Steve's Euph

[JTJ]

Is Steve Mead now playing a gold plated euphonium? Or has he been and I'm just now catching on? The seems too deep a color and not quite right for lacquer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU9mX3MnAlc&t=989s

[daruby]

I think it is gold lacquer,. not gold plate.

[JTJ]

Ah, thanks.

[John Morgan]

Indeed it is gold lacquer. I had the privilege of meeting up with him in the Besson room at ITEC 2019, and much to my amazement, he handed me his horn and let me blow on it for quite a while. He has been playing this horn since the summer of 2018, so about a couple years. He said he really liked it. It played very nice for me, there wasn't anyone else in the room blowing, so I could hear it pretty good. Now then, what do you play when Steven Mead is standing right next to you with a little smile on his face??? Do you show him your very best licks and tricks, I think not. He has seen them all and knows them all and more. I just played a few tunes with nice melodies so that I could really hear the horn. I had written to him around 2001 and asked where I could get a copy of his "When You Wish Upon a Star" with a very nice piano accompaniment. Rather than tell me where to get it, he sent the whole thing to me with a nice letter. What a sweetheart of a guy!! I reminded him of that, and he remembered. I played a little bit of that piece. And another I like by the Childs brothers, "Softly, As I Leave You". And a couple more. A few scales, a couple fast to check the valves, a few slurs, a few high notes and a few low notes. That was it. What fun. That particular horn was very nice. I have owned several Besson euphoniums over the years, some really good, some pretty good, and one real clunker.

[bbocaner]

it's a special model with gold-tinted lacquer and no stud brace holding the leadpipe midway, so more like a sovereign from that perspective.

"sweetheart of a guy"?? absolutely not.

[John Morgan]

it's a special model with gold-tinted lacquer and no stud brace holding the leadpipe midway, so more like a sovereign from that perspective.

"sweetheart of a guy"?? absolutely not.

He was and has been to me. Sent me music of his for free with a very nice letter enclosed about the music and that he was glad to do this. I have met with him 2 or 3 other times over the years and he has always been very gracious. I and others chatted with him on the bus rides during ITEC a couple times, and he was always nice and friendly. I have been to a couple of his master classes and did not get any bad vibes. Nor have I heard anything to make me think differently of Steven.

[MichaelSchott]

I've had the pleasure to know Steve for 30 years. First met him when we was euphonium artist for the Falcone Festival in 1990. I last saw him in December of 2018 when he played with the Brass Band of Battle Creek and a few days later when he performed with the Oakland University Brass Band near Detroit. He had the new horn and commented on how much he likes the unbraced lead pipe. He has always been gracious and kind to me.

[franz]

He was and has been to me. Sent me music of his for free with a very nice letter enclosed about the music and that he was glad to do this. I have met with him 2 or 3 other times over the years and he has always been very gracious. I and others chatted with him on the bus rides during ITEC a couple times, and he was always nice and friendly. I have been to a couple of his master classes and did not get any bad vibes. Nor have I heard anything to make me think differently of Steven.

Steven Mead recently held a masterclass in the area where I live in which I attended and I can confirm that he is a friendly,Kind, very nice and helpful person.

[BDeisinger]

A few years ago (maybe longer) I emailed him about something (can't remember exactly what) and he responded very quickly with a nice response. I was impressed just with that.

[DEF1]

Besson BE2052-8G-0 Prestige Euphonium

The Besson BE2052-8G-0 Prestige Euphonium features a 12″ bell and a free-floating leadpipe (no contact with the bell unlike conventional designs) for greater resonance.

About the Besson BE2052-8G-0 Prestige Euphonium:

“This new model of the popular Prestige 2052 euphonium is an instrument I have played since the summer of 2018, and it has met with huge and widespread acclaim wherever I have played it and when others have tested it. It’s rich sound, positive and powerful response makes it for me the best Euphonium that I have ever played.

I would invite you to try it!”

Professor Steven Mead

[Micah.Dominic.Parsons-OFFLINE]

Hello everyone,

I believe the main changes to The Gold Lacquer Besson Prestige 2052-2 Euphonium has been the removal of the main stay on the leadpipe. I think this is a direct impact of what Steve discovered whilst using LefreQue Plates. I do wonder if these changes will be implimented into The Silver Plated Besson Prestige 2052-2 Euphonium.

Many Thanks,

Micah Dominic Parsons