Besson 3 Valve Compensator Serial Number question

[TheYorkSoundMachine]

Hello everyone,

I purchased a Besson Bb 3 valve compensating tuba for $600. I think I did okay with that, it has the usual bash from past tip overs. But it's not unplayable, it's built like a tank, and the compensating tubes makes it a great "set and play" kind of horn. My first horn in that style. It does has a stuffiness with the compo set up, that can be overcome with practice.

The Bell reads "Made In England" "Besson" and "50 medals of honor", no mention of B&H, just an English Tuba. It still has "sack splitter" knob on the bottom, rare to see those, and it has a small shank receiver. A regular mouthpiece goes in about an 1/8 of an inch.

Serial Number 477XXX

I have looked at different sites and get different results, does anyone here have one of these to share their ideas about these horns. But I am guessing about 1978 for its date of manufacture.

I wrote it off at first glance as a student horn, after all, there isn't enough tubing! (LOL) I stand differently after playing it, as it gave me a hernia!

I still love my CBB-681, and for community band, it's a great horn, thought I'd keep this Besson as a temp when the Cerveny needs care. Thank you all for your time and wish you all much luck and sonorous tones!

Adam Austin
www.AdamAustinChicago.com

[arpthark]

Use the Boosey & Hawkes serial number list for English Bessons after 1954. 477xxx points to 1969ish.

https://www.horn-u-copia.net/serial/Bessonlist.shtml

https://www.horn-u-copia.net/serial/Boo ... list.shtml

Those three valve compensators are beasts and great horns. I also have one. Try to find a Wick 1 (not 1L) for a large-ish useful mouthpiece for it.

[iiipopes]

I used to own one. My favorite tuba for concert band work, as well as BBB work before the advent of the obsession with the near-pedal and pedal range. Your horn is a "New Standard" model, as set forth above, pre-dating the Sovereign era.

Play 1st line G and low D with 3rd valve alone. #1 & #2 valves are tuned "dead" for Ab, A nat, & Eb & E nat respectively, and will be sharp on the G & D notes with the otherwise conventional 1+2 fingerings.

Low C 1+3 may be stuffy. Don't force it. It will speak.

Depending on your instrument, you may not need alternate fingerings for the usual 5th partial culprits.

The intonation and tone of the 17" bell is superlative. I even put one of these bells on a Miraphone 186 I used to have because it was so much better than the stock Miraphone bell.

Congrats on your purchase.