4-valved baritone, is it even a necessity for it?

Vincent, a classmate, told me that he wants to get a second-hand baritone. I recommended him a few stores and brands that I happen to chance upon and presumably better than others. Then he came back to me and told me that he was actually looking for a 4-valved baritone, preferably one with a compensating system. He uses a Besson Prestige euphonium, I don't blame him for being used to a 4th valve with extra tubes to compensate the intonation issues of the lower harmonic series on the instrument.

I searched for one locally and internationally, and to only realize that a 4-valved baritone is not exactly the commonest of all instruments, and let alone say one with a compensating system. I can only think of 2 brands that does it. That got me thinking why. I came up with these possible reasons:

- a baritone is an instruments used mainly for brass bands, and brass bands are mainly seen in UK, not exactly common in other states. And the UK baritones and those from the US are not the same. If we're to get a real baritone, it'll probably be referred to those from UK.

- a 4th valve is mainly used to play notes of the lower range, like the valve on a trombone. The bore size of a baritone is relatively smaller than that of a euphonium and bass trombone, if there is a need for a low baritone voice, either one of the 2 larger bore sized instrument would gladly do the job.

- and even if the baritone plays that low, the overtones would easily be cover by the larger and conical bore instrument sitting just next to it, namely the euphonium, or the trombone that has the bell facing forward.

- The trombone, baritone, and euphonium should have the same length when uncoiled. But the trombone having lesser turns and crooks makes playing the low registers easier and nicer. the much larger and conical bore of the euphonium would naturally be free-er blowing than a comparably 4-valved baritone.

With these understandings, Vincent was convinced to save up the money and go for a 3 valved baritone and learn to lip down for low F's and E's. That's not my point of these entry though. I just want to keep a log of my thoughts and perhaps one day, I might realize more stuffs reading them again. Well, that's what a blog is for, isn't it?



(L-R) 3-valve, 3-valve compensating, 4-valve, 4-valve compensating