Sold: Besson 3v Compensating BBb Tuba

[WakinAZ]

Sold:
Up for sale is a nice 4/4-size Besson 3v Compensating BBb Tuba. This would be a great horn for a British-style brass band, concert/community band, chamber/church group or brass quintet. The sound, response and scale is great across the range of this horn. There is no inherent "stuffiness", it blows as freely as any tuba of the many I have played.
$1100 + ground shipping.

It is in Good used condition for a horn of its age, appx. 52 years! S/N 458XXX, c. 1968-1969. No case is included.
- Tuba is 39.5" tall with a 17" bell. Heavy, built like a tank.
- It has been professionally ultrasonically cleaned and adjusted with new corks & felts.
- There are multiple scratches, dings/dents and evidence of prior repairs. The major dings/dents are photographed separately - none that affect function/playability.
- The valves still have a decent amount of plating on them, with only the 1st valve showing some minor pitting. The compression is OK, but benefits from using "heavy" or "classic" oils.
- The ball on the bottom bow was removed, and there is a medium-sized dent in that area also. Typical for big tubas that have a few miles on them.
- The lacquer finish is mostly gone, and a nice vintage patina has settled in.
- The V-shaped seam on the bell (pictured) is a manufacturing technique, not a repair.
- There is one small patch on the leadpipe (pictured).

A Denis Wick #2 mouthpiece is included. (Note: these older British horns have a slightly smaller receiver than modern horns. Denis Wick and other makers have a size of mouthpiece shank that will fit these. "Standard/American" or "Euro" shank mouthpieces will not fit properly.)
No case is included.

The Blaikley compensating system automatically adds tubing to make valve combinations more in tune. One limitation/compromise: the range stops at the low E-natural four ledger lines below the bass clef staff. In my decades of playing, this is enough for 95%+ of the literature an amateur musician will encounter. (Truly advanced players can coax out "false" or "privilege" tones in between low-E and the pedal Bb note, but they are not very strong or reliable.)

Ground shipping to CONUS only from Tucson, AZ is $295 via UPS.

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

[hrender]

Nice looking horn.

https://tucson.craigslist.org/msg/d/tuc ... 01988.html

[prairieboy1]

These are terrific tubas and as good an instrument as any community band tubist will ever need. I played one for four years in a community band and enjoyed every minute of it. They play in tune! Good Luck with the sale!

[WakinAZ]

Thanks for the positive words guys. I am willing to consider trades for a 4/4 or larger BBb 3v bell front/recording tuba.

[WakinAZ]

$895 or trade

[bloke]

The only "larger BB-flat recording bell tuba" that plays in tune about as well as your Besson would be a Martin...

...and I doubt that (based on my experience) you would get much more sound out of it.

...I like both Bessons and Martins...

[WakinAZ]

Thanks Joe. Sold on ebay.