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A.N.A.Mendez Heavyweight Member
Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Posts: 5228 Location: ca.
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Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 4:00 pm Post subject: Besson Brevete Who knows these horns???? |
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I have need of info on one of these? I was so impressed when I played this, reminds me of a Committee with faster valves. Neat horn....How does one find out when it was made? Good years? Bad years? Thanks in advance.... _________________ "There is no necessity for deadly strife" A. Lincoln 1860
☛ "No matter how cynical you get, it's never enough to keep up" Lily Tomlin☚ |
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shofarguy Heavyweight Member
Joined: 18 Sep 2007 Posts: 7013 Location: AZ
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Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 4:07 pm Post subject: Re: Besson Brevete Who knows these horns???? |
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A.N.A.Mendez wrote: | I have need of info on one of these? I was so impressed when I played this, reminds me of a Committee with faster valves. Neat horn....How does one find out when it was made? Good years? Bad years? Thanks in advance.... |
Byron Autrey is the finest resource for information on Besson horns up through the 60s, at least.
This is the proverbial "hornets' nest" because so many different companies in so many different countries over the years have made the horns. Usually, names like "Brevete" and "Meha" don't refer to a single model, but a range of models.
If you wish to speak with Byron, send me a PM with your contact Ph.# and I will have him give you a call. He doesn't use email.
Brian _________________ Brian A. Douglas
Flip Oakes Wild Thing Bb Trumpet in copper
Flip Oakes Wild Thing Flugelhorn in copper
There is one reason that I practice: to be ready at the downbeat when the final trumpet sounds. |
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crzytptman Heavyweight Member
Joined: 03 Sep 2003 Posts: 10124 Location: Escondido California
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Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 7:45 pm Post subject: |
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My #1 student, a HS senior, just picked up a Kanstul Besson Brevette. It belonged to a legendary player who passed away a few years ago. He had Flip go through it and align the valves. It is a great player with a fat, focused sound. _________________ Crazy Nate - Fine Yet Mellow Fellow
"so full of it I don't know where to start"
Horn: "just mismatched Kanstul spare parts"
- TH member and advertiser (name withheld) |
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A.N.A.Mendez Heavyweight Member
Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Posts: 5228 Location: ca.
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Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 8:01 pm Post subject: |
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How can you tell who made it and when? _________________ "There is no necessity for deadly strife" A. Lincoln 1860
☛ "No matter how cynical you get, it's never enough to keep up" Lily Tomlin☚ |
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Dan O'Donnell Heavyweight Member
Joined: 01 Jan 2005 Posts: 2287
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Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 8:20 pm Post subject: |
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A.N.A. Mendez,
I have a Besson Brevete by Kanstul.
I purchased it in the early 1980's when Zig worked in his Fullerton manufacturing facility prior to moving to Anaheim.
It is serial #4425 revealing that Zig used a (4) digit serial number versus the English ones that used a (6) digit serial number if I am not mistaken.
Just below the serial number...in an oval...on the bottom of the 2nd valve case, it reads... F.Besson
(star)
Kanstul
I'm very surprised you found a Besson Brevete that sounded like a Committee due to the fact that EVERYONE I talked with (horn designers, manufacturers, and professional players) who all told me that the Besson Brevete has a "bright" sound to it.
The year, make and model I have is the same year, make and model Wayne played when he toured and recorded with Maynard.
I know this for a fact because I used to study with Wayne.
It is a great horn, however, it was too bright for my liking (I am not a screaming lead player and I play soft mellow pieces at my church) so I had Jason Harrelson add his 909 modification in raw brass and then had Zig re-Silver plate it.
For ME...it now has a less bright sound, slots better, has better overall playability and AMAZING / UNBELIEVABLE intonation!!! _________________ God Bless,
Dan O'Donnell
"Praise Him with the sound of the Trumpet:..."
Psalms 150:3 |
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A.N.A.Mendez Heavyweight Member
Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Posts: 5228 Location: ca.
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Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 8:25 pm Post subject: |
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Well, this one has made in London on bell, no serial number I can find except on the bell tube? The valve action is amazing, SO FAST! I was impressed.I did not see a serial number anywhere else? _________________ "There is no necessity for deadly strife" A. Lincoln 1860
☛ "No matter how cynical you get, it's never enough to keep up" Lily Tomlin☚ |
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Don Miles Regular Member
Joined: 23 Feb 2006 Posts: 89
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Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 8:50 pm Post subject: |
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11
Last edited by Don Miles on Sun Aug 29, 2010 6:03 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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bg Heavyweight Member
Joined: 12 Oct 2003 Posts: 1292 Location: boulder, colorado
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Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 9:38 pm Post subject: |
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I own three pre-war F. Besson Paris Brevete trumpets.
There is no question that these horns are the best ever made. IMO, perhaps
matched only by the NY Bach, Early Benge and Calicchio.
I've owned all of the above, but don't have them anymore. Will NEVER
part with my Bessons!
The cutoff point for WW II is said to be in the neighborhood of 92000.
Pre-War MEHA models (I own one of such) are .460, and are USA assembled
with French parts. (Rapuano)
The British Brevete is a decent horn, nothing to write home about.
The Kanstuls are well-made, but far more open and free blowing than
the original Brevetes.
All large bore MEHAs are post-war, made in England. The british Besson
also made a "French" Brevete post-war. Both of these horns share the
british valves, w/ the plastic guides, like the English Brevetes.
I hope this is not too confusing. To get to the main point:
The real deal are the French made horns w/ a serial # under 92000.
If you haven't tried one, you don't have any idea what a Brevete is.
They are unique.
Brad Goode |
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A.N.A.Mendez Heavyweight Member
Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Posts: 5228 Location: ca.
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Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 9:41 pm Post subject: |
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My head hurts...... _________________ "There is no necessity for deadly strife" A. Lincoln 1860
☛ "No matter how cynical you get, it's never enough to keep up" Lily Tomlin☚ |
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Retlaw Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Nov 2006 Posts: 3263 Location: UK
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 12:34 am Post subject: |
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Perhaps a photo or two would help focus the information.
Walter |
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Bob Stevenson Heavyweight Member
Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 1139 Location: Essex, England
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 3:23 am Post subject: |
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Real Besson were in operation from about 1875 until they were killed off b y B&H in 1975,...so that's a lot of different instruments. The 'brevette' is purely historical and on all their products. All Besson instruments have a serial number,...a unique one up to 1952 when Besson was aquired by Boosey and Hawkes, after which they had B&H serial numbers until the end in 1975 (although production and design remained largely separate). Besson offered instruments in every class from world beaters to what are now called 'student' items.
B&H disinterred the 'Besson' brand for their own brass about 1990 but these instruments had nothing in common with Besson other than the name. |
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