Besson new standard

[franz]

Yesterday I saw this ad on Facebook and I did not miss the opportunity: what do you think?
Vendesi prestigioso euphonium professionale compensato "Besson New Standard" made in England seriale nr. 532483, corpo argento satinato con interno campana, stortini pompe, piattelli pistoni ed inserti vari in argento lucido. Fantastico esemplare del '73 top di gamma dell'epoca predecessore dell'attuale Sovereign, le condizioni sono eccelse come si evince dalle foto, lo strumento è stato tenuto con grandissima cura. Veramente raro trovarne in simili condizioni, non ha una botta, da vetrina (vale la pena guardare tutte le foto)!!! Pompe tutte libere, ottima compressione, ottima intonazione, ottima corsa pistoni, perfettamente funzionale al 100% in ogni suo minimo particolare. Voce scurissima, massiccia, possente, assolutamente unica nel suo genere, la vera grande voce dei Besson inglesi dell'epoca, inimitabile !! Elevata proiezione sonora, strumento che canta a meraviglia con voce piena e corposa in tutta la sua estensione. Vendo con custodia rigida originale più bocchino entrambi in ottime condizioni. Lo strumento si può tranquillamente provare e visionare di persona qui in zona e dintorni, qualunque prova ammessa. Massima disponibilità e serietà. Spedisco in tutta Italia, garantisco accurato imballo.
Prezzo euro 900 trattabili.

[daruby]

stunning. if you want a 3 valve comp horn, I have seen none nicer.

[Shinn]

Beautiful Besson 3-valve compensating euphonium (Model 176)! Should have the euro shank mouthpiece receiver being a 1973 model.

Did you buy it?!?!

[franz]

Beautiful Besson 3-valve compensating euphonium (Model 176)! Should have the euro shank mouthpiece receiver being a 1973 model.

Did you buy it?!?!

Yes!

[Shinn]

CONGRATS!!! Wonderful instrument!

[John Morgan]

Yes!

Oh man, I think I would have bought that horn if I lived in Italy or if the seller would ship to me or if I could sneak it into the house without Linda finding out. Do you have it yet? What does it sound like? What does it look like? Is it as nice as the pictures show? And for less than 1K Euros, that seems to be a very good price for a horn in such good condition.

When you realize that you can't keep it, Franz, please let me know by private message, and I will be happy to purchase it from you if I can figure out a way to get it here without Linda knowing...

[franz]

It's on the way, it' about to arrive. I'll put some more photos

[franz]

It's just arrived, great: I'm happy as a child on Christmas day!

[Shinn]

Fantastic!!!

[davewerden]

That's in remarkable condition! Congratulations on grabbing this one!

[RickF]

Oh wow! Just gorgeous! Congrats!

[franz]

First impressions after about an hour of playing: this horn sounds great, easy, full, free with an almost perfect intonation with the exception of the famous tremendously acute sixth partial, which can be easily remedied with the alternative positions: F 1-3, F# 1-2-3, G 1-2. If I want to find a fault, the pistons are a bit noisy due to the metal guides and the buttons, which having a conical shape, have a small surface for the fingers and after a little play they hurt ( their mark remains imprinted on the fingers). It came with a new mouthpiece 6 1/2 AL B Arnolds & Sons ( probably a facsimile of the Bach) which I don't like. I then proceeded to modified one of my K&G 3D large shank mouthpieces into medium shank ( 10 minutes of work) and I replaced the conical original buttons with those of the Prestige I had mounted on the baritone. The original aesthetic has changed, but I prefer functionality. Tell me what do you think, if you prefer the original look or the modified one.

[davewerden]

I like either choice visually, although my tendency is to prefer the original buttons because they match the valve caps. (I always hated those valve caps because they would cut the knuckles of my right hand after I carried the horn using the hand brace!)

[TheJH]

I like either as well, although I feel like I'm one of the few people that doesn't mind the conical buttons and kind of prefers them, since it feels like they prevent my fingers from pressing the valves from the side, so to speak.

Or because the baritone I started on also was a New Standard with those valve caps xD

[aroberts781]

I agree with you Franz, those Prestige caps look much more comfortable to play, although I have no first hand experience playing on those old style Besson caps. The old caps are so characteristic of the old Besson and they do look cool, but I think I prefer the look of the new caps. My personal taste would prefer if they were silver instead of gold, but the thing I like the most about it is just the individual touch of a musician making their instrument work best for them, you know what I'm trying to say?