u/GetrunesDad

Shout out to Baltimore Brass! Those of us in the area know it's a great store! And this evening proved it once again. I took my King 4B trombone in because the mail tuning slide was being wonky (I couldn't get it to go in). I was fully expecting to have to wait until sometime in June to get it back, but the repair guru was able to take care of it while I waited. That's great service! (But on the down side, now I have to think of another reason to go back soon and purchase some new toys.)

Thank you Baltimore Brass!

I'm sure we've all gotten that question many times, but it's usually from folks who really aren't familiar with many musical instruments. OTOH, it's sort of shocking when someone who should know, doesn't!

A local branch of a national chain of music stores held an instrument showcase, petting zoo, or whatever you want to call it today. I went in and registered, and the salesman asked what I was interested in, and I said "Euphoniums". He said they didn't have any to try, so I asked what were those four instruments over on that table. "Oh, they're mellophones." I said "No, they look like euphoniums." He said "I think they're mellophones." I walked over, and they were indeed euphoniums. (You would think that someone who works in a music store like that would know the difference........).

They had 4-valve compensating Eastman, Shires, & Yamaha Neo, as well as a Yamaha 321. I took the Eastman back to a practice room (really too small for a euphonium) and played it some. It was 'OK', but it didn't scream "TAKE ME HOME!" (and but neither did the Shires or the Yamaha Neo). When I walked out to the display tables, and different salesman asked "How did you like that baritone?". I replied that it was a euphonium, not a baritone. "What's the difference?" So I had to explain it.

You would think that salesmen who are supposedly trying to sell instruments would at least have a basic understanding of the instruments they're supposed to be selling.

Fortunately, there was no hard sell trying to get me to take one home (but I fully expect a phone call in a couple of days).