1970's Besson Sovereign Euphoniums

[Rick Denney]

I don't recall seeing any "Besson" instruments designated as "Sovereign" in the U.S. in the 1970's...but then again, I'm just one bloke...

...I DO remember the D.C. Navy Band performing in my high school auditorium during the 1972-73 school year (I think...), and I'm nearly certain Brian Bowman was soloing on a "plain ol' " satin-silver Besson 4V comp...11" bell, etc.

If there had been a "fancier" model available at that time, wouldn't he have likely been playing it?

I have a Besson 4-valve compensating euphonium dated 1974. It has the large receiver, and is visibly different from a current Sovereign (ignoring condition, of course) only in the addition of two water keys and a little bit of bell edge. It is not labeled Sovereign, but I understand that the Sovereigns came out shortly thereafter. (It's not labeled anything except "Besson", so the guess is that it is a New Standard, the previous top of the line). The large receiver appeared in 1974, according to my research.

Did the Sovereign label get applied first to the EEb tuba? Middle 70's? That rings a bell with me.

There have been subtle, non-visible changes over the years, but I think my old, highly battered Besson sounds the same as a new Sovereign, to the limit of my hearing (a low limit, to be sure).

Rick "who knows that Bevan mentioned the Sovereign line in his first edition, published in 1977" Denney

[Highams]

I had one of the first batch of 200 Sovereign euphoniums when they were first produced, around the late 70's. They were like a breath of fresh air after the Imperials and New Standards, so few of these were any good.

Compared to todays models, the first Sovereigns are far superior in build quality I think, (and the bore of the 4th. valve is smaller,) and I've yet to find a bad one. All these early Sovereigns had the Globe engraving on the bell (12").

They were also marketed as Besson Internationals for a short while, with the same Besson style of valve caps & tops.

www.euph9.freeserve.co.uk/neweuph.htm

[Rick Denney]

I had one of the first batch of 200 Sovereign euphoniums when they were first produced, around the late 70's.

Charley, what was better about the Sovereigns over the Imperials? And does it still apply? I've compared my "Imperial" to a new Sovereign, and could find little difference in how it played.

Of course, I'm not even a good tuba player, let alone a euphonium player, which leads me to a second point: Tuba players who desire a euphonium for occasional doubling and to provide a few more performing options (e.g., creating a tuba quartet) will have different requirements than an artist-grade performer of Charley Brighton's caliber. I like the Besson over the uncompensated instruments I've played because the low register is much more accessible (despite my fumbling with the left-hand fourth valve). I absolutely agree with Joe that the instruments with the 11" bells are preferable, in my case because they seem easier for tuba players to get a characteristic euphonium sound. The euphoniums with bigger bells sound more like tubas, and are more work to get a real euphonium sound, even for euphonium players. Some prefer the tuba sound, of course, and there are times when I do as well (for those times, I inspect lottery tickets carefully for the opportunity to buy a Willson 2975, the tuba player's dream euphonium).

The only issue I have with my Besson "Imperial" is that it plays consistently flat. I'm sure it's me.

Rick "who also liked the price of the old Besson" Denney

[Highams]

Hi Rick,

Many thanks for your kind comments to me.

My experience is that there was a particular bad patch when Imperials and New Standards were dreadful. Mostly when the bore changed in the late 60's from the old Solbron small leadpipes, to what is now pre large bore mouthpipes (the new 'frosted' or satin silver finishes). I played a beautiful Imperial, pre 1965 and so many awful 70's compensators, that when the first Sovereigns came out, they were a joy, easier to blow, better valves (they could not get worse). But that was short lived of course as once again, quality and workmanship failed, around the 80's.

My Willson 2900 reminds me of the finest Imperials, brought up to date.

www.euph9.freeserve.co.uk