Re: the best of the older Bessons?


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Posted by Klaus on March 04, 2001 at 10:44:24:

In Reply to: the best of the older Bessons? posted by Bill Schultz on March 04, 2001 at 09:27:49:

The topline tubas before the Sovereign were the Boosey&Hawkes Imperial and the Besson New Standard (the one with characteristic cone valve caps and finger buttons). And then in a transitional period around 1980 the Besson Imperial, which in some cases might lack the Imperial stamping. (The 700 series are 2nd line instruments).

All post-WWII B&H/Besson compensators have the same valve cluster and inner tubing. All before the Sovereigns have the old Brit narrow mpc receiver.

All those pre-Sovereign tubas, except the Besson Imperial, have the smaller bell withs.

Quite a number of tubists had a custom made 19" bell added to their B&H/Besson Eb tubas before the Sovereign era.

The older instruments can be a good buy, if they are well kept. On Eb instruments I might suggest to substitute the leadpipe with the one designed for the Sovereign 981. The argumentation can be read in a posting down this board.

Klaus


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