Besson Prestige 2052-2 Euphonium

[MDP.Micah.Dominic.Parsons]

Hello everyone,

In October 2020, I purchased a brand new silver plated Besson Prestige 2052-2 Euphonium which was customised with an adapted leadpipe which has become popular on the gold lacquer Besson Prestige 2052-2 Euphonium. I was curious if anyone else had recently bought a new silver plated Besson Prestige 2052-2 Euphonium whichhad the same adaption to the leadpipe?

Thank you so much for all your help and support.

Best Wishes,

Micah Dominic Parsons

[miketeachesclass]

Hello everyone,

In October 2020, I purchased a brand new silver plated Besson Prestige 2052-2 Euphonium which was customised with an adapted leadpipe which has become popular on the gold lacquer Besson Prestige 2052-2 Euphonium. I was curious if anyone else had recently bought a new silver plated Besson Prestige 2052-2 Euphonium whichhad the same adaption to the leadpipe?

Thank you so much for all your help and support.

Best Wishes,

Micah Dominic Parsons

When I spoke to the USA Besson distributor, they mentioned that getting a silver 2051 or 2052 with the floating leadpipe would be a special order, and would take some time. I assume that would stand in the way of some people doing this.

I do know of at least 1 person who now has a 2051 in silver plate with the floating leadpipe, although she does not post here.

Mike

[MDP.Micah.Dominic.Parsons]

Hello Mike,

Thank you so much for this information! It is really interesting to see how this small adaption to the leadpipe on the gold lacquer Besson Prestige 2052-2 Euphonium has become a popular addition on the normal silver plated Besson Prestige 2052-2 Euphonium!

Thank you so much for all your help and support.

Best Wishes,

Micah Dominic Parsons

[miketeachesclass]

I find it interesting how the floating leadpipe makes such a big difference.

I didn't like the prestige until I played one with the floating leadpipe.

That said, 5th and 6th partial intonation is TERRIBLE on these horns. The 5th partial being high is pretty surprising, and the 6th partial is SO high. I manage it with the trigger, but it's pretty shocking.

Hello Mike,

Thank you so much for this information! It is really interesting to see how this small adaption to the leadpipe on the gold lacquer Besson Prestige 2052-2 Euphonium has become a popular addition on the normal silver plated Besson Prestige 2052-2 Euphonium!

Thank you so much for all your help and support.

Best Wishes,

Micah Dominic Parsons

[davewerden]

I had not noticed some things until Mike's comment above. First, in my testing anyway, the concert C in the 5th partial is well in tune, but the C# and D are sharp. Second, and a greater surprise, the horns are remarkably consistent in this regard! Check out this graph of 3 Bessons, 967, 2051, and 2052-2, make over a period of 35-ish years, and including a British-made 967 (before the lottery years) and 2 German-made Prestige models made during the last 6 years.

[miketeachesclass]

This is interesting, Dave.

I was speculating with a friend about this - I have to assume that besson has the R&D available to change this, and I'm sure they've researched some things.

However, people buy a Besson because it sounds like a Besson - I wonder if changing the venturi on the leadpipe/receiver to make the partials more in tune changes the sound quality of the horn substantially.

Mike

I had not noticed some things until Mike's comment above. First, in my testing anyway, the concert C in the 5th partial is well in tune, but the C# and D are sharp. Second, and a greater surprise, the horns are remarkably consistent in this regard! Check out this graph of 3 Bessons, 967, 2051, and 2052-2, make over a period of 35-ish years, and including a British-made 967 (before the lottery years) and 2 German-made Prestige models made during the last 6 years.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]9200[/ATTACH]

[davewerden]

This is interesting, Dave.

I was speculating with a friend about this - I have to assume that besson has the R&D available to change this, and I'm sure they've researched some things.

However, people buy a Besson because it sounds like a Besson - I wonder if changing the venturi on the leadpipe/receiver to make the partials more in tune changes the sound quality of the horn substantially.

Mike

The same thought crossed mind! The one stumbling block for me is that the German Bessons don't sound like the British Bessons, the latter of which had an unbeatable sound IMO. But perhaps to come as close as they did, some carryover was necessary.

FWIW, virtually every euphonium I have tested (compensating) have a flat high A concert. When I see that in horns so diverse in other ways, I ponder why they would have this in common.

Mysteries!

[miketeachesclass]

The one stumbling block for me is that the German Bessons don't sound like the British Bessons, the latter of which had an unbeatable sound IMO. But perhaps to come as close as they did, some carryover was necessary.

I’m finding this as well - I have a 2020 German prestige, and recently got a Globe stamp Sovereign from my birth year (1980), and the thing just sounds so so so sweet. I’m having a little work done on it and may end up playing that one more. Go figure.

[MDP.Micah.Dominic.Parsons]

Hello everyone,

I have pretty much exclusively played on Besson Euphoniums and I have to admit they are a consistent and high quality product which is hard to beat although at the moment the other popular brand here in The United Kingdom is The Geneva GVL Cardinal Euphonium and The Geneva Oldroyd Cardinal Euphonium which seems to be a really popular option at the moment.

It would be really interesting to see how The Besson Prestige 2052-2 Euphonium compared with The Geneva GVL Cardinal Euphonium!

Best Wishes,

Micah Dominic Parsons

[Magikarp]

I had a brief toot on a new German Prestige at band practice last week, for the first time in years. It felt small, either that or the Adams is just generally gigantic. It played ok I suppose, although clearly it wasn't enough for a properly conclusive assessment. I didn't think I could put the air through as efficiently as with mine but that might come with experience.

Still don't like floating lead pipes but the valves were truly excellent and the operation of the trigger very good indeed - certainly better than the Adams, but seeing as I don't use the trigger on mine it might explain why it's not the easiest! Comparing apples with pears is never going to end well. I might see if I can do a thorough A-B and see what stands out.

[MDP.Micah.Dominic.Parsons]

Hello Magikarp,

I have to admit that I found your post really interesting to be honest with you. I cannot wait to see a full review of your new Adams E2 Euphonium!

Best Wishes,

Micah Dominic Parsons

[spkissane]

Speaking of the Besson Prestige, I'm curious how much truth there is to the rumor that Besson sends their "weaker" examples of their instruments to the US market. A friend of mine purchased one of the gold lacquered Prestiges a few years ago that he special ordered through a local dealer (not mine), and it's a DOG. Finger button inlays popping off, trigger mechanism exploding during rehearsals, etc., etc. He seems like like it fine, but I do feel a bit bad for him because I think at that price brand new, quality should be a non-issue.

[Magikarp]

Speaking of the Besson Prestige, I'm curious how much truth there is to the rumor that Besson sends their "weaker" examples of their instruments to the US market. A friend of mine purchased one of the gold lacquered Prestiges a few years ago that he special ordered through a local dealer (not mine), and it's a DOG. Finger button inlays popping off, trigger mechanism exploding during rehearsals, etc., etc. He seems like like it fine, but I do feel a bit bad for him because I think at that price brand new, quality should be a non-issue.

I’ve said Besson are comically overpriced, even when you’d get 30% off without asking. A Besson Prestige is the better part of £2000 more expensive than my Adams E2. I suppose like BMW and Mercedes they’re trading off a long established reputation for excellence that doesn’t chime with the reality.

Also they have recently introduced a huge number of artists, most of whom I’ve never heard of, so I’d guess the consumer subsidises the deals those players get. Someone I know mentioned they were trying to become an artist in association with certain brands, and it previously never occurred to me that a) people have the nerve to ask, b) are so confident that them merely becoming associated with a brand will generate new sales opportunities for said brand, and c) would want to limit themselves to one brand. I also found the suggestion vaguely insulting to someone who spend their own hard earned money on hooters because they wish to improve.
It was especially amusing when they mentioned that one of the brands being contacted had been rejected in favour of another! Cheap.

Having owned approximately thirteen Boosey / Besson instruments, unless they actually start developing and innovating, I’d not buy another, especially when you consider the Blue Peter style flimsy cases.

[miketeachesclass]

Speaking of the Besson Prestige, I'm curious how much truth there is to the rumor that Besson sends their "weaker" examples of their instruments to the US market. A friend of mine purchased one of the gold lacquered Prestiges a few years ago that he special ordered through a local dealer (not mine), and it's a DOG. Finger button inlays popping off, trigger mechanism exploding during rehearsals, etc., etc. He seems like like it fine, but I do feel a bit bad for him because I think at that price brand new, quality should be a non-issue.

I can speak anecdotally to this, as I bought a gold lacquered prestige initially from Thomann in Germany because there weren't any available in the USA according to the distributor. I got it and it played great, but there was a huge quality control issue where the first valve casing had been wrecked by the honing machine, and apparently nobody caught it. (I posted pictures on the forum which I'm sure you can find if you search)

I subsequently returned it and got one from the USA, and this one has a proper valve section. (yay).

The USA horn plays just as well as the one from Germany. That said, I think when you buy a Besson, there are the obvious trade offs - the intonation is always going to be suspect. In fact, I'm forever searching for a horn that will sound like this while actually being in tune without working the trigger so much. (Waiting to receive a shires solo to try).

No different than a lot of brands that have long standing and well known issues with intonation (willson's flat A, etc).

I recall Dave Werden mentioning somewhere else that it used to be that when a new batch was finished at the factory, UK players would go pick them out at the factory, taking the best examples. This would lead to inferior horns in the USA market even through no conspiratorial action of besson. This seems plausible to me.

That said, my prestige also has has finger button inserts pop off. The trigger mechanism is solid though. I agree that at this price, the horn should function without ANY issues. Comically overpriced indeed. I once heard a besson artist say "If besson is going to keep charging 10 grand for their horns, they better figure out how to make them play in tune". Maybe your friend got an "end of the day on Friday" horn.