TubaForum.net

~SOLD~
4/4-size Besson 4v (3+1) Compensating BBb Tuba. Suitable for a British-style brass band, concert/community band, chamber/church group or brass quintet. The sound, response and scale are great across the range of this horn. The Blaikley compensating system automatically adds tubing to make valve combinations more in tune.
$1795 + ground shipping.

It is in good used condition for a horn of its age. S/N 425XXX, c. 1966. No case is included.

- Tuba is 39.5" tall with a 17" bell. Heavy, built like a tank.

- The valves still have a decent amount of plating on them, showing moderate wear. The compression is good. All the slides move freely.

- There are multiple scratches, dings/dents and evidence of prior repairs - none that affect function/playability.

-The ball on the bottom bow was removed, and there is a dent in that area also. Typical for big tubas that have a few miles on them.

- The silver finish is appx. 90%

A Denis Wick #1 mouthpiece is included. (Note: these older British tubas 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.)

Will be shipped UPS ground to CONUS only or local pickup. Located in Tucson, Arizona.

Pics here: https://tucson.craigslist.org/msg/d/tuc ... 59098.html

Thanks for looking

Lower price

Lower lower price. Great stocking stuffer.

I have all of the PARTS to put together (even a set of the "premium" nickel silver slide tubes - to be pulled from a THREE-valve comp body) a wonderful 3+1 (late-50's - 60's era...which were THE BEST EVER of the B-flat comps, imo) DETACHABLE BELL 3+1 comp.

To go with it, I have an oem 24" recording bell, and oem (E-flat) 22" recording bell, a 19" upright bell (cut from an English-made Sterling bell) and a 17" bell...ALL FOUR fitted with GENUINE Besson male collars...

I would LOVE to have this 3+1 DETACHABLE BELL B-flat comp. in working order, but it's too difficult to find the time to slick it out and piece it together.
Alternately, I'd LOVE (even though I already have all the parts) to find a 3+1 instrument in SUPERB shape otherwise (perhaps with a destroyed bell) at some STUPID-LOW (ex: $400 ) price.

With NON-WORN valves, these instruments play wonderfully (including the comp. range - again: as long as a player "gives the instrument what it needs"), offer remarkably fine tuning (other than a sharp 3rd-space E-flat), and I challenge any lap-sousaphonist to a quantity/quality-of-sound contest (given the use of that described above - particularly with the 24" recording bell in place).
With a working-condition 3-valve comp. (same instrument, otherwise), I was working with a very aggressive bass trombonist (at an outdoor venue - a few years ago - 4th of July - flag-waver - etc.) His attempts to bury the sound of that Besson were all in vain.