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Looking for a Besson or Wilson 3 valve compensating euphonium. I am a trombonist by trade, but i have been picking up more euphonium and baritone students, and I am in need of an instrument to use in lessons. I feel the three valve compensating should meet my needs, and be a good quality instrument, while not breaking the bank.

Thanks

Graham

Damn! you just missed a decent one that went for less than $250 on eBay.

Unless you have a specific need or desire for a 3 valve compensator, you may wish to consider a Yamaha YEP-321, a 4v non-compensating euphonium which is, in essence, the "school standard" euphonium these days and can often be found used in very good condition. The Weril 4 v non-comp (large shank, 12" bell) is also very good and much less costly than a new Yammie, as is the VMI 3171.

I suspect that many of your students will have 4 valve euphs, most likely the Yamahas.

IMHO, unless you will need to venture down below low E, a Besson 3-valve compensator might be a very good choice. The Yamaha 321 is also nice, but it won't have the tone of the Besson. Danny Vinson (just retiring as principal euphonium from The U.S. Coast Guard Band) really liked the 3-valve Besson. It responds a little nicer than a 4-valve, and the compensating system does a good job on low C and B-natural (concert pitch).

BTW (it's my day for abbreviations), I have an article/demo on my website that shows how this works (it also shows how a 4-valve compensator works). I suggest choosing the link to the Flash version at the top of the page, which has an interactive demo and is less wordy:

http://www.dwerden.com/eu-articles-comp.cfm

Unless you really need the notes below concert E nat, I am more of a fan of the 3-valve because it is inherently more in tune than the 4-valve, and theoretically in perfect tune save for the 123 combination, which is really no more sharp than using 12 combination instead of 3, which a true 3 valve comp can be tuned the pure minor third down, and the fifth partials can be adjusted through bracing or diameter so they are not flat, and the sixth partials so they are not sharp likewise. There may be a time when I'm called upon to play in the sub trenches, and I may have to beg/borrow/make other arrangements for an instrument accordingly, but until then, I'll take my 3-valve comp over the rest of them any day, all day, regardless of quality, reputation, or tuba du jour.

i will go to my local music store today and give the 321 a second look.

another besson popped up on ebay last night. can you say "project".
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... Track=true

i have been borrowing a besson large bore, 3 valve, compensating, detachable, bell front euphonium for a while and i really love the sound and intonation, but the bell front drives me nuts.

anyway, i will look on.

thanks

Graham

so i went ahead and bought a used besson 3 valve compensating euphonium on ebay.
now i just need a case and a mpc. Anyone with a used reunion blues case or a Schilke 52D euroshank for sale, please pm me

Thanks

Graham

So YOU bought it! I was deciding if I wanted to bid on it, as I eventually would like one as well to go with my 3-valve BBb tuba. Congrats.