Expert: Kenton Scott - 1/20/2009

Question
Dear Mr Scott,
Could you tell me where i can buy Euphonium Double bell.
In Holland it's very difficult to find one,even on Ebay is't hard to find one
Maybe there's in America some sites where i can look

Thank for your helping hand
Marcel Bongers
Holland  

Answer
Well, since they are only available as vintage instruments, it means that to find one, you need to find someone that no longer wants the one they have.  They do show up on eBay once in a while (probably more frequently than anywhere else).  Some of the online vintage collectors may occasionally have one for sale.  (I see that Dillon Music has a couple.)

The Double Bell Euphonium is and always was a status instrument.  They look cool, but have practically no useful purpose for the double bell configuration.  I've had a couple and they are fun to have, but you soon discover that there is practically no music written where the capabilities of the double bell are ever used.  Many of the small bells are lost off the horns, players apparently got tired of the extra weight and bother of the smaller bell, set them aside and promptly lost them.