Besson 983/984 discontinued?

[Ruigekerel]

I am/was saving for a Besson 984, but I see Besson has removed this model from their website, the same for the 983. Does this mean they are discontinued? I know they were never as popular as the 981 of 982 models, but I still believe there is a market for professional, compensated, front-action Eb tubas.

Can someone confirm that they have stopped making these models, or does someone have more information on this topic? Maybe I have to start looking for another brand...

[Sousaswag]

I don’t know if they’re available NEW… but, there is a 983 that comes for sale used every now and then, I’m sure you can find one.

[arpthark]

If you are looking for alternatives, Eastman makes a 4-piston, side-action compensating Eb. FWIW. Never played one.

[greenbean]

I JUST saw one for sale. Reverb? Or eBay?

(I don't really have a functioning memory anymore so your guess is as good as mine!...)

[PlayTheTuba]

I have to go to do something real quick

But I didn't find 984 in the Besson catalog either. I always wanted to try a 984. Seeing as it was different and smaller than the 980-3 tubas.

http://www.flipbooks.buffetcrampon.com/ ... ues/besson

All Buffet-Crampon Catalogs. B&S, Meinl Weston, Besson. Other brass instruments too but no tubas the last time I checked the other brand names.

http://www.flipbooks.buffetcrampon.com/ ... catalogues

B&S still lists a healthy amount of tubas. Like the 4097/4197 CC's, 3103 taller rotary 4/4 BBb and the BBb version of the 4197, the 3301...

[kingrob76]

I think the only people who can confirm this are the people who make them... but they haven't been on their website in a while and aren't on price lists. I would look to grab a used one (preferably one of the British-made ones) when it comes available. The Eastman front action Eb is a nice horn but not as nice as the Besson. Wessex has one that is more York-like but the two I've played I didn't care for - the larger-bore 4th valve just felt wrong on both examples IMHO.

I think the market got over-saturated quickly for these kind of horns and several models weren't very good, so now there are only a couple being produced as new.

[Dents Be Gone!]

I agree, guys. This is the way to go.

[bloke]

no answers but lots of rhetoric (reminds me of me)

[Tubeast]

There´s a difference between willingness to market/advertise and willingness to produce.
The Willson model 6400 hasn´t been advertised in decades but Herr Kurath told me they´re still being made occasionally, per individual demand.

It MIGHT depend on BESSON accepting direct orders rather than insisting on retailer business. So if possible, You might want to just give ´em a call.

Also, Buffet Crampon is a French company. French companies, in general, have a reputation of providing horrible websites that are impossible to navigate without damage to one´s sanity.
This reputation has been deservedly earned in the past, and I don´t know how hard Buffet Crampon ist trying to destroy it.

[Paula]

I bought my 984 ex demo from Phil Parkers in London just over a year ago, I still think it is the hest tuba I have ever played.

[Sousaswag]

Yeah, they’re not listed on the Buffet price list. However, I’d bet they’d make you one if you have the $$$…

That said, they come up used often enough. 983’s at least. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a 984 on the used market in the US.

[MiBrassFS]

Nice tubas. Surprised they’re not still listed in the catalog.

[SALowBrassMan]

I’ve been playing a Yamaha YEB-632S for 20 years and it’s been the best EEb I’ve played to date. Now have friends playing Wessex models in Five Lakes Silver Brass Band and anxious to try a Wessex. Having said that, I’ve also been playing a Besson 993 BBb for a couple years now and it’s by far the best BBb I’ve played in my 45+ years of playing. After reading so many comments here, now I’m curious to try a Besson 984. Anybody live near the Tampa/Lakeland area that has one?

[tubaing]

I've been toying with selling my Besson 983 and switching to a government-owned MW 45 SLP F tuba as my bass tuba... but every time I play this Besson, I'm reminded how fantastic it is... and how I've never cared for these 45 series F tubas. Maybe I'll keep the Besson... I don't have it listed for sale

[Mary Ann]

I remember playing a 45SLP someone had just gotten way back when they were new and hot, and thinking it was out of tune compared to my MW 182 F, and very much not impressed.

[MiBrassFS]

Those two couldn’t be more polar opposite!

I’ve liked the 182’s I’ve played and I’ve liked the 45SLP’s (and the 46SLP…). I remember playing these all at WWBW in one sitting. The 182 was fun, but I didn’t want to put down the 45SLP & 46SLP. The 46SLP was Mel Culbertson’s piston F and added a 6th valve right after the 5th at the bottom of the stack. It had the 2nd valve kicker and 6th valve paddle in the left hand. The tuba geek I was with and I both had the same reaction, “man, these sure don’t suck!” Now, that rotary Culberson F didn’t check many boxes at all for me.

Days gone by…

[Sousaswag]

The 45SLP has always been a tuba I’ve personally enjoyed, and I think they get a bad reputation because they’re not what people expect a traditional piston F to be. I’ve never had an issue with pitch or low register with them. YMMV.

As for the 983, in the 983 thread… I think you could probably still get one, if you asked, and had the $$$ ready. Really, I’d prefer a 983 or 984 to the upright compensating Eb tubas. For no other reason than I prefer front action tubas. I think they play pretty much identically to the 981/2.

[MiBrassFS]

My 983 comment would be this…

I’ve owned 3 over the years. One was in lacquer made in England. I really enjoyed it, but the valve slide knuckles were barely soldered to the valve casings. It kept springing leaks at the casing and occasionally needed a bit of soldering work to fill gaps and seal things up. The next one was a nearly beat to death British one in silver. It was ragged (lots of dents and repairs), cheap, played pretty well, but I tired of nursing it (the valves…) along, too. Lastly was a pre-Buffet, “JA Music” one made in Germany when they went through and redesigned a bunch of stuff on it. It was their “show tuba” and they were pretty proud of the results. I swooped in and bought it after an ITEC. I’ve never played another one exactly like it (Buffet took over shortly after and I don’t think the 983 was a priority…).

I still own the last one. I like it a bunch. It might the last tuba I’d sell if I had to sell everything off.

[arpthark]

I always pipe up with this when the 45SLP gets mentioned, but if the leadpipe didn’t whack me in the middle of my forehead when I try to play it, I might like it more. I think they play okay, just an ergonomic nightmare for me.

Short guy problems…

Riddle me this: I’ve played oodles of Besson 3+1 eefers but never tried a 983. Do they play similarly?

My brain automatically associates Eb with 3+1, so I’m not sure how well the four inline compensating fingers would do. It would require a lot of unlearning related to playing a fair amount of 4 valve non-compensating instruments.

[Sousaswag]

Most of the older MW piston tubas also have terrible thumb ring/5th lever placement… 2145/55/65, SLP, 2141, 2000, etc.

That is absolutely something that drives me nuts as far as ergonomics go, and something I’m changing with my 2165.

The answer to your question- Yeah, I think they play very similar to the 981/2. I think it’s more of a setup preference. You can still play the 983 with 3+1 style if you bring your left hand all the way around to the 4th valve.