My name is Sara Hood and I am a second time beginner on the baritone Horn. I played a little in junior high and all four years of high school. I did not play for a long while. Here I am, forty years old and joining my local Salvation Army band. I think that I would like to buy a horn of my own rather than always borrowing one. I have read several of the reviews on this forum and like what I am hearing about the quality and price of JinBao horns.

What I am wondering is which brands are all really JinBao horns under the stencil? I have read that they actually manufacture the horns that appear under several different names. I am not picky about brand as long as I know that I am getting the manufacturing quality underneath.

Additionally, which model names or part numbers should I be looking for? I want to get an intermediate level horn. It does not have to be compensating, but I am willing to pay a little more if it will give me that much more horn. Likewise with the brass or silver finish. Most of the people I play with have silver horns, and I would like to match them. However, I am not willing to go over budget (sub $1000) just to do so.

Lastly, I am looking for advice: Baritone or Euphonium? The loaner horn in high school was a Yamaha 321 Euphonium. The current loaner is a Besson Baritone, I can not tell which model. Price might end up being the decision maker on this question too. But assuming it is not, which should I go for and why? Size/weight is not a consideration, in my opinion, as most of the time I will be playing in a concert/church setting.

Thank you all in advance.