My Adams E2 Euphonium Journey

In late 2021, I started to become aware of the rising popularity of Adams as a Euphonium brand within the United Kingdom brass banding community with Euphonium virtuoso Gary Curtain selecting to play an Adams E1 Euphonium with a 0.70 wall thickness and heavy valve bottom caps. 

In 2022, I started to explore the different Euphonium models that Adams had to offer which resulted in me being given an opportunity to test the entire Adams Euphonium range at The European Brass Band Championships which was being held on Saturday 30th April 2022 in Birmingham 

I had the opportunity to test an Adams E1 Euphonium with a Sterling Silver bell, an Adams E2 Euphonium and an Adams E3 Euphonium. I absolutely loved the sound of the Adams E1 Euphonium with the Sterling Silver bell as well as the Adams E2 Euphonium with both models having specific features which I really liked for example the 0.80 thickness of the Adams E2 Euphonium and the sound of the Adams E1 Euphonium Sterling Silver bell. 

I spent around half an hour in a small room in the upstairs of The Birmingham Symphony Hall testing each instrument and quickly found that although the Adams E3 Euphonium had a really dark sound that I just did not click with the instrument. I found myself coming back to the Adams E1 Euphonium with the Sterling Silver bell which had such a vibrant sound and just seemed to sing and the Adams E2 Euphonium which reminded me of the old Besson Sovereign 967 'Roundstamp' Euphonium. 

I made the decision to take my time in summing up all the options that were open to me and this led to me holding fire on making a purchase on an Adams Euphonium.  

On Sunday 28th April, I had the privilege of catching up with Glyn Williams, who gave me the opportunity to test and compare his new Adams E2-LT Euphonium with my Besson Brass Prestige 2052-2 Euphonium. I found that the new Adams E2-LT Euphonium was really responsive and that the lower register was really open. I particularly liked the position of the Adams E2-LT leadpipe and how the instrument felt to hold. 

Following my session with Glyn Williams, I decided to purchase a custom made Adams E2 Euphonium with a couple of features taken directly from the Adams E2-LT Euphonium which included the same leadpipe position as the Adams E2-LT Euphonium and the same bell flare and overall bell size as the Adams E2-LT Euphonium but made in a 0.80 wall thickness. 

On Friday 24th May 2024, after a number of years of researching and testing the Adams Euphonium range, I placed an order for a custom made Adams E2 Euphonium on Friday 24th May 2024. 

Please see the following video clip to see my new custom Adams E2 Euphonium being unboxed - https://youtu.be/d4gRJQrfJ2s?si=mezYLzXBKof5GlVG.

Please see the following video clip to see me testing my new custom Adams E2 Euphonium - https://youtu.be/5yJHTeBpTN8?si=s-fILZiFx9ytFJ4Z.

Please see the following video clip to see me installing a stainless steel receiver on my new custom Adams E2 Euphonium - https://youtu.be/DdnUqjexJGQ?si=6DUESXbABf44SUKM.