adelarosa wrote:Dear TubeNet,
I've been attempting to use the search engine on this forum to avoid an unnecessary post but, alas, I either find myself trudging through a plethora of results or nothing. Yes I've tried search keys. Yes I've gone dozens of pages deep in said searches. In any case...
What is the general opinion of vintage Besson instruments? 3 valve, 4 valve, New Standard vs Imperial vs Sovereign.
I've played one 983, I'm told a very good example of a 983, and am wondering if the general reception is the same with others. Vintage or new, I'm just learning.
Thank you!
From the beginning right up until the demise of the Edgeware Road factory, most Bessons and their B&H siblings, (post-merger coming down the factory line together - the only real differences were cosmetic - fluting or knurling of the valve caps, plating or lacquer, etc.), were/are well received. Then through the reorganization times, there were good and bad, and now they seem to be relatively stable again. Some have complained about "stuffiness," but that is part of the inherent nature of any compensating instrument that routes the plumbing back around for a second pass through the valve block.
This thread could eat a lot of bandwidth. But, oversimplified, to address the nomenclature:
"Imperial" is the name used for the B&H versions, of whatever era, until Besson stopped using the B&H brand as a brass line.
"New Standard" is the Besson name for the same horns, roughly from the '50's until the '70's.
"Sovereign" is the redesign of the tubas from @ the late-'70's onwards. Someone originally forgot to factor in the change of nodes and tuning when changing from the older 15- and 17-inch bells to the 19-inch bells, and some early Sovereigns needed the "Fletcher cut" to get them up to pitch.
Bloke has a really nice Eb. The New Standard BBb 3-valve comp I used to have was one of the most in-tune tubas I have ever played, and only stuffy on a couple of notes. In spite of the ergonomic complaints, they are still traditionally popular among the brass bands. My shoulders don't like upright valves anymore, but I love the Besson 17-inch bell tone, so I grafted one onto my Mirafone tuba. Look up the thread on "Bessophone."
They do tend to be "substantial" instruments. So if you find one where the valves are good, then it is worth repairing, although, just as with any older instrument, you may have to take it to the shop at least once a year, not only to clean it and have the corks and felts renewed, but to re-solder deteriorating solder joints. Most suffer from the tell-tale flat spot on the bottom bow where someone tried to rest it on its bell (especially the 17-inch bell instruments), and it got knocked over.
To each his/her own, but I find that the Wick 1 mouthpiece works very well indeed with the BBb's and the Wick 3 works well with the Eb's. Among others, a significant number of players like the 24AW with the Eb's. My BBb was especially amenable, especially when I played it outdoors, with a lexan Kelly 18, with its rounded cup having a little more projection than the broad tone with the Wick. Kind of an "Our American Cousin" tone.
I'm surprised you've had trouble searching. Try different search terms. Over the years, there have been many, many threads about Besson, B&H, comp tubas in general, etc. I hope this provides a "thumbnail" summary as a point of departure.
