Posted by ken k on June 28, 1999 at 07:39:48:
In Reply to: Tuba purchase? posted by Bob Sanders on June 25, 1999 at 14:15:01:
Hi Bob,
The Besson 983 is a lighter sounding Eb more like an F tuba, compared to the Willson or Meinl Weston Ebs. You may want to try the other two Besson Eb, the 981 & 982. Their sound is larger than the 983. The 981 uses a full size mouthpiece shank while the 982 uses a smaller european style mouthpiece shank. There are other minor differences between the two also. If you can get over the fourth valve on the side thing, they really are beautiful sounding horns. I am in a similar situation where I play bass bone also and have an old Boosey & Hawkes, similar to the 982 Eb tuba as my main horn. I actually play more tuba anymore, now that I am in a quintet that is pretty busy.