Posted by Rick Denney on December 26, 2000 at 13:52:33:
After fighting tooth and claw with two other bidders this morning, I've snagged a vintage Besson compensating Euphonium.
Now, I want to see if I screwed myself. (I'm a good ebay bidder, and I'll buy it no matter what--so warnings about not following through at not needed.)
It's a Besson "New Standard" Euphonium, 3+1 with compensation. Aside from a wrinkled bell, a wide assortment of apparently cosmetic dents, and a missing fourth-valve button and stem, it looks to be in good shape. According to Besson's web site, the serial number dates from 1974, though the Lars Kirsmer (there's a name I can never remember) site dates it more like in the 50's.
There is a discussion in the archives suggesting that, at least for EEb tubas (and presumably for the entire range), the New Standard model predated the Sovereign, but I also understand that the Sovereigns came out in the early 70's (presumably before 1974).
Can any of you Besson experts fill in the gaps for me?
Are you all laughing at my wastage of $450?
Rick "this was not the project I had in mind for this winter" Denney