ENGLISH BESSON PRO EUPHONIUM, 4V COMPENSATOR, PRISTINE. NO DENTS 100% ORIG SILVER. NOT "MADE IN INDIA", PERFECT Start Price USD 3,895.00 Current Price USD 3,895.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price USD 4,195.00 Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, October 08, 2008 End Time Saturday, October 18, 2008 Location Wichita, Kansas See more about 'ENGLISH BESSON PRO EUPHONIUM, 4V COMPENSATOR, PRISTINE.' Description WICHITA BAND INSTRUMENT COMPANY 2525 EAST DOUGLAS AVENUE WICHITA, KANSAS 67211 TEL: 316-684-0291 FAX: 316-684-6858 Service to wind players since 1953! SUPERB ENGLISH BESSON 4-VALVE COMPENSATING EUPHONIUM ORIGINAL SILVER, NO DENTS, ALMOST PERFECT! >P>Long story…. Boosey-Hawkes’ Besson brass factory in the northwest part of London stopped making instruments about five-six years ago. At that time, they spun off their interests in Buffet-Crampon, Schreiber woodwinds and Keilwerth saxes, sold off some of their real estate, tightened their corporate belt and got on with publishing and other concerns. They retained the Besson name, making the decision to produce a few in a new small workshop in England, but with the vast majority of their lower brasses to be built in east Germany. And as we understand the situation, the story today is totally different. We spoke recently with their USA agent, were informed that their pro-quality trumpets are being made in California. Their student brasses are now being produced in China. And the rest of the Besson instruments, including all lower brass, is now being made in India. We do believe that any Besson euphonium that’s made in England might just have better acceptance by serious lower brass players than one made in the Indian subcontinent. For more than a century, production at the Edgware (NW London) factory had the reputation of being among the best of Britain. If not Rolls-Royce reputation, then very close to it. So if a really fine and original ENGLISH Besson euphonium turns up, we’ve got to give it our top recommendation. The side of the bell is stamped with serial number 967-764565. That means it was made in ENGLAND some time around 1988 – 1990. The current similar (but made in India…) instrument is their Besson Sovereign BE967 silver plated compensating model. Suggested retail price is now $9,500. Street price, if you can find one, is about $5850. The original pistons show NO wear anywhere and are as tight as the day the instrument left the factory. Amazing, isn’t it? No dents anywhere, ever and a couple of tiny dings to the end-bow have been burnished out in our shop. This is a good one that comes with our highest recommendation! Buy it now price on this beauty is a mere $4495. If we put it on UPS Monday or Tuesday, you’ll be playing the Blue Bells of Scotland variations by the middle of the week! TOP Recommendation. And it’s REAL MADE IN ENGLAND BESSON EUPHONIUM. ****************************************************************************** Wichita Band Instrument Company is a small musical instrument emporium located in the center of the USA. We’ve been in business since 1953 and have had the same owner since 1963. Originally we were a repair shop that specialized in wind instrument restoration. Today we have 18 employees including eight of the finest repair technicians in the country. Virtually ALL the items we sell have been fully reconditioned in our own shop, although we do sell a few unrestored historical instruments each year. Due to the heavy demand for our services, we do few school repairs or“walk-in” repairs, unless the item was purchased from our shop (even if it was 50 years ago…). It’s sometimes possible to buy a good cornet, trumpet or t-bone on Ebay for a lower price, but unless that instrument has been fully reconditioned by a reputable shop, you won’t know how it plays until you spend another few hundred to have it mechanically overhauled. With an instrument from OUR shop, you know it’s in the finest condition when it arrives at your home! Wichita Band’s service warranty is the same as it’s been for more than thirty years: “ALL new and all used instruments sold by Wichita Band Instrument Company come with our 24 month service warranty. It’s in addition to any factory guarantees. For two full years, we will repair or replace, whichever in our estimation is the more advisable, pads, corks, springs or other parts required, at no charge to the customer. The customer is responsible for shipping and insurance charges. Cases and plating finishes are not covered by our service warranty but are sometimes covered by factory guarantees.” Wichita Band’s service warranty does cover dents and dings to your instrument. If your instrument sustains damage to the body, end bow, neck, slides or bell, we’ll burnish out the dents and make it look “like new” again. The cost you is absolutely nothing except for shipping and insurance charges. Wichita Band Instrument Company maintains a repair department capable of restoration work of the highest quality. Even though repairs are essentially “free” for the first two years, after that period has expired, we remain at your service to maintain and repair your musical equipment forever. It’s our “service after the sale” promise and has been since 1953! In the event that a customer requires service under factory guarantees or Wichita Band’s service warranty, the item must be returned to us and not directly to the manufacturer. Anything we sell can be sent to you for a short approval period without obligation. We collect NO SALES TAX, unless you’re lucky enough to live in Kansas. The customer is responsible for shipping and insurance and must pre-pay back to us any freight charges on returned equipment. International shipping is available. Returned items will be refunded within 3 weeks of receiving the item. We’re happy to send any instrument “on approval” for ten days, but ask the prospective buyer to pay shipping both ways and to please reimburse us for posting, clean-up and re-stocking charges (2.95%) on any returned item. VISA/MASTERCARD/DISCOVER/MONEY ORDER/CHECK/WIRE TRANSFER ACCEPTED. Credit cards not accepted from some countries. We must ship to the credit card billing address with exceptions made only at our discretion. We’re happy to correspond with musicians, players, parents and enthusiasts of all types. Written appraisals are always available, but please don’t write or telephone and ask “what’s granny’s baritone sax worth?” Do an Ebay search and you’ll learn far more than we could ever tell you.. Place a Bid!