Vintage Boosey Euphonium - how does it compare?
Radbert Grimmig
Hi,
I am offered a 1928 Boosey euphonium. Can anyone point out how an
instrument like that compares to current models, or direct me to any
helpful web resources?
I basically play the bass trombone, mostly in an amateur symphony
orchestra, and double on the euphonium occasionally. At the moment I
use a fairly modern B&S 3171A whose sound I quite like. It has a wide
bore (15,0 mm, should be .571) and bell (300 mm / ~11.8 inches),
accepts my large shank bass trombone mouthpiece and sounds very warm,
like a bass trombone gone french horn, rather similar to the Jupiter
570 L).
However, it is a non-compensating model, giving me the usual trouble
in the pedal range. The vintage Boosey is a 4 valves compensating
Imperial Model, Solbron Class A, "in very good condition, considering
its age, with only minor dents, silver plated, can be played right
away".
I was hoping this might turn out a good opportunity to replace the B&S
with a compensating model "on the cheap" (at an asking price of 350
Euros), seeing that I find current Besson or Wilson compensating
models much to expensive for my purposes.
The seller confirms it was tuned to the current "low pitch" (443 Hz)
and accepted a regular baritone shank mouthpiece. A Dennis Wick 6BM is
included, whose shank should be 11.5 mm according to my research,
which might also give me trouble as I usually play a Yamaha YAC-YEO.
Its standard 12.5 mm bass 'bone shank has been turned down a little on
a lathe however, so I could get lucky here.
She also wrote me that she "liked the sound, especially in the medium
and upper range, but not really suitable as a replacement tuba". Well,
which euph is, I wonder.
--
Gruß
Radbert
Roving Rowes
you like it, buy it. If you don't, don't. Having the compensating
system is a definite plus.
As for being a "replacement tuba" my Gerhard Baier compensating
euphonium plays wonderfully all the way down to pedal B (the one three
octaves below middle C). If I were in a situation where there wasn't a
tuba available and there were tuba parts that needed to be covered, I
wouldn't hesitate to use my Baier.
Norm
jon_norstog
E. 350 for a bari/euphonium in good shape is killer if you ask me.
That's the cost of lunch at some restaurants. Do you like the horn?
See if you can play it for a week or so ... just my thought.
good luck
jn
Radbert Grimmig <gri...@cityweb.de> wrote in message news:<2vpqc2F...@uni-berlin.de>...
THE Old Man
You might throw this up to Highams @
http://forum.alex281.com/index.php
This is a great euphonium board.
dd
Byron Yip
The mouthpiece receiver on these horns is a bit problematic. They're
that "in between" size (between the standard small shank trombone
mouthpiece and the standard large shank trombone mouthpiece). There
aren't a lot of mouthpieces available "off the shelf". They can be
obtained, but usually only on special order.
I'm also a bit leery of the tuning. Was it built to low pitch, or was
it modified?
Best if you could get your hands on it to try before buying.
Byron Yip
Silvan
> E. 350 for a bari/euphonium in good shape is killer if you ask me.
> That's the cost of lunch at some restaurants. Do you like the horn?
That 350 ? is the cost of lunch in some restaurants makes it a bargain?! My
grocery budget for my family of four for a week is $100. That's only about
77 ? with the US dollar being in the tank against the Euro.
I don't think I can afford to eat lunch in one of those restaurants you're
talking about! :)
--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <dmmc...@users.sourceforge.net>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/
http://rosegarden.sourceforge.net/tutorial/
Neal
> E. 350 for a bari/euphonium in good shape is killer if you ask me.
> That's the cost of lunch at some restaurants.
350 Euros is like 450 US dollars! Where the hell you eating lunch, on the
Concorde?
That's like 50-100 lunches in most restaurants, and even in the most
exclusive restaurant I have ever been in it's at least a week's worth of
lunches.
350 Euro / 450 dollars is equivalent to these things, at least in the US:
- a few decent gigs
- a very used car
- a wireless mike
- a week of substitute teaching
- 8 bottles of Grey Goose
That said, it's a great price for a horn in good shape.