Besson Vintage Brass Instruments
French manufacturer Besson has been making brass instruments since 1837 when it was founded in Paris by Gustave-Auguste Besson. Today, renowned musicians around the world rely on the Besson brand for their instruments. The company continues to make instruments like tubas and cornets to the highest modern standards, but vintage Besson instruments are very much sought after by collectors.
What Types of Instrument Does Besson Make?
Besson is a specialist manufacturer. Besson brass instruments and their related accessories make up their entire catalog. This family of instruments is quite large, though, and Besson makes an extensive range of them, offering many vintage options.
- Trumpets and cornets are some of the most recognizable brass instruments and make up an important part of any brass band, usually taking responsibility for the melody. The trumpet is larger than the cornet and produces deeper tones. Besson cornets and trumpets come in a range of different tunings.
- The trombone occupies a unique place in the modern brass family, and among Besson's products. Unlike valved instruments like the trumpet and euphonium, it uses a moving slide to produce different notes.
- The baritone and tenor horn are quite similar upright instruments with conical bores. The tenor horn is sometimes also known as the alto horn and is pitched to Eb, while the larger baritone is pitched to Bb.
- The euphonium and the tuba are two of the largest brass instruments found in the modern orchestra. The euphonium is actually quite similar to the baritone and produces the same range of pitches, but has a wider bore for a more powerful sound. The tuba is the largest and deepest-voiced common member of the brass family. Bands use them to provide a powerful bass foundation, but they are also sometimes used as solo instruments.
- Besson has produced other instruments in the past like French horns and flugelhorns, some of which have survived to this day.
What Are the Different Besson Ranges?
A professional musician will demand more from their musical instrument than a beginning student, and Besson makes instruments to satisfy both of them. They have a few different ranges to choose from with different features.
- The New Standard range contains Besson's entry-level models aimed at students. Modeled on archival Besson Sovereign designs, they are designed to be easy for aspiring musicians to play and may come in yellow brass or silver plated finishes.
- The Sovereign range is the next tier up, aimed at performing musicians and built for rich tones and smooth valve action. Sovereign models of the larger instruments come with compensating systems for easier intonation.
- The Prestige line is Besson's finest, designed to allow professional musicians to take on the most demanding music. Besson Prestige designs can be seen in brass ensembles and orchestras around the world.
- The Besson International range occupies a middle ground between the entry-level New Standard and the professional Sovereign families.
- Besson vintage instrument models often come in different sizes, so you can choose the one that suits you best.
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