Posted by Tom on May 27, 1999 at 09:58:29:
In Reply to: Besson Comp. BBb posted by Santos on May 26, 1999 at 21:36:25:
I play a Besson 993 (BBb front action 4 pistons). I have played several other tubas over the years and I liked them just fine. But none of them, for me, can compare to the sound the Besson produces. It plays more freely for me and produces a beautiful, full, dark round sound. That's the good part about the horn. The flip side of the coin is the poor quality of manufacturing. My Meinl-Weston, for example, is built much better than the Besson, so was the Miraphone I played. In the first year of ownership of the Besson I found multiple flux leaks at solder joints and I just threw away the adjustable thumb ring because it would never stay in place. If it didn't sound so wonderful, I wouldn't recommend it to anybody - but it DOES produce a great sound.