New "old" Besson International Bb Tuba - BE 7094

The bulk of the musical talk
Post Reply
User avatar
Mark Preece
bugler
bugler
Posts: 81
Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2005 7:15 pm
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Contact:

New "old" Besson International Bb Tuba - BE 7094

Post by Mark Preece »

Just curious if you have seen this added to the Besson website. It looks to be the old 994 before they changed the configuration. I could be wrong though...

http://www.besson.com/instruments_details.asp?ID=53

Why "International" Tuba??? I thought it was the standard British Bb Bass for many years...
Mark Preece
Principal Tuba, Regina Symphony Orchestra
Performing Artist, Besson Instruments (Buffet Crampon)
Performing Artist, LefreQue Sound Bridges
Instructor, University of Regina
User avatar
Chuck(G)
6 valves
6 valves
Posts: 5679
Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 12:48 am
Location: Not out of the woods yet.
Contact:

Post by Chuck(G) »

Mark, do you know where the 7094 is manufactured? It seems to me that Besson has used the "International" tag to denote instruments not made in the UK.

Wasn't there a Besson "International" trumpet made by Kanstul?
User avatar
imperialbari
6 valves
6 valves
Posts: 7461
Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 3:47 am

Post by imperialbari »

40 years ago the International was the top line at least among Besson’s trombones, which had the 3D globe-and-banner symbol as balancer in the tuning slide stay.

Soon thereafter the Sovereign line took over as the top line.

The present Besson 1000-something International line is made in India. I don’t doubt, that they are better, than the "generic" Indian designs and manufacturing standards.

Yet I know about at least one reputable Copenhagen Besson store, which will not touch the 1000-series at all, neither in sales nor in repair.

Anyway the Indian made tuba in question isn’t a 992 or 994 clone, as it hasn’t a compensating valve block.

When I taught brass the Yamaha 2xx and 3XX lines were pure revelations in playability and intonation compared to the British made student lines. The Yamahas had some initial problems with durability of leadpipes and pistons. Still they were fine musical tools for teaching beginning and intermediate students.

Since then I also have found very relevant instruments from Jupiter and Weril.

But nothing from continental Asia has convinced me so far.

Klaus
Post Reply