I am delighted to have been involved in the development team for the new Neo cornet. Through many hours of research and trial I am confident that the resulting instrument is the best on the market, I find it to be very accurate in intonation, and tone throughout the range, and it is remarkably responsive at whatever dynamic level you choose to play.
If you want the ultimate cornet then look no further.

There are for me two or three basic/mandatory requirements when I choose an instrument. Firstly, as a performer we must be able to rely on the build quality of the instrument, life is tough enough on stage without the mechanics of the instrument failing us! The quality of instrument is so important, it is an encouragement and catalyst to practice as well as performance. Without a doubt, the level of quality control maintained by Yamaha is second to none. Secondly, the tone quality and the sound produced by any brass instrument (in combination with the player), is perhaps the single most important aspect of playing any instrument. Your personal sound on an instrument is your musical identity, just like your voice. I have no hesitation in saying that the new Neo cornet has all of the qualities that I look for, allowing for the tones to be open, happy or sad, big or small, and all can be beautiful!
Finally, as a Yamaha Artist, I can truly say from my experience over the past 20 years working with them, that in the development process of any new model instrument, they will take as long as it is necessary to achieve the goal of the best possible product. No more words are necessary!

As a tenor horn player, you strive to produce the warm, vibrant sound that belies the instrument's character. The hours put into the development of Yamaha Neo's design allows me to reach the instrument’s full potential, in terms of tone quality, range, as well the heavy technical demands that are asked of brass band players by composers and arrangers.
Above everything else, the Yamaha Neo is an absolute joy to play. I can rely on it to perform every time it comes of out of the case, which allows me to just get on with what I love, making music.

It was an honour to be asked by Yamaha to help develop the new Neo BBb Bass.
I was looking to create an unrivalled sound base, capable of holding together in all ranges and dynamics. The valve action is quiet and slick, allowing clear movement and definition. The lower register is of special quality. It is easy to produce allowing maximum control and colour.
This instrument exceeds all my expectations of a modern day BBb Bass.

The Neo baritone horn is set to revolutionise the preconceptions and expectations of baritone players across the world. Never before has the instrument been heard and felt with such presence. It is simply a joy to play: the sound has warmth, breadth and projected power in equal measure; the intonation is remarkably consistent; the efficient playing experience is second to none; and the production quality is exceptional. It has been my pleasure to be involved in this journey.
Thanks to Yamaha, the baritone horn has now found its voice.

When trying a new euphonium a number of things are for me of paramount importance.
The first thing I would consider would be the comfort of hold, the positioning of the lead pipe and the hand rest are of particular importance. In this respect, I found that these were positioned ideally on the Neo to provide a comfortable hold when adopting a correct upright posture.
Quality of sound is for me the single most important feature of any instrument. I would be looking for an instrument that has both a resonance and a clarity of tone.
With the Neo I found both of these qualities in abundance throughout the dynamic range.
The modern day repertoire for the euphonium covers a range of more than four octaves so players need an instrument that they know will perform well at the extremes of the range. Again the Neo exceeded my expectation in this regard, performing with ease at the highest and lowest extremes of the euphonium register. The valve action on the Neo is both smooth and solid, providing an ease of execution when playing rapid passages and a sense of security in slower music.
This is an instrument that combines depth and clarity of tone with great projection, responsiveness and character, it truly is a joy to play and I give it my highest possible recommendation.

Why do I play Yamaha? My Neo E^♭ Bass is very easy to play. In tune and consistent in all registers, it is easy to make a beautiful sonorous sound. My work is always quite technically demanding, so I need a tuba which plays with me, not against me. This is the love of my life. Everything I want to play, it plays easily.