EUPH: Melton 551e - £2,500 - UK
Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2025 3:32 am
Melton 551e Bb Euphonium for sale. England, UK. £2,500 (+ any shipping).
Satin silver with gold plated top & bottom caps.
300mm ‘heavy’ gold-brass bell.
Could do with a clean, but is dent-free and quite lightly used as was always a doubling instrument for me.
I’ve played it in orchestrally in Symphonie Fantastique, The Planets, and Midsummer Night’s Dream; plus others + 10-piece & Quintet.
Plays fantastically well, with a huge, commanding sound.
Intonation is excellent - I think Melton really did do some good tweaking on that side.
I bought this new from Mark “Mr Tuba” Carter c.20 years ago, but now only play Tuba so it ought to go.
Mark informed me the “e” in 551e means the bell and bottom bow are hand-hammered, so that’s nice(!).
Sale includes a used Soundwear GigBag in fair condition.
I wasn’t sure how to price this, as anything comparable in quality is approaching £10k new(!), but I’m aware this isn’t a common instrument. Playtesting is possible (St Albans or Amersham would suit me!) and you can decide for yourself if you’d rather have this, or something else for similar money. I’ve seen cheaper instruments can now be found new, but I’d back this Euph any day.
£2,500 + shipping costs anywhere worldwide.
______________________________
Here’s what Melton had to say about the instrument:
Melton (Meinl Weston) Professional Bb Compensated Euphoniums offer the finest in German design and craftsmanship to produce optimal intonation especially on the 6th & 3rd partial.
All feature 4 stainless steel pistons with standard heavy gold brass bell.
551 MT-S:
Bb Compensated Euphonium,
4 piston steel valves, (3+1)
Bore: .590"/15mm bore-4th valve bore .669"/17mm,
Heavy Bell; Gold brass; 11.8"/300mm,
Always silver plated with gold plated top and bottom caps.
- Melton 551e FRONT.jpg (192.83 KiB) Viewed 388 times
300mm ‘heavy’ gold-brass bell.
Could do with a clean, but is dent-free and quite lightly used as was always a doubling instrument for me.
I’ve played it in orchestrally in Symphonie Fantastique, The Planets, and Midsummer Night’s Dream; plus others + 10-piece & Quintet.
Plays fantastically well, with a huge, commanding sound.
Intonation is excellent - I think Melton really did do some good tweaking on that side.
I bought this new from Mark “Mr Tuba” Carter c.20 years ago, but now only play Tuba so it ought to go.
Mark informed me the “e” in 551e means the bell and bottom bow are hand-hammered, so that’s nice(!).
Sale includes a used Soundwear GigBag in fair condition.
I wasn’t sure how to price this, as anything comparable in quality is approaching £10k new(!), but I’m aware this isn’t a common instrument. Playtesting is possible (St Albans or Amersham would suit me!) and you can decide for yourself if you’d rather have this, or something else for similar money. I’ve seen cheaper instruments can now be found new, but I’d back this Euph any day.
£2,500 + shipping costs anywhere worldwide.
______________________________
Here’s what Melton had to say about the instrument:
Melton (Meinl Weston) Professional Bb Compensated Euphoniums offer the finest in German design and craftsmanship to produce optimal intonation especially on the 6th & 3rd partial.
All feature 4 stainless steel pistons with standard heavy gold brass bell.
551 MT-S:
Bb Compensated Euphonium,
4 piston steel valves, (3+1)
Bore: .590"/15mm bore-4th valve bore .669"/17mm,
Heavy Bell; Gold brass; 11.8"/300mm,
Always silver plated with gold plated top and bottom caps.