jimt123

Hi,
I'm a highschool student, and I was thinking about purchasing a trumpet, My band director told me to try out a besson trumpet. I'm not sure of the model but it has the gold color laqeur, 1st valve slide with thumb saddle and a fixed (non removable) third valve slide. It is brand new, for $550. Is it actually worth it or am I getting ripped off?

jimt123

BUMP! ... i really need help figuring this out, he has to ship it back to the music store soon and the sale is ending.

MFfan

Depends on what model it is. The Kanstul Bessons are good horns. Is it new? If you can get a 700 series one for that price, doesn't look bad. I have an older 609 that I play most of the time. There are many archived posts and threads about them.
Trumpets, Bb Trumpets, Kanstul at WWBW.

Here is a listing for one at WWBW for much more money.

__________________
Dave Rafferty
Lemar Trumpet (peashooter-Conn?)
Lyrical Trumpet (Tokan)

Besson 609 Trumpet
1955-60 Besson 8-10 Trumpet
1948 Besson cornet
1946 King Master Cornet
www.kalamazooconcertband.org

RUFocused

Hey JIMT123, I would look into the Barrington BRG101 Series that can be purchased at WWBW.com. I have tried one and they are fantastic for what you pay for. Now, if it will last the test of a high school student..... depends on you really. treat it good and i am sure itwill last a long, long time.

Good luck and Cheers
Jason

__________________
"The Horn is just an Amplifier, The person makes the beautiful music"


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Benge 90B,
64 Olds Ambassador mod.,
65ish Olds Ambassador Cornet
Conn 1050b (My 1st Trumpet)

Wishlist: (Let me know If you have played one)
Kanstul ZKT 1601 Signature
Kanstul ZKT 1500A Signature
Phaeton FX Antique Brushed Finish

MFfan

Thanks for the recommendation of the Barrington trumpet, to which I agree. I have mine up for sale on Kalamazoo, Michigan Craigslist.

__________________
Dave Rafferty
Lemar Trumpet (peashooter-Conn?)
Lyrical Trumpet (Tokan)

Besson 609 Trumpet
1955-60 Besson 8-10 Trumpet
1948 Besson cornet
1946 King Master Cornet
www.kalamazooconcertband.org

Masterwannabe

Could someone please help regarding Besson/Kanstul ? According to other posts on this forum Kanstul seems to have a good reputation and makes quality instruments, but when I go to the Besson website I do not see piccolo trumpet in their product line. A listing on eBay prompts this question as there is listed a Besson (made by Kanstul) picc and the pictures show 'Besson' on the bell. Does anyone know anything about this horn ?

Thanks

Paul Donato

I have two French Besson Brevetes. One Large and one Small bore for high chop control The Silver one I had re plated 1982 and is from the 1945 Paul Whiteman Band. Purchased from the Union Floor in NYC 1975. (Roseland) I was a high chop player in my day and dont play much any more. I'm 52 now. Lost both teeth and chops. My new Teeth ( Bridge) is not the same as my own. I can slide up there but cant nail anything anymore. Teeth move around too much. Upper reed quits cause too much mouthpiece weight on the lower lip.

The Larger bore Brevete gave me the darker tones in lower range where the small bore gave me better stream handling in the doubles and triples. I also have a King Flugle which I will hold onto as I still play a bit.. Would like to sell the Bessons to someone that would appreciate its quality and magic. Plays like butter, plays in front of your air stream (not behind it. as a feather) If youve never played a Besson, Bell and horn Ring with your vibrations... Not a hard playing horn.
The small Bore Silver Besson I had a spring thumb trigger installed for the third valve casing.
Single throw from left thumb position. I did this cause the smaller bore in the upper range needed help with third valve tricks.
Contact me via Email for Q&A and PIX. Have Gig Bag and quad trumpet hard case. They were magical in their day. J

guitarsrmine

And Jupiter's student model is a great horn too. I'm a comeback player, and got my Jupiter about a year ago, and its been great-plus their prices are pretty good too.

ChopsGone

Back to the Besson. First, you need to find out what model you're considering. Look on the bell for "USA" or on the valve cluster for "Kanstul"; if you find either, you're looking at a Kanstul-made Besson. Next step is to look on the underside of the bell tube in the general area of the valve body. The model number will be there.
OK: if you are considering a 609 for that price, I'd think again. Good horn, but priced too high. If it's a 709, you missed out on the best buys in years not long ago, but it's still a fine horn for the money. Buy it and don't look back. If you happen to have one marked as an International, but also marked USA, that's AKA the 800 - and is an even sweeter deal than the 709 would be. Again, grab it and don't look back.
Now, if inspection of the bell doesn't indicate a horn made in the USA, you could have a real French Besson, an English Besson, or one of what became of Besson after Buffet - Crampon bought them and shipped much of production eastward. The first isn't likely, but a great horn if the condition is good. The second is variable: good horns, available in multiple grades with some of them being well worth that price, but most I would probably pass on at that price. The third is reason enough to redirect your search to something other than Besson.

__________________
Vintage Olds and Reynolds, yes sir, yes sir, one gazoo full.

Calicchios, Besson, Kanstul Bessons, Selmers, etc.

F.E. forgive me, even a Bach Strad (but I like the others much better)