Before buying Besson Prestige 2052 in 2007 I played for 20 years with a Courtois model 165, non compensated 4 valves in line (manufactured from 1982 to 1999); wonderful instrument with a great dark sound easy to play and with a great response. With it I never need to have a trigger; the six partial was only little high on F (T C), with this note I used the alternative position 1-3 (7 partial) which is naturally very low, but with this position , that is very high with the other partials, on F it becomes perfect. F# and G are perfect; the only exception on this instrument is central C that wounds high (well with lip down or alternative position 2-3). In 2007, as I told before, I bought the Prestige that has a trigger for the rising notes, this trigger is wonderful, very easy to use. I play in a wind band: its use is necessary to be in tune with bassoon and clarinets that, generally play low, whereas I don't use is with the parts of Sax and Brass because they tend to be high, as along with my session friends that have no trigger. The leak of water present on the general slide when I bought it, was immediately eliminated by widening the final part of the tube with an espander, by generating a sort of gasket. It was widened as much as to avoid leak of water without compromise the fluency, which is very good. As lubricating I use a little bit of red grease for the slides along with a bit of oil for the pistons: the result is perfect. In the end I prefer to have the option of a trigger which gives more possibilities to play in tune; the added weight is not a problem since I generally play sit and the instrument comfortably rest on the lap. For the parades I play the baritone that is half weight and is comfortably to play marching.
Last edited by franz; 03-12-2017 at 01:19 PM.
2007 Besson Prestige 2052, 3D+ K&G mouthpiece; JP373 baritone, 4B modified K&G mouthpiece; Bach 42GO trombone, T4C K&G mouthpiece; 1973 Besson New Standard 3 compensated valves, 3D+ K&G modified mouthpiece; Wessex French C tuba, 3D+ K&G modified mouthpiece.