Rotary Euphonium

[Tubaryan12]

I hate to poke the hornet's nest, but has anyone tried one of these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Schiller-Elite- ... 588wt_1153" target="_blank and how does it compare in timbre and intonation to a Yamaha 321?

[MaryAnn]

If it's a copy of the Meinl Weston it's going to have intonation and stuffiness issues. Given that you can't get your money back, make sure there is something else you want from that vendor before trying this one.
MA

[Bob Kolada]

They're ok horns, noticeably brighter than the average euph, good low range, kinda uncomfortable to hold (very short), and one I played had a terribly flat fifth, tuba-like , fifth partial.

I keep telling Jonathan if he could get the rotary valve set on the full sized euph body he'd really have something, especially if it had five valves!

[Tubaryan12]

I keep telling Jonathan if he could get the rotary valve set on the full sized euph body he'd really have something, especially if it had five valves!

Define "full sized" euphonium body. Do you mean just stretched out, or different sized branches compared to what is here? I did notice that the bore of this is .59 vs the .57 of the Yamaha.

[windshieldbug]

Define "full sized" euphonium body. Do you mean just stretched out, or different sized branches compared to what is here? I did notice that the bore of this is .59 vs the .57 of the Yamaha.

Over-all bore profile. The nominal valve bore is only comparable if the mouthpipe is the same length...

[Tubaryan12]

The only reason I was interested in it was because it was rotary. If the valves are rough, then no need.

Tubaryan "I still want to try it, buy I'll try before I buy" 12.

[Bob Kolada]

I mean the regular comp euph body, that thing is a winner. This horn is physically smaller and has a different sound, kind of a "piggy euph".

[Wyvern]

I bought one from wessex. It was terrible. Beyond Terrible.

The valves didn't move smoothly, the intonation was so flat on some notes it made the horn unplayable, even for fun.

I sent it back and got my money back, minus shipping costs (both ways) so I was out $100 for owning a piece of junk for a few days.

The valves should not have been rough - they are certainly not usually. The sound should not be thin either - it sounds like something was wrong with the one you had, although of course I have not tried that one personally.

For intonation, the Bydlo tenor tuba works far better as a C tuba, than a Bb. I assume you were playing it in Bb? All the same with new much better models coming out, we are planning to soon discontinue the Bydlo.

If you want a rotary valve euphonium in Bb, a Kaiser baritone is much, much better - http://www.wessex-tubas.com/german-kaiser-bariton/ Even I as a tuba player, can play that in tune - I would consider it the rotary equivalent of the compensated euphonium. Nice instrument!

Grooving for Heaven, if you buy anything else from Wessex Tubas in future, we will deduct $100 off your bill.

[Kevin Hendrick]

For intonation, the Bydlo tenor tuba works far better as a C tuba, than a Bb. I assume you were playing it in Bb? All the same with new much better models coming out, we are planning to soon discontinue the Bydlo.

I would think the Bydlo *would* work better in C -- it was obviously designed for that key. Will be watching for the new tenors ... hope one of them is a rotary C.