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I stumbled across an interesting Euphonium and bought it. Now I'm wondering what I have. It is Marzan, but I don't know if it the Marzan of tuba fame or not. Front action, 4 valve, compensating, nickle silver except the lead pipe which is gold brass. Small mp receiver. First, third, fourth, and main tuning slide face up, leaving a hole between the bottom bow and the valve section. Valve section looks to be taken from an F tuba. It's huge in respect to the rest of the horn. The main tuning slide has a kicker which looks to be factory. Bore is .592 through 3rd and .637 in 4th and the compensating tubing. 11 inch bell. Does anyone know anything about this horn? I've already found that it plays great, although it goes a bit sharp in the treble clef.

Yes this was imported by the same Fred Marzan. What you have is a Willson made front action compensating euphonium. It sounds like the receiver was replaced because I think that they came with the intermediate sized European receivers. These were later sold as the Willson model 2975, which is now available again. Does it look like this?

http://www.willsonbrass.com/news/newsde ... ews_id=331

It looks almost like the 2975. The position of the 4th valve bow is up rather than down like the 2975. Maybe the 2975 leadpipe and receiver would fit. That might fix a couple of tuning quirks, plus I don't care for the small shank. I really appreciate your info.

Yes, they made some changes when Willson started selling them as 2975s, and the newer ones have had a few more changes, but it's basically the same horn. I don't see why a leadpipe from a new one wouldn't fit. Call one of the shops listed on the Willson website and ask what they think.

(Is this the one that was recentedly listed on ebay and for which the listing was ended early?)

Probably it is the same horn. I saw it on E-bay and couldn't tell enough about it to bid. I called the pawn shop that had it and drove up there on the spur of the moment, 3 hours. I've been looking for a cheap pro line horn for years to double on. I played one scale and bought it on the spot. Actually I traded a like new Besson 743 bass trombone even up for it.

What would interest you for sale or trade for your euph? Also, where are you located? Play test?

I can't remember his name, but there is a guy who attends the Army tuba conference regularly who has one of those. He told me that right after he bought it there was some kind of legal snafu that force Marzan to stop production and try to recall the instruments; he refused to give it back and has been using it ever since. The wild part is that he had it converted to C, and claims that it works.

I've always thought it to be the perfect tuba player's euphonium. Note that this was also sold as the Canadian Brass CB-30 (the one I have).

Art Hovey wrote:I can't remember his name, but there is a guy who attends the Army tuba conference regularly who has one of those. He told me that right after he bought it there was some kind of legal snafu that force Marzan to stop production and try to recall the instruments; he refused to give it back and has been using it ever since. The wild part is that he had it converted to C, and claims that it works.

I think I sat next to this guy at ITEC's 'Low Blowers' for that week in Greensboro, NC. I asked him if his horn was a Willson. He said no, it was a Marzan and it was cut to 'C'. So he said it played in tune!? Hmm--must have me I guess.

Art Hovey wrote:I can't remember his name, but there is a guy who attends the Army tuba conference regularly who has one of those. He told me that right after he bought it there was some kind of legal snafu that force Marzan to stop production and try to recall the instruments; he refused to give it back and has been using it ever since. The wild part is that he had it converted to C, and claims that it works.

Now it must be one of them 'French C' tubas!!