in praise of the Besson 15" bell compensating E-flat / buying back an old horn

[arpthark]

I have owned a bunch of these over the years, and I keep coming back to them. (I actually have two right now, and one will be for sale soon.)

Outside of three or four pitches above the bass clef staff (which can be solved by alternate fingerings from the higher partial), they play really well in tune and have a sound that is simultaneously sweet and punchy. The volume threshold is surprisingly high and you can play them pretty loud. They are also less "poofy" sounding than their 19" bell cousins. I find that I can get a few tone colors beyond that 19" bell "monochromatic" sound, where everything sounds nice but it is hard to put an edge on when appropriate.

The one drawback is a personal one, and that is my lack of dexterity when reading music using E-flat fingerings as a lifelong F/CC/BBb person. I suppose they are also rather heavy for their size.

It seems like they rarely show up for sale, but when they do, they're pretty reasonably priced.

I was very happy to recently be able to purchase back an old Besson of mine that I sold back around 2016. Back then I performed a lacquer strip on it, which you can read about on the old forum if you care to, here: http://forums.chisham.com/viewtopic.php?t=72780

Here it was back in 2016 right after stripping and giving a brushed brass finish with Scotchbrite:



And here it is today in my living room, same rug. Not too bad 8 and a half years later!



One of the first things I did when getting it back was to remove the strap ring that constantly dug into my side. No plans yet to perform a ball-ectomy on the bottom ball, but I am going to clean up all the sloppy solder and other stuff from old repairs that is lurking on this thing.

[sweaty]

I'm really enjoying the one I bought from you.

[humBell]

Does that mean you have extra strap rings in case i have a tuba without (enough) of them?

[arpthark]

I'm really enjoying the one I bought from you.

That one is probably the best-playing of these that I've owned. Ever since I sold that to you, I've been trying to get my hands on another one that plays as nicely. I am glad you are enjoying it!

[bloke]

I'd be tickled to own one were it not that it would break my own rule of "minimum overlap" of typical uses, in addition to the "I don't keep things just because they're exceptionally good" and the "I'm not a collector" rules.

[arpthark]

Now that I have the means, I am slowly getting tubas back from over the years that I have loved but passed along due to finances or moving or house buying or whatever. A big find was that Alexander 157 6 valve F. It wasn't perfect due to the weird configuration of the fifth valve, but now with the quint extension it's very usable and my favorite horn to play, and it's getting some face time tonight at an orchestra rehearsal.

The first time I ever heard one of these Bessons, it was being played by a fellow from Louisville, KY named Quentin Sharpenstein, who passed away a few years ago: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/ ... =190005409

Wonderful player, great guy, was in the West Point Band. He played in various groups with me while I was in high school and college and I always admired his wit and prowess on his little satin-silver Besson E-flat.

[Tom C]

This looks like the same finish, including the nickel or silver slides, same type of valve caps and valve buttons and other particulars, as my Besson BBb sousaphone--also a great playing horn.

[Schlitzz]

Well, let’s not get carried away now, and over compensate.

[bloke]

Well, let’s not get carried away now, and over compensate.

FIVE-valve compensating...like Schiller?

[Schlitzz]

Yeah, a saxophone doubler’s tuba. Just put air through the instrument, and PRESS a button. Probably a Kenny G artist model from Schiller.

[iiipopes]

Yeah, a saxophone doubler’s tuba. Just put air through the instrument, and PRESS a button. Probably a Kenny G artist model from Schiller.

Indeed. Especially since a sax player can pretend the music is treble clef, adjust accidentals, and go.

[bloke]

The first four downward chromatic fingerings actually play the same notes on sax and E flat tuba.

[wagnertuba262]

"Outside of three or four pitches above the bass clef staff (which can be solved by alternate fingerings from the higher partial), they play really well in tune and have a sound that is simultaneously sweet and punchy. "

I have had one of these since around 1989. Small shank version. I found that using a Wick #4 or Wick#5 helps with the pitches above the staff and adds to the bass tuba characteristics. The smaller Wicks might not work for some because the 4 and 5 a relatively small compared to a typical CC mouthpiece. I somehow manage. Maybe because I have gotten used to the Wick or expect it the smaller feel whenever I pick up the e-flat.