For sale is my Besson "50 Medals of Honour" euphonium (identical to Besson New Standard or B&H Imperial) from ~1963, with the distinctive gumdrop buttons of that era of Bessons. The unique pull to this instrument is the 3 valve (not 4) compensating system, which gives a lighter instrument but still mathematically optimal intonation over the standard range. It's even slightly better in tune than a 4 valve compensator. How do you deal with notes below the staff? Option A: the false tones are pretty decent, if you're willing to practice them. Option B: most of the wind band literature I've seen with low notes in euphonium are either doubled in the tuba or just orchestration errors, so you can usually omit or take up an octave without anyone getting upset. The valves are in good shape, no pitting or plating wear, move well with Hetman standard (not classic) piston oil. All slides move freely. Lacquer has some wear and there are minor scratches and dings, but no big dents.

Comes with choice of nice condition Wick 4AM or Schilke 51D in silver and buyer's choice of newer Besson hard case or ProTec gig bag (or both if you like). Will ship at cost, or come to Chicago for local pickup and a bottle of Malört. Asking $1200 for the lot.

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Further pictures:

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I'm from the area...I like the idea of the bottle of Malört! It will have you swear off drinking...until tomorrow. Rock on.

"Leave the Malört, take the euphonium"

Hahaha, adding to the intrigue with the bottle of Malört... is it anything like Aquavit?

Cool Euph, btw.

[quote="JKno"]Hahaha, adding to the intrigue with the bottle of Malört... is it anything like Aquavit?

Cool Euph, btw.[/quote]

Only if the auquavit also hated you with a passion.

That said, what’s the S/N range of this horn, I’m intrigued to compare to my similar engraved 4V compensator.

Cheers,

Andy

Malört is indeed vile; perhaps that offer lowers the value of the package.

[quote="elmsandr"]That said, what’s the S/N range of this horn, I’m intrigued to compare to my similar engraved 4V compensator.[/quote]
372xxx. I'm only selling because vanity got the best of me and I bought a slightly later B&H Imperial 4v compensator. It doesn't play any better than this Besson, but it is silver plated and matches my B&H Imperial tuba. I don't have a good reason to keep two nice euphs sitting around, so one must go.

I have one of these Besson 3v models. A nice lightweight horn!

BUMP for price drop and additional mouthpiece choice (Schilke or Wick). Shipping's negotiable as well... there's just too much brass in my house right now!