Mendini by Cecilio Baritone, Lacquer Brass B Flat Baritone with Tuner, 3 Stainless Steel Pistons, Mouthpiece, Hard Case, Polishing Cloth and Gloves (Gold)

The euphonium I received is expertly well made. The sound quality is exceptional for a brass instrument at this price. I was impressed by its construction and craftsmanship. I highly recommend this euphonium not only for its price point but for the quality of its construction and the tremendous value offered. Not only is the euphonium a beautiful sounding instrument but it comes with a nice carry case, mouthpiece and tuner. This instrument gets an AAA+ As to the instruments construction, it’s important to note that the metallic composition of a brass instrument can influence its tonal quality. Different alloys, like varying ratios of copper and zinc in brass, can impact factors such as brightness, warmth, and overall resonance in the instrument's sound. This euphonium sounds great. Note that the price difference between a professional brass musical instrument and a student-level instrument often reflects various factors that contribute to the overall quality, performance, and craftsmanship of the instrument. Here are some aspects that typically differentiate more expensive professional instruments from less expensive student models: Material: Professional Instruments: High-quality materials, including premium brass alloys, are often used in professional instruments. These materials contribute to a more resonant and nuanced sound. Student Instruments: Student instruments may use less expensive materials, which can affect the overall sound quality and durability. Craftsmanship: Professional Instruments: Professional instruments undergo more meticulous craftsmanship during the manufacturing process. Skilled artisans often hand-assemble and finish these instruments to ensure precision and attention to detail. Student Instruments: Mass production methods are more common for student instruments, which may result in less detailed craftsmanship. Construction and Design: Professional Instruments: Professional instruments may feature advanced design elements and construction techniques aimed at optimizing sound production, intonation, and playability. Student Instruments: Simplified designs are often employed in student instruments to make them more accessible for beginners. This can lead to limitations in terms of tonal complexity and playing flexibility. Components and Accessories: Professional Instruments: Higher-end instruments often come with top-quality components, such as valves, slides, and other hardware. They may also include additional features or enhancements for better performance. Student Instruments: While functional, components in student instruments may not be as refined or durable as those in professional models. Additional features may be minimal. Quality Control: Professional Instruments: Greater attention is typically given to quality control in professional instrument production. This ensures that each instrument meets high standards for playability and sound quality. Student Instruments: Quality control processes may be less rigorous for student instruments due to the larger scale of production. Brand Reputation: Professional Instruments: Professional instruments are often associated with reputable brands known for their commitment to quality and innovation. The brand's reputation contributes to the instrument's overall perceived value. Student Instruments: Student instruments are often produced by a wider range of manufacturers, including those with a focus on affordability. Brand reputation may vary. Target Audience: Professional Instruments: Designed for experienced and advanced players who demand high performance and specific tonal characteristics for professional use. Student Instruments: Geared towards beginners and students, emphasizing durability, ease of play, and affordability. It's important to note that while professional instruments generally offer higher quality and performance, the best instrument for a player depends on their skill level, playing style, and budget. Advanced players may benefit from the nuances of a professional instrument, while beginners may find a student model more suitable for their needs. Additionally, personal preference plays a significant role in choosing a musical instrument.

Having recently retired from a drum corps baritone, I've been learning on this Euphonium for about 5 months and it is really a decent instrument for the money. I'm careful to wearing open finger gloves when I play so the finish still looks new, the few finger prints or water marks polish right out. The 12 inch bell gives it a very warm sound ( not bright). I The valve action is pretty fast and generally quiet. I haven't had much of a problem with sticking valves but if I don't play it for a week they will stick unless I lubricate them with good quality valve oil before storing. With hours of playing time, everything seems tight and quiet with the exception of one cork on a spit valve which would leak slightly. The remedy is to drain it a bit more frequently. Finally, the tuning is mostly quite good (as viewed with a digital tuner) except for the 2nd valve B which is slightly flat even with the tuning valve all the way in. You'll may not notice this just by listening but it does show up on the tuner. As with most low brass, the low D is slightly sharp but that's where the 4th valve substitution will put this note into correct pitch, making this 4 valve instrument nice sounding in the low register. While not a professional instrument, it serves my purposes as a low cost student instrument while it is pleasing to my ears. I would rate this 4 1/2 stars but rounded up because there are no major problems.

Love the carrying case - the straps make it much easier for my son to carry to and from school. Beautiful instrument and great value for the price. Sound quality is really good for most of the range and it has been a perfect solution for a beginner/intermediate for a fraction of the price. We originally decided to purchase since the cost was comparable with renting a much older used baritone for the school year. So glad we purchased!

I bought this euphonium after reading every review I could find on it. I read reviews and debated buying it for months. My primary instrument is trombone, but I double on euphonium in a small group. I've been playing a small bore King from the 1960s and really wanted to try a large bore horn, knowing the difference in sound from a small bore to large bore trombone. I finally worked up the courage to try this horn, figuring the worst thing that can happen is my kids have a "small tuba" to play with. I could not be happier with this horn! To start with, the case is nicer than my ProTec soft case. I like the fabric covered hard case. I would be OK checking this case in my luggage on a flight. The horn itself seems to be very solid. The nickel plating is beautiful. The sound is awesome! I couldn't believe the richness of the sound from an instrument at this price point! There were one or two notes that were a little out of tune, but that is the nature of a non compensating valved instrument (coming from trombone, I compensate for individual notes with slide position). The couple of notes that were out of tune have been helped by switching to a different mouthpiece. What I didn't like as much... The mouthpiece just didn't "feel right" when playing the horn. I switched to one of the many I have for my trombone collection and instantly liked the horn. The white gloves that come with the horn are rather small for my hands. The valve guides are plastic, but this may not be an issue, as they simply keep the valve from rotating, the stress should be minimal on this part. I've not used the included tuner, so I cannot review it. I would recommend this horn to anybody who has an interest in a decent euphonium at a very good price. I had nothing to lose, so I took a chance. When my girls grow up, I may buy another one to play duets. I am no threat to Steven Mead's livelihood by any means, but I have been playing long enough to play a lot of instruments. I could never justify a $10k euphonium for my needs. This instrument was perfect, and I am very satisfied with the quality and the sound!

So let me say that I loved playing euphonium, and at many points in my life, considered going all out for it, though in the end, life brought me in a different path. But as a year, then two went by without picking up a horn, I really missed it. So I started looking into euphoniums, and I ran across this one. Of course, as always, I was a little nervous, because if you are anything like me (Maybe you aren't, and if you aren't, I applaud you for your financial stability), even 300 something dollars is no drop in the bucket. In fact, it feels like several buckets and maybe the bathtub while we're at it. But music is my passion, and there was nothing that relaxed me more than learning a new piece, and struggling through with every part of it until it finds the sort of perfection I was looking for. When it came in, I couldn't have been more excited, and looking at the case alone, well, the case impresses me. But then I was nervous. I remembered a euphonium being a beast with its case, and I was pretty sure I hadn't gained any muscle. Nope... I was positive I hadn't. But I opened it up, and well... It looked like a euphonium. So I put in the mouthpiece and quickly realized the gloves were about 20 sizes too small. I could fit about three fingers into said glove, but only the palm part of it. So I picked up my old gloves and got to work. Now. The first note that came out after buzzing into the mouthpiece, I dare not even say sounded good, but that was all my fault. I was brought back to the first time in elementary school I had played this thing, and suddenly, it was so much fun. The sound quality is very good. I was very impressed with it. I know others have had problems with the valves, but right now for me, they are fine. The tuner is a little, well... I am having difficulties with the metronome side of things. It doesn't like increasing speed, and it has told me that it will never decrease speed. But I certainly didn't buy this for the metronome. The only complaint I had is one that I cannot tell whether it is me, or the instrument, but after doing long tones for days on end, some of the notes are rather out of tune. To me, this is a learning thing. For the novice, when you pick up the instrument, make a chart with all your chromatic notes, then have someone look at the tuner. His each note and have them record it as sharp, flat, or good, and then you know where you stand. But for me, the fourth valve is really having a lot of difficulty with tuning, but as I said, it could be me. It seems to be something I can overcome, but I'm curious about it at the very least. However, I would highly recommend this, especially if you will be new to the world of euphonium (Welcome! This beast of an instrument will be your best friend!) or whether your are in high school, college, or beyond. I'm really loving it, and it looks and sounds awesome!

This is not anything near a professional or intermediate model, but it has a uniquely robust sound, never sounding like a French horn or trombone. The valves are still breaking in, but with a coat of oil and future maintenance, are well on their way to being nearly as smooth as my primary horn (a Schiller). I purchased this to gain some experience with the 4-valve on top format, to aid in dexterity of my fingers, and to have a different horn to practice with because I am between buildings a lot! The price was excellent on this horn--being even less than the 3-valve version by the same brand at the time of purchasing. I have been looking at this product for a while, and I could not believe the sale that it was on! It is important to note that the video was recorded using the standard camera on a Macbook Air. I also only have around a year of experience. While my primary horn is easier to play, a similar recording did not sound different from primary to this horn. It took a few days to break in and get used to. At first, high notes on this horn did not sound well, and you can hear me hitting the middle D/E without a problem in the video. I can hit as high as the F/G at the moment (Just above the top note on the staff for treble clef and middle note above bass clef.). The only problems at the moment is that the slides are very stiff and the water keys do not adequately drain the condensation. While they may break in some, they are so stiff that I do not think they will be as smooth as I would expect. They are already greased from the factory. Every Euphonium has trouble with water keys, but the slides are normally smooth and easily accessible to mitigate that problem. For the value, this product is excellent. It is perfect for a school student, hobbyist, or person who needs a road instrument.

With hopes of one day cross-rating to join the navy band, roughly 2 months ago, I decided to purchase a Euphonium from Amazon. Initially, prior to joining the United States Navy, my goal was to become a navy musician and play in the navy band. Fast forwarding back to the first time my Euphonium arrived at my door, it was a great day. At first, I was very surprised that the instrument came in an all-black case. The case can be comparable to Pandora’s Box in beauty and extravagance. There were at least 6 different pockets around its body; no one knowing where each pocket must lead. After my amazement subsided, I finally began to unzip the case, but as slowly as I could so I could build up the theatrics of the moment. To my astonishment the euphonium was surprisingly very light in weight. It was not only light, but under the 16:30 sunlight possessed certain a shine you would suspect to come from a diamond. A Yamaha mouthpiece rested at the top left of the bell. Yamaha’s are known for being great mouthpieces with phenomenal range, but at the same time having the capacity to reach low notes ringing in the low register. All the valves were surprisingly bouncy like the Australian kangaroo. This horn may not be something a player on a professional level would look for, but a player on a lower echelon may find this horn beneficial. The Mendini euphonium has the appearance every player wants; chrome and functional. The difference comes in the warmth of the sound in all registers or the ability in the horn staying in tune, whether notes are low or high. Through my years of playing the horn I have realized there are 2 factors in producing a marvelous tone; the caliber of bother the player and the horn. The Medici is overall an excellent and dependable instrument with great functions. I find, since my purchase included the essential tools in keeping up instrument maintenance that it was a great buy. As a bonus the package included white gloves, a chromatic tuner, and valve oil. My biggest complaint with the Mendini horn is the sticking of the tuning valves experienced after about a month of playing. This flaw is serious because over time if not corrected can lead to the valve rusting. Lastly, I would like to compliment Mendini Corporation on making a good quality instrument at an inexpensive retail price. Play on!

I bought this in November, and received it just before Thanksgiving. I've been playing it anywhere from 0.5 to 1.5 hours a day, at least three days a week, most weeks since then (I've also been taking time to learn the pennywhistle). The sound of the instrument is fantastic for the price level. In the higher notes, it almost sounds like I'm playing a french horn. I do wish it had a bigger bore, but it is big enough to not get mistaken for a baritone (for those who know there is a difference), and the slightly smaller bore means it is easier for young students to handle. As this is made in China, be sure to rinse the mouthpiece before using--you never know if there will be lead residue or some other undesirable thing on the surface. Also be sure to use the included white gloves when you play to keep your instrument nice and shiny, instead of getting ruined by the oils from your skin. You may want to buy an extra pair or two, as 1) these are a bit flimsy, and 2) they get dirty, you may want to be able to have a pair in the wash and still play with gloves on. The tuner works well, and is a nice add-in. It will allow you to specify the frequency of A4 within a set range, including 432 Hz. If you want to use 12 true fifths tuning, however, just tuning to A4=432 will not work. (See http://www.roelhollander.eu/en/432-tuning/concert-pitch-vs-tuning-system/ for details. It is possible the makers of the tuner already took this into account, but as an add-in, I doubt it.) It came with valve oil, so I didn't need to buy the Blue Juice valve oil. It did *not* come with tuning slide grease, so pick up some of that while you're ordering, and be sure to grease up the tuning slides within a few hours of play time, as it is shipped pretty dry. The case is light, mainly because it is made mostly of polystyrene foam. There is a strap keeping the two halves of the case from opening completely. Use caution that you don't open the case with the external pocket side down, or with the case resting on the hinge side while holding the external pocket side. This will likely result in the strap ripping out of the foam. I ended up just cutting the strap off to avoid having foam bits all over the inside of the case. If you do cut the strap off, still be sure to open with the external pocket side facing up, as the weight of the instrument will jerk the case open if you let it, possibly damaging the case. The best thing about the case is it has handles on the bottom and side, making for easier lifting and carrying. It also has backpack style straps for the long haul or when you have other stuff to carry as well.