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Hello,
Yamaha Euphonium YEP-321
I know it is an old model. Made back in 70s?
I know there are variations with colored logo (purple), with metal piston guides and (later) plastic.

Because you can`t check the year of manufacture via the serial number, I would like to ask you, if someone knows, when the major changes were made? Not only changes I described, maybe someone knows more than that! :)

I would like to buy one with pink logo and metal guides but I don`t know when was made, and if the horns from that era are ok.

I play a 21-years old YEP-321. Got it brand new and it is a very good horn. In tune, pistons work great. Last year we bougth a new one (our concert band) and we already had problems with plastic guides.

I can’t answer your questions, but as a former music educator I can offer that problems with the plastic guides are largely due to mistreatment by players. Students will oil the valves then not get the guide back in correctly, which compresses it if it’s not in the track. Once compressed, it has a tendency to jump out of the track, throwing the valves out of alignment. Handled properly, they should theoretically not be a problem and actually be superior to metal guides, being quieter. If they go bad, the parts are available and it’s an easy swap out- no need for a trip to the repair shop.

I asked this question over on Dave Werden's forum a couple of years ago.

I purchased my 321 in 1984 and it still has the metal valve guides. The piston part # changed in 1986 so presumably that's when they switched to the plastic valve guides.

Other changes that I am aware of include:

Shorter third valve slide. My instrument has a long third valve slide but the newer models have an interchangeable first and third valve slide.

Newer instruments have larger finger buttons. Mine came with the original small finger buttons but they are interchangeable. I believe the valve caps also changed around the same time.

The newer instruments have a Yamaha stamp etched onto the bell (not the colored logo). Mine doesn't have any sort of stamp on the bell.

There have been at least 3 different case models shipped with the instrument. The ones with the purple stamp on the bell have the original rounded black case. I have the 2nd gen more squarish case.

Hope this helps.

Arul