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As mentioned in the 994 Besson thread, I've recently acquired the tuba I've pandered over for the last few years!

I came across a 1976 BBb Imperial on fleabay, and managed to buy it for less than my wife imposed limit!

Anyway, I've chopped the first valve slide, and bathed it, and it plays superbly! Although I do need a stand to hold it comfortably. I'm even thinking of selling my beloved 992 as this will be my primary "Non band" tuba I think. And I've too many instruments already apparently. I have a new LMI Royal BBb for brass band work.

It's obviously been reconditioned at some point, but it's a well done job. It came with a 992 Sovereign Hard case, with handles and wheels intact, something of a rarity!

I've ordered my Mike Finn 3 small shank and am raring to go!

It seems that Boosey/Besson got it right with the late Imperials, then slowly went backwards through the 992, 994, and the 994GS.

Anyway, here is photo album of the beauty!


http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/8024987

Nice horn, Andy. Do you still have the big Eb I borrowed from you a few years ago while I was in Newburgh?

No, that was a friends. He sold it on last year as he wasn't using it, and had picked up a cheap Imperial.

Beautiful, Andy. How does it play?

Ah, yes! I felt the same way when I got my 1971 Besson BBb. It is also my favorite "non-band" tuba, in that I don't use it for community band or other "serious" gigs. But it helps the small Shrine band I play with blend the best, with its more distinctive voice, it's the one I use during the holiday season for Salvation Army "bell ringer" gigs, and in general for all the fun stuff.

Congrats on your acquisition.

tubatooter1940 wrote:Beautiful, Andy. How does it play?

Surprisingly in tune, with a really full, focused and projected sound. The whole thing seems to solidly resonate. The sound touches the sides!

Far better sound and agility than the later models, which have just become volume boxes.

AndyCat wrote:wife imposed limit!

Hehe!!! I've got one of those too!

Tim

Bob1062 wrote:Cool!

Andy, out of curiosity how often do you play a non-Bb (Eb and bass bone)?

Play EEb once or twice a week, as it resides at the school I work at and I play it in the groups there. Bass bone, now and then, but lengthy spells, ie between March and June I have 4 x 1 week shows, so big blocks, but irregular. BBb around 4 nights a week on average when not on bass trom shows!

Yeah!

AndyCat wrote:It seems that Boosey/Besson got it right with the late Imperials, then slowly went backwards through the 992, 994, and the 994GS.

Andy, Apart from the larger bell, how does the 992 differ from the Imperial? Would it be possible to post side by side pictures while you have got them both?

AndyCat wrote:

tubatooter1940 wrote:Beautiful, Andy. How does it play?

Surprisingly in tune, with a really full, focused and projected sound. The whole thing seems to solidly resonate. The sound touches the sides!

Far better sound and agility than the later models, which have just become volume boxes.

The absolute, exact reason I got mine!

Checked with a tuner, mine has been pretty much right on throughout the range until recently when a couple of leaks from deteriorating solder joints have thrown a few notes out, but they will be fixed. The 5th partials on mine are right on with conventional fingerings, and the 7th partials require less lipping than some other tubas require on the 5th partials. That's right: I play bass clef top space Gb as 1 and G nat as 2, respectively.

I love those horns. I played on one exactly like it all through high school and still prefered it over the new Yamaha 641's they bought. One of the best tubas I've played