Besson Prestige

[daruby]

It’s a kind of bubbles, the silver plating is without damage.

Is this right at solder joint such as a major joint or near a brace? It could be solder splash that never got cleaned up before the silver plating. If it is on what otherwise would be a clean flat surface not near a brace or joint, it is more likely plating that has separated from the underlying metal due to corrosion. BUT, in any case, if it concerns you, I can only suggest having a competent technician examine the horn for you.

[MatzeEuph]

The "tube that turns to the right" is called the upper bow. The tube that connects from the tuning slide to the upper bow is the one I believe you are talking about. Do you have pictures? Are you talking about distortions or dents in the brass or bubbles in the silver plating? If bubbles in the silver plating, that suggests corrosion in the brass under the plating. Typically this is a sign of a poor or incomplete plating process. Don't know if this is a significant issue or not. Did you see similar silver plating issues anywhere else?

I do not know how far this instrument is away from where you live, but 5200€ is still a pretty high price for a horn that is 16 yrs old and was manufactured in the Besson 2004 era. Do you have a technician who can inspect the horn for you and advise?

Nowhere else is a area like that!
I don’t habe a picture where you can see it clearly.
I will have it examined before buying.
Thanks a lot for your help!!

[franz]

It’s a kind of bubbles, the silver plating is without damage.

If this can help to identify the problem:
even on my prestige you can see very small bubbles on the lower part of the leadpipe and a very small one inside the bell, present on the instrument at the time of purchase. They look like bubbles due to imperfect plating or dirt left on the brass at the time of plating. The seller, at the time, had offered to eliminate the defect, but being practically invisible, I preferred to keep it that way. After 13 years of daily use the bubbles have remained as they are and not given any problems.

[MatzeEuph]

I have a picture, but not really good. Try to get more.

[MatzeEuph]

It looks like the bubbles come from a repair of a sharp dent.
As the technician says.

On the other hand I found a Geneva Oldroyd Cardinal demo instrument
9 Months old like new,...

I am not sure what to do.
How is the sound of the Geneva compared to the Besson.
I can’t try the Geneva so easy, it’s about 5h drive away.

[MatzeEuph]

Does anyone have the Geneva Oldroyd Cardinal?
I wonder how this one sounds compared to Besson Prestige UK?

Or it is better to get an newer Prestige made in Germany?
thank you.

[ChristianeSparkle]

You can try searching on the forum, as I remember there's a least 1 person who has the Oldroyd Cardinal.

If you want to compare the Oldroyd Cardinal to the old Besson, I think the choice is a little bit obvious on which would be a better deal (IF the price difference isn't too large)

[MatzeEuph]

You can try searching on the forum, as I remember there's a least 1 person who has the Oldroyd Cardinal.

If you want to compare the Oldroyd Cardinal to the old Besson, I think the choice is a little bit obvious on which would be a better deal (IF the price difference isn't too large)

Besson 5100€ 16Years
Geneva 5800€ 2-3 years old (6 months were wrong).
🧐🤔

[Shawn]

Besson 5100€ 16Years
Geneva 5800€ 2-3 years old (6 months were wrong).
����

Both feel high to me.

[ChristianeSparkle]

That definitely sounds high. But admittedly, I am unsure of the full price of a new Geneva. The Besson feels a bit overpriced for the age. As much as it is great to have a piece of history, I am leaning towards getting newer horns for the ease of getting parts for them.

If the exchange rate is to be believed, I could get a new Yamaha Neo with Trigger or a Custom.

[TheJH]

Yamaha Neo+Trigger would be roughly 1K-1.5K€ more than that Geneva.

Also, be careful especially with the Geneva since ergonomics are quite different between it and a Besson. Something you would ideally try out yourself.

[MatzeEuph]

So, finally I went with the Besson Prestige.
I already got a chance to play with it a while.
WOW nice sound!
Using the SM3X Mouthpiece.
I need to get used to it, because it’s heavier than my old horn and a little different to hold.

THANKS GUYS for the very helpful answers.

[TheJH]

Yamaha Neo+Trigger would be roughly 1K-1.5K€ more than that Geneva.

Also, be careful especially with the Geneva since ergonomics are quite different between it and a Besson. Something you would ideally try out yourself.

I just checked the price of a new Neo with trigger, and it's €7.3K-ish, which would be the equivalent of roughly GBP6.700 and $8.6K

[MatzeEuph]

Just want to leave some photos of my „new“ Besson Prestige.
It plays wonderful!

[daruby]

Very nice. A beautiful horn. Enjoy!