Love it, played with great players who had em, played 'em, still can't understand why they aren't more popular. It's bell-front relative, though, is a head-scratching dog.

The Weril is a great copy of the Yamaha. Steve Ferguson endorsed it and I haven't had any Weril valve plating issues in my shop. Good solid horns.

The Jupiter 470 knock-off of the Yamaha is a nice horn... and there are parts out there for it. Very affordable.

Fear-not the small shank.

J.c.S. (who has the opposite opinion of the King 2280 - darkest thing out there).