I didn't need it, but I wasn't going to let it go for that price.

[58mark]

Now I have to figure out what I'm going to do with it

[RickF]

Wow! Dirt cheap at that price Mark. Looks like 3-valve compensator too. If nothing else there are spare parts that can be used.

[John Morgan]

If nothing else, an art piece to be displayed somewhere in your home... I have such a thing already, although not in nearly as good a shape as yours.

[58mark]

What I'd really like to do is turn it into a removable bell horn that can be put in a carry on suitcase. Just for going to tubachristmas locations, ect.

[tonewheeler]

Nice wall-hanger for your cave.

Now I have to figure out what I'm going to do with it


https://www.ebay.com/itm/225063052108?

[highpitch]

Those Bessons were a really nice-playing horn. For a comp design, there isn't much low-end stuffiness either.

Get one of the pros to restore it, you won't regret it.

DG

[58mark]

I've owned two of these, and now here's my lineup. keep in mind my main instrument is tuba

Besson 3 valve compensator
King 2280 (5 valve)
Packer 274s
Adams E3 with sterling bell and short action valves.

I dont Think I'll be spending much money on this, other than get the bell wrinkle fixed.

[58mark]

I've decided to turn this Euphonium into a suitcase Euph, one that I can carry safely in a carry on bag in an airplane, and visit some of the farther away tuba christmas destinations that I haven't seen yet. (New york, chicago, ect)

A guy from the Frankentuba board was nice enough to send me a removable bell from a besson, so I'll use the lower part from that and the tenon to graft onto the upper part of the upright bell. I probably could do this myself, but we have so many skilled craftsmen here in DFW that I'll probably just clean up this bell and pass it off to someone else to finish the job

NOW THE BIG QUESTION... Do I make it shiny brass like factory, or do I paint it some wild tuba christmas paint scheme?

[Sara Hood]

NOW THE BIG QUESTION... Do I make it shiny brass like factory, or do I paint it some wild tuba christmas paint scheme?

It had its shiny time in the past. I say, go for a wild paint scheme. Not necessarily a Tuba Christmas one. With a wild paint job, you can have fun with it at Tuba Christmas and any other far-flung, fun gigs you decide to do. With a Tuba Christmas paint job, it will only go out at that time of year. Do what will get that horn more daylight (tease).

After looking at the pictures again, I had another funky/fun idea. Do something to clean up the engraving so it is more visible (the Besson brand name and logos), put it back into playable condition so the valves and slides move, then call the rest "patina". I have heard that among car guys there is a crowd that likes to take rusty vehicles, fix their mechanical issues, do something to stop the deterioration of the rust, put a finish on them, and call it good. They like the colors and mottling that the natural aging of metal gives. I see an odd kind of beauty in the state of your "new" horn as it is. An observant viewer would be able to find the horn in the Tuba Christmas photo, but it wouldn't be too loud and obnoxious. Unless a loud and obnoxious horn is what you want to go for.

- Sara

[RickF]

How about something like this Mark?