I am primarily a bass trombone player but teach some tuba/euphomium students as well as sponsor the largest TUBACHRISTMAS program in Louisiana. I purchased the dolce to play along with students and use at TUBACHRISTMAS when I am not directing. I have found it to be a much better instrument than I thought it would be, especially at its price point. I am also playing it a lot more than I thought I would when I purchased it. It is a good solid instrument and with proper care should last me many years. I have had three very minor issues with the horn. 1. Main tuning slide was very loose and my local repair tech took care of that. 2. When removing the 2nd valve for cleaning, it is a little tricky to thread the cap back on and I have to be very careful with it. I've seen similar issues on many more expensive instruments. 3. The water button to empty the second valve slide never had the hole drilled in the tubing so I empty it the old fashioned way. Overall I am extremely pleased with the instrument. I also enjoy playing it in my church orchestra from time to time. I have two fiends who are Euphonium professors at Louisiana Universities. One is very impressed with it and compared my Dolce favorably with other major brand professional horns. The other didn't care for it, but he is also an artist and clinician for one of those other major companies and has to root for his home team. Again, I have found it to be a very good instrument for the price.