GregTuba79 wrote:I found a video of someone playing the exact horn as the seller. Very rich and buttery tone..intonation, well..might be the player. (not affiliated with OP or person in video). I like the tone enough to say I would like to own a horn like this.
This horn is not stuffy. That reputation is more applicable to the 4 valve versions (3+1). Having said that, they are no different than any other tuba. You have to learn how to play them.
Dave Bargeron has used a newer model of this for years as did several of his bandmates in Gravity (including HoJo himself at times). I owned a Boosey that was virtually identical to yours and it is a great player.
Skip ahead to 2:26
Mine was made in 1971 about the time of the video. Maybe his and mine were cousins. BTW, his was an EEb four valve and mine a three valve BBb.
b.williams wrote:Mine was made in 1971 about the time of the video. Maybe his and mine were cousins. BTW, his was an EEb four valve and mine a three valve BBb.
I didn't realize that, thought those were redesigned BBb's. Man that is a big-*** Eb! It makes my York Monsters look tiny.
Also didn't realize that they had used that old 3V BBb design so long. According to the serial number lists my Boosey was built around 1904. And very similar to your 1971 Besson:
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Here is a great marching section from back when women were women:
American sailboats, airplanes, banjos, guitars and flutes ...
Italian motorcycles and cars ...
German cameras and tubas ...
Life is Good.