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What's the difference between this and the 983?

Looks like a 15 inch Imperial-type bell rather than a 17 inch bell.

looks like the trigger might operate the slide with the stops. I'm not seeing any gadgetry around the main tuning slide, maybe they hid it well.

Bloke, that's the first valve slide.

The wrap is different - looks like the third-valve tubing wraps towards the valves, bringing it more inside the frame and leaving room for that paddle/trigger. Can't really see clearly, but the knuckles and comp loops look different, too.

EDIT: Drivel deleted.

to me it looks like a competitor in the "Norwegian Star" market

15 inch bell
First valve kicker and stop
Designed to sound more like an F tuba/more focused sound.

2165 (Jake) has some more pics from Frankfurt 2012

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... a4&theater" target="_blank

It seems like an altogether different 'less girthy' bell would change the sound more drastically than cutting an inch of the 'pancake' off the original bell...

Mike Johnson swapped out the bell on his 982 with a Hirsbrunner F bell: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=23369" target="_blank (the pic is attached below)

How much difference does the Conn 52J sound compared to the 54J or 56J? (never played them- don't know)...

cjk wrote:Looks like a 15 inch Imperial-type bell rather than a 17 inch bell.

Yep, everything-old-is-new-again. Next they'll build it in a 3+1 set up to appeal to British players and be back where they started!

I expect that will be a good sounding, resonant horn that is likely to be mistaken for an F tuba. Dan Shultz (TubaTinker on here) built me a nearly identical (non-compensating) horn a few years back and I take it when I want to play Eb but need "audition camouflage" (or orchestra camouflage) where people want to think I'm playing F:

http://thevillagetinker.com/yamaha_yeb3 ... ersion.htm



I actually have been told not to bring a horn that points the wrong way on a couple of occasions. . .

--T. J.

ps, I have mentioned to the good folks at Yamaha that they ought to offer something in this configuration, possibly with a variety of bell sizes. . .

I can't wait to try one. If they had these when I bought my 983 I might've reconsidered...

http://www.besson.com/en/instruments.ph ... N0JmNpZD04" target="_blank

From the Besson website:

The new 984 model is also a four valve front action compensated tuba.

Its playing position is the same as the orchestral tuba and enables the musician to play together with the trombone players in one section.

After years of research and development, the new 984 model is the first to combine the historic warm and deep sound of the Eb tuba with the centered and focused precision of the F tuba.

To achieve this, the 984 tuba is designed with a new receiver, a new leadpipe, a smaller and lighter bell, a new valve block position, new stays and more.

This tuba is the first in its series to have a trigger on the 1st valve.

The 984 model is a completely new model which Besson is proud to add to its
Sovereign range.

AND

Instrument specifications
• Key: Eb
• Bore: .681" ( 17,30 mm )
• Hand-made bell in yellow brass
• 983 Bell diameter: 17" ( 431 mm )
• 984 Bell diameter: 15" ( 381 mm )
• Weight: 18lb ( 8 200 g )
• 4 compensating valves – Front action
• 4 waterkeys
• 1st valve slide trigger (984 model only)
• Finishes: clear lacquer or bright silverplate

I asked James Gourlay as I knew he'd been playing it for a while now.
In the marked for a more 'articulated' Eb (than 981) that can blend
more in with trombone/horn, I was looking @ the Mira 283 and
Meinl Weston 2050/5 But I must say.

This one did catch my interest...Impossible to test out in Norway ATM
but I might do some traveling (Linz is coming up soon)

Anyways..This is what he said:

• The 984 is very new, so it's difficult for anyone to test it right now, but be patient,
  it's worth it! It has a small bell, new lead pipe and a 1st valve trigger, which is very useful.
  
  The sound is much like an F tuba, but fuller in the low register.
  The upper register tone sings! I'm really happy with it.
  Maybe I could help find one you could try? I'll find out!

That was a personal message, but I hope it's OK for Jim to be quoted on it
I will defiantly give it a try

You know, it looks a lot like the front action F tuba Besson was developing at the same time they were closing their doors. The valve section looks higher than the 983, and the valve section is wrapped differently (along with the factory blurb differences).

Of course, those are cosmetics. You have to play it to know what it's like.

The most important obstacle to the 983 for me was related to physiology. The valve section was placed so low that I could never get enough finger flexibility for any technique. I couldn't even play scales as fast or as clean on a 983. I noticed that this particular design trait did not seem to hamper Pat Sheridan any.

I recently tried a 984 - I believe one of only two in the UK. Tonally it sounded rather like an F tuba to me and it seemed fine pitch wise, although I did not have the opportunity to put against tuner. It blew very easily. The big problem for me was it having 4 in line valves with compensating system - I was reaching for the 5th valve lever which of course was not there and had to get out of using alternative fingering in the low register

The 15" bell looked just like that of an old Imperial Eb of the 1970's.

Hi everyone,

I have a brand new 984 Sovereign (very kindly sent over to me by Besson) to use in the World Premier of Stockhausen's Mittwoch aus Licht in the UK.

It is superb.

I agree with JIm, it has a brilliant high register which is very clear and focused and It also packs a punch in the low register.

Intonation is bang on and the valves are great (although tricky for me at first, I wanted to use CC fingerings)

The Music Director at the Stockhausen Foundation in Germany commented how much she liked the tuba and she is used to the F tuba sound. She thought it was perfect for this opera.

If anyone wants any info or advice please PM me.

There is also a silver 984 at Phil Parkers shop in London for people to try....

Best wishes,

Ian

Ian1 wrote:Hi everyone,

I have a brand new 984 Sovereign (very kindly sent over to me by Besson) to use in the World Premier of Stockhausen's Mittwoch aus Licht in the UK.

It is superb.

I agree with JIm, it has a brilliant high register which is very clear and focused and It also packs a punch in the low register.

Intonation is bang on and the valves are great (although tricky for me at first, I wanted to use CC fingerings)

The Music Director at the Stockhausen Foundation in Germany commented how much she liked the tuba and she is used to the F tuba sound. She thought it was perfect for this opera.

If anyone wants any info or advice please PM me.

There is also a silver 984 at Phil Parkers shop in London for people to try....

Best wishes,

Ian

Can i come have a blow at some point