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The Besson 2-20 is a smaller 3/4size student tuba. One of the smallest that I have tried in my middle school band.(smaller than the Yamaha 102 or 103)
It is heavy for it's size, and does not dent as easily(very thick metal)
The Besson "Stratford" model is the same as the 2-20 as is a newer 900(?)
series that converts to a shoulder mounted marching horn.
The ones that I have played have an OK small sound, they can be pushed more than the small yamahas. For pricing, check past auctions on "YAB-E"
There is one up for sale now, 8-28-06. I have paid as little as $195.00 and have seen them sell as high as $975.00(used at a music repair shop)
Some of them have the "Small-English" mouthpiece reciever and have to be changed if you do not have the small shank mouthpiece. Check your open pitch, I believe that the Besson Eb 3/4 tuba has the same number(2-20)
I hope this helps,
Dave Hayami

It's a lot cheaper in the long run to get a Wick or Perantucci small shank mouthpiece than to change the receiver. I have the smaller receiver on my Besson, and the Wick 1 is the perfect mouthpiece for it. Being a non-comp, and probably a slightly smaller bore, I recommend a Wick 2 for your horn. If you do have the smaller receiver and want to try it out, I'd be happy to loan you mine, as I am not using my Wick 2 at the present season, but I would want it back when you made your decision.

FWIW, I recently purchased a @1969 Besson 2-20 trumpet, in great shape with case, lyre and original mouthpiece, off eBay for $76 (yes, $76, no zeros or other digits, including shipping) and am very, very pleased with it. If the 2-20 tuba has anywhere near the same build quality, and coming from Edgeware Road there is no reason to think it doesn't, it sounds like a good tuba to me. From the serial number, it is most likely from early 1977, during the period when Besson were still at the top of their game. Congrats.

I just picked up a very beat-up 2-20. I had to fabricate a tuning slide and patch up several cracks. The brass on this one is far more brittle than most tubas that I have worked on. I also put a standard-sized receiver onto it. The good thing abut the 2-20 is the fact that it has a larger bore than the YBB-103/105 series or the Weril 680; another advantage is the leadpipe, which goes directly to the valve section. That's why the Besson does not fight back as much as other small tubas when you want to push some air through it. I think it would be an ideal instrument for a euphonium player who wants to double on tuba, or for a tubist who wants a really compact practice horn to travel with. Intonation is pretty good.

Hey, Art -- What is the bore on a 2-20? Is it something @ .689, like a King or Reynolds? Thanks.

According to my inexpensive calipers, and the parts horn on my workbench, the inner dia. of the second valve slide is .689".
The "sound change" question concerning the horns lacquer or lack of has been debated before with no real answer ever proven, do a search, and enjoy the collected wisdom of the tubenet.
Dave Hayami