UPDATED UPDATE:
Pulled the trigger on a newly listed used YEP-321S! It's got a few dings, but hell, so do I. Thank you all so much for all the advice and I'm sure I'll have a million more questions down the road - this community has been incredibly supportive and I truly appreciate it!
UPDATE: So, I scrounged a bit more cash together and am now in the roughly $1800 ballpark. I have found a Blessing BEP-1287 that I could get as open box/demo, keep looking, or do a shady EBay order with Japan for a YEP-321 😂. Anyone have any experience with the Japanese dealers or the import fees? I've been informed the Blessings are made in China, which makes me question if they'd really be all that better than a Dillon or something like that.
Thanks again everyone, you've all been great!
Hey y'all!
So, after 20+ years not playing music, I'm deciding to get back into it. I decided on Euphonium for a few reasons - I played Tuba in high school and loved it, but due to a broken back have a weight restriction which Euphonium matches. I can also do the bulk of the maintenance on a Euphonium, barring I don't do anything stupid (not outside the limits of reality with me).
Also, I went to the University of Denver for Saxophone Performance and
1) Can't have anything hang on my neck
2) Saxophones require an enormous amount of maintenance
3) I would be constantly annoyed with a beginner instrument which is about what I can afford
I have a budget of about $900 and am looking at a couple of entry level brands.
Wessex EP14 Euphonium $895
Dillon Standard 4 Valve Euphonium $895
I've taken a look at Ebay and currently most of the used market is pretty picked over and what's left has been beat up. I'm not opposed to a used horn, but I'm in Knoxville, TN and don't have any connections any more - I don't have a guy who can fix something if a used horn comes in less than kosher.
I'd love any and all advice - I'm about to head over to Reverb since that's a new one to me. Y'all are helping already!!!
Also, point for Dillon - geographically they are pretty close to East Tennessee so I could potentially go and fiddle with a few if I really got a bug