Compensating versus non?

[Deleted]

Since my horn kind of died recently and my parents had been talking about getting me a new one anyway, they decided to take the plunge and buy me a four-valve. It's a Barrington non-compensating type; I went for the non-comp because I know I get good sound out of it in the low register on my current crappy horn, and with a higher-quality baritone I don't think I will get as much out of the compensation as I would out of the non, and because I know compensating horns run much higher than non.

Does anyone have any thoughts on the differences?

[brassdancer]

Well, personaly I would have gone with the compensating horn. They play very well in the lower register, and are better in tune down there. Not to mention the valve on the side is extremely easier to use. I really wish I had bought the compensating horn over the non, especially now. I play on my friends compensating from time to time and it's amazing how much better I sound.

They are pretty expensive, but they are well worth it. If you are going to major in music I DEFINETLLY recommend spending the cash to get one.

[Deleted]

This isn't the horn I plan to go to college on. THAT horn will be my graduation gift, a couple G's (this was $1100) and I will spend months researching it and all that. THIS horn will hopefully get me through the rest of high school. One of the few things I'm proud of with my playing is my tone; on a $250 horn, I play with better tone that 80-90% of the high school players I've met (granted I haven't met that many), so I think that with the level of playing my band is at, I will garner more from the use of the fourth valve as a valve than from a compensator. So, basically, it was a short-sighted decision, but this horn isn't going to college with me, except maybe for practice or as a back-up or whatever.

The other thing you have to understand is the nature of this purchase. My parents had been talking long-term about buying me a better horn, and I had said that this would be the one I would want. Then, today, I called them and said "uh, yeah, my horn crapped out, I guess it's time to get that Barrington", so they did. That being the case, a few hundred dollars is a pretty big deal. The other thing to understand is just how abysmal my current horn is; damn near anything is an improvement.

All that isn't to say that you're wrong, of course; you're a junior in college and a music major and I'm a sophomore in high school who used Brasso on a lacquered horn. Since you seem to own a non-compensator, I'm curious as to what use you find for the fourth valve, what notes it is helpful to use it for, all that jazz.

[brassdancer]

I completely understand the nature of the purchase. I was never able to afford a compensating horn, and it is perfectly OK to play on a non-compensating one (I mean, Im living proof). I got mine for 1600 and it's a yamaha 321S. I have never heard of a Barrington, but I suppose it's working well for you from what I see.

I am just noting that if you are serious about euphonium, a compensating horn is the way to go. If not now, eventually. I wish I had more time in college so that buying one would be a "good" investment, but i am one semester out of college and that kind of G can pay off lots of student loans. I am amazed at what great technique I have when I play on one. It's just different to use your index finger for the side valve as opposed to the pinky. I generally only use to fourth valve for the lower notes (Eb below the staff and beyond) and for 2nd line C. On occasion it's better to use the fourth valve on open F, as it's sometimes better in tune. But the fourth valve is just a necessity to the instrument, allowing you to play better in tune overall and even more importantly, lower in the instrument. They are heavier and are large bore, so filling up the instrument is really the only thing I had to get used to, aside from the different valve placement.

[Deleted]

Once you have a band, you can buy a compensator on their money! Or they may all ready have one.

Whoa, wait, you mean my index is no longer pressing the first valve (the one that makes you play middle Eb)? Oh the humanity! I've got all summer to adjust, I suppose.

[bandman001]

The index finger still presses the 1st valve on a compensating euphonium, it's the 4th valve that's off on the side. It sets it up so that it is more natural to hold, and the normal 3 valves on top.

[Deleted]

So the new horn sounds good, "like ice cream" as my freshman put it.