All W. Nirshl Euphoniums feature:
• Stainless Steel Pistons
• Electrophoretic Lacquer or Silver Plate
• Premium Valve Oil
• Plastic Hardshell Case
• .580" bore in the first 3 valves and .650" in the 4th
• 11" bell.
What does the Automatic Compensating System do?
When a trombonist engages the “F attachment” the slide positions all move out farther down the slide. This is because he is now playing an F trombone. The F trombone requires longer slide positions than the Bb trombone. When the Euphonium player engages the 4th valve, for considerations of slide length, he has a Euphonium in F, the same length as an F tuba. His valve slides must be appropriately longer. Think of it like the difference of the fret sizes on a guitar vs. a ukulele. Or a bass guitar vs. a guitar. A flute vs. a piccolo. When the overall instrument is longer and lower, the whole system of the scale must elongate with it.
A Euphonium with the Automatic Compensating System routes the fourth valve back into the main three valves a second time where additional tubing is added when the fourth valve is engaged. It allows the player to play from low E one ledger line below the bass clef all the way down chromatically to B below the bass clef without pulling slides. This is the entire purpose of the Automatic Compensating System. It does not correct any notes in or above the staff. It does not alter the overtone system. It does not even correct for second space C and second line B. It simply adds the additional tubing necessary to play from low E to low B below the staff without pulling slides. It is important not to be deceived into thinking it automatically fixes any other intonation issues.
The Automatic Compensating System is a wonderful tool that all serious Euphoniumists use in solo literature. Although it has no use in everyday band literature, that is not to say a high school should not own Euphoniums with the ACS. It is an advantage to equip players with all the tools to develop their solo skills.
Other advantages to the Automatic Compensating System:
ACS Euphoniums have the fourth valve placed down low for the players left hand. This “3&1” valve configuration has three advantages.
* Trombone players who double on Euphonium have a greater comfort level having the perfect forth valve on the left hand. It is what they are accustomed to from the F Attachment on the trombone.
* Acoustically the fourth valve tubing can be made larger because it is farther into the taper of the instrument. Because the fourth valve is used almost exclusively for low notes, having a larger bore in the fourth valve allows for a more open low register.
* The right hand pinky finger is somewhat dependent on the ring finger. Moving the fourth valve to the left hand frees up the ring finger for greater facility.
For advanced students and professionals, the W. Nirschl I-800 offers all the advantages of the Automatic Compensating System. For the most demanding professional, the Meister Walter Nirschl Euphonium adds the advantages of a hand made instrument from traditional sheet brass.
Why does my teacher play with his tuning slide farther in than I do?
Some professionals play in a more relaxed manner and the larger oral cavity associated with a big professional sound causes the pitch to be lower. Some teachers even teach the concept of trying to play ‘low on the pitch’ to achieve a bigger sound. Without even a conscious effort to do so, some professional play lower and as a result require shorter slide lengths. The W. Nirschl Euphoniums have been designed to accommodate all players and those occasional performances with a high piano or organ . Players who have a natural tendency to play high may find that pulling the first, third and fourth valve slides about ½” works best. Again, pulling slides too much can have negative consequences if you do not take into account all notes affected.
Got a question about this product? Contact Us
The Music Store, Inc.
9120C E. 31st. Street
Tulsa, OK. 74145
Phone: (918) 664-7333 * Fax: (918) 664-9597 * Toll Free: 1-888-503-7196
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