Admitting defeat...

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 12:52 pm

4 valve Courtois compensating euphonium with 1st valve trigger...

Bob Mosso · Post by **Bob Mosso** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 1:54 pm

It's got all the right features, but how does it play in comparison to the Yamaha 642, 842, and Wilson 2900?

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 2:25 pm

Of course you have to have a 1st valve trigger on a 4-valve comp, since you can't use 3 alone, as you can on a 3-valve comp, as 3 has to be pulled flat to get 2-3 in tune. This is a feature that is only about 50 years late finally getting here, while being either standard (King Silver Flair and Besson top line instruments) or optional (almost every other top line brand) on trumpets and cornets.

Now, if you are so inclined, you can go back to using 1-3 and triggering to tune, and pulling 4 so 2-4 will actually be in tune and not sharp, which also lessens the sharpness of other multivalve combinations going back through the comp block, finally have a real low B nat just above the pedal, and not just a lipped approximation, and most of all now have real and usable alternate fingerings for almost everything.

Willson has it on their tenor horns.

Then again, there will still be those who would just rather bitch about 1-2 always being marginally sharp on most notes.

Highams · Post by **Highams** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 4:43 pm

Nothing new I'm afraid, the Childs Brothers had them on their early Sovereigns, at least until 1987.

CB

Highams · Post by **Highams** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 2:29 am

Hi Bob,

UK brass band players love gadgets!
And if they promise the 'earth will move' in your playing, all the better (lol).

CB

prototypedenNIS · Post by **prototypedenNIS** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 3:23 am

Bob1062 wrote:What's the point of the "professional" compensating system it you still have to pull/kick/slide valve slides? I almost want to call that lame.

Why not 5 valves and maybe a main tuning slide rod/trigger/whatever on a non-comp euph/tuba? Then you could tune every note including open partials. I never understood why people are so into moving different valve slides when all you need is one.

4 valve compensating is not designed with Bnat's within the bass clef in mind. A compensating system is designed to correct the pitch in the pedal range. However, every instrument will have tendecies and adjustments to make, that's why the new main slide tuning systems have become popular on compensating pro euphs.

Back in the day, you'd just have to lip down those pesky F#'s. "Keep fighting with your Boosey and Squaks and it'll get easier!"