Bach vs Besson vs Courtois

TheBrassBandMajor · Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2017 2:06 am Post subject: Bach vs Besson vs Courtois

So I got around 400 bucks. I need a cornet for travelling purposes and cornet solo stuff.

So, I have located 3 cornets. One is a 1980s Bach Silver Stradivarius 37 ML bore cornet in rather nice condition has a patch on the crook but except that looks okay.

Another is a Besson 10-10 'Olds Recording style' cornet in lacquer. Dual triggers, 3 mutes and in 80% lacquer condition. This isn't the Besson 10-10 Sovereign model.

The last one is a Courtois Chambord 106 Silver Shepherd's crook cornet. Dual trigger, the silver plating looks old and tacky but plays fine (video demo was shown). Would be quite fitting my 'new' settling location, in the UK.

What would be a wise choice?
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zaferis · Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2017 3:19 am Post subject:

Any chance you can play them side by side? That would be the best approach, to get the sound you want/like.

Reading into your post, it sounds like you're moving to the UK. I might wait to see what I could do locally, your wants or needs may change once you get settled.

My thoughts on the 3 you've mentioned:
Normally, I'd lean toward the Bach (you know what you're getting) except the patch on the bell is not only a red flag but also makes me wonder about other things, and how the instrument was treated.

Every Besson I've ever touched (a half dozen trumpets and cornets) had lovely tone, but the valves and slide fit were sketchy.

So, I'd look more closely at the Courtois - plating can always be cleaned.
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TKSop · Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2017 3:34 am Post subject:

The Courtois sounds cheap - the XL bore version was always the most popular with banders here (still know a few people using them even in championship section).

The only problem with the Courtois cornets is they varied a lot - if you got a good one it was pretty good, but if you got a bad one it would have all kinds of problems.

Just to echo something zaferis said about the Bach, beware of red flags - if it looks too good to be true, it might well be... Even now I'd think a courtois in good condition would be about £5-600.

If you're in the UK, you really should get into the brass band scene here - heck, you may be able to simply borrow a cornet from a local band if you're staying in one place.

TheBrassBandMajor · Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2017 3:44 am Post subject:

The Bach is with a pawn shop, so they dont really know the value I think.
_________________
Vincent Bach Mt Vernon Mercedes
B&S Challenger 3137/I
Hermann Ganter G7aN
A.Windisch Silber-Deluxe, Dresden
Couesnon 'Triebert Moderne' piccolo
Conn 'Connstellation' 28A
SO many more trumpets.....

jondrowjf@gmail.com · Heavyweight Member Joined: 15 Jul 2016 Posts: 666

Could you wait until you move to buy a cornet? There may be a better selection in the area.

Have you played all the cornets? Is it possible to offer less than the asking price on the cornets?

Since the Bach is in the pawnshop, find out how much they will take off for the patch. Get the price you want. How much is this cornet worth to you?
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p76 · Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2017 4:03 pm Post subject:

A good XL Chambord for $400 would be an excellent get.

Cheers,
Roger
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