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Does any one know if anything like this exists I might buy a used Sovereign. Also if anyone knows where to get a main tuining slide trigger for one, that'd be cool also.

I've done some checking around and the best options I've found are to send the parts in for plating to a reputable plater such as Andersons. The down side is that you'll be out your horn for awhile, the plus side, you get exactly what you want.

EuphtoTuba wrote:Does any one know if anything like this exists I might buy a used Sovereign. Also if anyone knows where to get a main tuining slide trigger for one, that'd be cool also.

Yo playa:

Might as well get dat rapper gold chain to go along with dat trim yo yo yo

If you're going to 'fiddle' with customizing a Besson euph... you need to stick with the parts that you have and get them plated. The new productions parts don't interchange with horns built only a few years ago. Save your bucks and then buy the horn you want.... finished.

The current price of gold has little to do with the price of gold plating. Even with gold at $1,000 an ounce or more... there isn't $10 worth of gold on parts like top & bottom caps and crooks. The cost is in the preparation, labor, and mark-up.

I've installed the aftermarket 'kicker' that Kevin Powers designed and sells. It's works OK but I think parts for the newest version that Buffet-Crampon puts on the Sovereign are more robust and also have 'quick disconnect' features for removing the main slide easily.

EuphtoTuba wrote:Does any one know if anything like this exists I might buy a used Sovereign. Also if anyone knows where to get a main tuining slide trigger for one, that'd be cool also.

Several years back, I bought one of the Kevin Powers MMIS triggers for my 967, and it was installed by Dick Akright in Oakland, CA. Ended up being a pricey solution, but it worked beautifully, and made a world of difference.
You should be able to find him with a search on these forums or by googling.

I've gotta say...the one thing I really dislike about the Besson Prestige series are the gold valve caps and water keys on the silver plated instruments. It's just so tacky and is often seen on some of the really cheap instruments going for that "bling" factor. I'm predicting that Besson will move to all silver finish in the prestige series within a few years once everyone is blinged out.

I'd save your money and stick with silver trim or alternatively get a prestige model in laquer.

taipeituba wrote:I've gotta say...the one thing I really dislike about the Besson Prestige series are the gold valve caps and water keys on the silver plated instruments. It's just so tacky and is often seen on some of the really cheap instruments going for that "bling" factor. I'm predicting that Besson will move to all silver finish in the prestige series within a few years once everyone is blinged out.

I, on the other hand, find the gold accents aesthetically pleasing and find instruments that lack visual differentiation to be aesthetically dull and unappealing.

As to the possibility of Besson moving to an all silver finish on the Prestige: if it does happen, I predict that it will be because the price of gold raises the cost of the finished instruments above the level that their pricing models indicate that the market will bear.

I'd save your money and stick with silver trim or alternatively get a prestige model in laquer.

I looked all through this thread again after reading your post, and I didn't see any request for you to buy him a euph or to spend his money for him, so why don't you just let HIM decide how HE want to spend HIS money?

I usuaklkly refer to the euphoniums with all the gold trim as "pimp-phoniums". It is a nice look but it also adds about $300 to the cost of the instrument with the price of gold where it is today.

Roger

Sometimes, the maker ends up just using the lacquer parts on a silver horn as the "gold" parts...I think that's the case on the Nirschl's