so..I'm looking for a euphonium......

[JTJ]

For what it is worth, Jason Ham plays a Yamaha 842.

"I just heard Jason Ham, the euphonium player in the West Point band, play in a recital, and he is an absolute virtuoso." Bloke

Jason also has a fine essay up on his web site about the value of the brass band movement in producing the finest euphonium players, and the finest brass players in general.

http://www.jasondham.com/cgi-bin/master ... rclass.asp

It answers the question: "Does the brass band inspire the world's best euphonium soloists?" Well worth reading, and reflecting upon. Our finest euphonium talent generally goes into a service band or gets a teaching position, and is never heard from again.

My hat is off to Jason for breaking the mold.

[Rick F]

One of the biggest tones I've heard on euphonium was on a Willson 2900 by Carlyle Webber (Willson performing artist) who played in the US Army Field Band for 24 years. He's retired from the Army now and lives in South Florida teaching and performing. Carlyle has a gorgeous sound... but would probably sound good on a garden hose and funnel.

I couldn't afford a Willson so settled on a Yamaha-641 euph some years ago. The 641 was the predecessor of the 642. Good horn, but I don't think the lower register speaks as easily as it does on the 642. The 641 does have a 'one-piece' bell construction so the sound won't break up when playing fff. Klaus, who used to post frequently on this forum, still raves about the 641.

[Dean]

If you can get a variety of horns there, at the school with you, try doing a blind test.

You teacher, and perhaps some others with some ears, can listen to you, while you try out horns. Memorize a few passages from a few pieces. Make sure some are melodic, some technical. Make sure all of them together cover the full range of the horn.

Then, blindfold yourself, play the passages, and THEN see what you and your listeners think about the horns. This will eliminate any bias you have for some brands... Record this test if you can, and listen to yourself. Do all this, and pick one (if you can), beore you allow yourself to know which horn is which.

I am not saying you are hung up on a particular brand, I am just saying you may have predispositions ABOUT a certain brand. I know I still do. I just EXPECT certain characteristics from certain brand horns. This will remove any bias, and you just play, and think about the playing afterwords!

Good luck!!

[prototypedenNIS]

You're lucky enough to be able to sit down and try them in a store in the area, even if you need paperwork.

I couldn't really comparison shop when I got my horn. I had played on many old Boosey's and Bessons (as well as some terrible Yammies/Amti/Cerveny's) through Cadets.

I was interested in Miraphone, MW, Besson for new ones... nobody had any in stock. They certainly wouldn't order them so that I could try them. If they were going to order them, it would be because I put a downpayment on it.

The national chains weren't of much use either.

[prototypedenNIS]

yeah... I was looking at a Miraphone.
The other euph player here got a MW. Seems to be pretty good.

[Ryan_Beucke]

WWBW can send you instruments (charged on a credit card) and you have some time to try them and send back whatever you want. Then you're only out shipping. But considering how close you are, I would try as hard as I could to take a day and get down to WWBW. If you're spending this much money, it's worth it.

I was pretty impressed with the MW and Miraphone euphs that I played at NERTEC, if they were cheaper then I would say they were a godd deal.

And the handbrace on the 642 is really akward...not sure why they don't move it the same way every other horn has it.