Purchasing an old Besson off Ebay?

Raazait

Hey all,

I'm a beginning trumpet player for about a year; I had just been renting a crappy old Jupiter horn from my high school that has valves that seem to be in a perpetual state of stiffness. I was looking around online on Ebay for some quality used horns. I came across two Besson horns; a 1000L for around $350 CAD, and a Besson 609 for only about $300 CAD. Does anyone have any experience with these horns? Should I consider a purchase? Or just buy an off-brand new horn? Thanks all.
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Music flows through my veins like blood.

TKSop · Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 9:27 am Post subject:

Be very, very careful... besides the plethora of fake Bessons out there, and the 1000 series is a bang average student instrument at the best of times.

Most Jupiters are perfectly serviceable student instruments and serve that purpose very well indeed - any horn that's in need of a service can present you with sluggish valves.

Evinerate · Veteran Member Joined: 15 Nov 2016 Posts: 154

For that money you could get a better offering, probably even land a great deal on some serviced vintage entry professional level horns too. Olds Specials, Olds Ambassadors ect

Geodude · Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 12:45 pm Post subject:

I believe the 609 will be a Kanstul made horn, and a pretty good entry level trumpet if has not been abused. It is common to see many of them with signs of bell damage - elementary and middle school band rooms are often not kind to brasswinds. $300 seems a bit high even with the conversion from Canadian to US. I paid $100 US for a 609 that needed to have a brace resoldered. After the simple repair, my son marched with it all through high school and now uses it for pep band in college. He's had no complaints. A 609 would likely have a lot less miles on it than a used Olds Ambassador or Special.

ghelbig · Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 1:19 pm Post subject:

Dennis78 · Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 1:59 pm Post subject:

Maybe the Jupiter just needs a good ol’fashion cleaning. How long have you been using it? When’s the last time the valves and casing been scrubbed out?
Can’t say I’ve come across a trumpet with slow/stiff valves that didn’t just need proper maintenance
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a few different ones

Raazait · Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 3:41 pm Post subject:

Raazait · Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 3:43 pm Post subject:

Thanks for all your responses! Here's the link to the horn in question. The seller seems to know what he's doing based on his description. I do notice some tarnish on the bell flare, but I highly doubt it'll affect playing quality; simply cosmetics I think.
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Besson-609-USA-Trumpet-by-Kanstul-with-Case-and-MP-Refurbished-READY/112824705475?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649
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Music flows through my veins like blood.

ghelbig · Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 4:20 pm Post subject:

Geodude · Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 5:34 am Post subject:

The Canadian market must be pricier than the US. Completed listings on Ebay show 609s going in the range of $90-$200US.