The Besson Prestige Baritone. The world's best?

[@bikkies]

That's a lovely instrument. I shudder to imagine how much it would cost and how I'd feel if I dropped it, left a fingerprint on it or even gazed at it incorrectly. I'd never seen a 4 valve baritone before so that's very interesting.

[@kevinnaranek6649]

Available for over 8 thousand American dollars at the site I just checked.

[@midnightcatianfanfic3994]

My school only had those, they were all garbage, and i bought a much better one for 3k when i was 13

[@harmvb3660]

If you have a bit of extra air in your lungs you can try playing the euphonium they come witb a 4th compensating valve quiete commonly

[@bikkies]

@@harmvb3660 I have a very battered and dented 4-valve (3+1 non compensating) Higham euphonium and insufficient talent to do it justice. It surprised me how much harder it is to play than, say, my baritones or tenor horns. An instrument like that really shows up the benefit of maintaining a confident and full body of air.

[@harmvb3660]

I remember like 3 years ago when I went from baritone to euphonium. It took quiete a bit of practice to get a sustainable air supply. Do you have discord btw?

[@maxkaygee]

Very subtle voiceover at 3:34...

[@Zdrange03]

What was that

[@zackrickabaugh5456]

I recently ordered a besson dolce as my first euphonium

[@TrentHamilton]

Besson? You mean Wessex?

[@mr.starfish4965]

Trent Hamilton | I guess that’s what they mean, because Wessex sells Dolce Euphonium

[@JacksJamz]

I was always taught that a “middle D” or the 5th partial as you call it should be played with 1+3 valves on a baritone. The same as you’d play a “bottom D”. But only when you’re playing long notes 😄

[@tubadylan]

Thank you, Trent! What a beautiful instrument!

[@PeterGriffin-kb2hf]

You and Trent must do a collaboration!

[@Xzyum00]

The 8th partial is 30 cents flat? That's... wow... that's really bad... I'm really surprised that Besson could ever do that. I usually find their stuff to be amazing.

[@TrentHamilton]

Yeah, I'm staggered it was that bad.

[@pixelator9002]

Wait the video says 24 minutes ago, so why is this comment 13 hours ago?

[@trainzack]

If I understand correctly, the tuning of the partials is directly linked to the positions of the overtones on any particular note. If the manufacturers change the instrument to alter the tuning, the timbre will also be changed. So I think this is a tradeoff. We get an instrument with a better timbre that is harder to play.

[@mr.starfish4965]

Isaiah Hollis | Patreon probably.

[@pixelator9002]

@@mr.starfish4965 oh, I forgot that exists

[@kenrup]

I have a Miraphone upright bell tenor horn. Its intonation is a thing of nightmares. I have the main tuning slide and first valve slide running like a trombone slide. Amazingly it seems to work in bands just fine. But then I don't wear my hearing aides during rehearsals.

[@TRUMPETSIZZLE]

Besson is the foundation these days (and for decades) for many of the best brass instruments!

[@michaelshelley1289]

I have a 75 year old Roth, 3 valve baritone that is just gorgeous!!! I will never have another....it sounds incredible!! and what i don't understand is that i am ALWAYS in tune!! (except low notes....they aren't...but that's me) I haven't had to move my slide in YEARS!!!

[@Soccerfan133]

finally the world understands my pain with tuning this monster on a daily basis. I play a prestige in a brass band and it definitely fights back haha

[@johnries5593]

There have been times when I have wanted a fourth valve on my 1972 model American bell front bari. One on this instrument is definitely an asset.

[@rita5482]

I own a Besson trumpet, awesome instrument.

[@edballew2200]

Love the video, and love the info. I started playing with the Brass Band of the Western Reserve here in Ohio, and love the instrument. I hadn't played a brass instrument in over 12 years before that... I played euphonium and tuba in High School. Needless to say, every solo practice and rehearsal with the band I learn something new and grow as a player. I play on the band's owned Besson Prestige which is a great horn! Something does seem off about the tuning sometimes, and your video helped confirm that it is indeed a Besson. . . characteristic. Thankfully I can correct with embouchure. Glad I'm not the only one scratching my head sometimes! Happy playing!

[@The_hornsman]

I learnt to play the trumpet with a Besson 1,000 and that instrument remains the best trumpet I’ve ever played

[@mrdonut1533]

Play “King Carneval” for one of your demonstrations! I’ll see if I can forward you the part!

[@lapiswake6583]

I've played both 3 and 4 valve compensating besson sovereign baritones, and I have to say the 3 valve ones have a nicer feel. The top C (concert Bb) shouldn't be that flat, and I find its only flat when i'm out of practice so reach for it a bit. However the top Bb (concert Ab) is always very flat, no matter which instrument you use. I miss my 3-valve sovereign baritone...

[@markwatkinson4440]

I played one of the first 4 valve baritones, when they were still just classed as sovereigns, for 8 months last year, I hated the thing! The tuning was terrible and you just felt like a wannabe euphonium. I've now gone back to the 3 valve sovereign and love it so much more. The tuning was terrible and the air was much harder to put thru. The instrument is much better than me too 😂. Just bought my own sovereign in January and am loving it 😂. Great video, I don't comment much on your videos but I love them all!

[@Potter5416]

Besson is often viewed to be the best. I played a besson euphonium I’m high school!

[@TheSproutarian]

Been practicing, some nice sounds.

[@xodarap37]

So, it's a micro-tonal instrument... cool...

[@shanepence5359]

Out of pure curiosity, how much experience and all that, do you have with brass? Like, how long have you been playing? I ask because I'm kinda young, and can play tuba relatively well, and same with Euphonium, but put a trumpet in my hands, and it's awful, and you seem to be able to play most, if not all, brass instruments quite well

[@theobirkholz]

I've played brass for 12 years, I can say that it's much easier to "move down" the brass instruments - i.e. start playing trumpet, then learn to play euphonium, then tuba. If you want to play better on a smaller mouthpiece, you need to commit to only playing on the trumpet for a couple weeks straight until you get the hang of it. Afterwards it will be less difficult to move between instruments.

[@shanepence5359]

@@theobirkholz Thank you very much for the advice! I appreciate it

[@carpetsomething]

also there seems to be some degree of innate ability to switch between instruments, I have no trouble switching between my baritone, cornet and Bb bass but the player who sits next to me who is definitely a better player on baritone but struggles to play anything else

[@pauls5745]

i think that being it's intended market is brass band, they have not put in the r&d on finely developing the instrument as they would have with euphoniums and tubas. still, Im sure it feels wonderful to play and flutter thru the valves in fast passages

[@Geoff_Tuba_UK]

Believe Derek Bourgeois' early brass band compositions needed a 4v bartibone.

[@johnries5593]

OK. The first minute of the video has me lusting after the instrument.

[@PietervanDiepen]

Can you review this one versus the Yamaha Neo 3V baritone (sound, tuning etc..) !?

[@TornaitSuperBird]

Man, my first baritone was a King Diplomat 625.

[@nicallis]

Did you find that it seemed easier to play? I've found playing the Prestige Cornet, Horn and Euphonium very easy blowing.

[@paulroutledge4923]

Has does the Wessex Baritone compare to the Besson Baritone?

[@instrumentalheadquarters7062]

I want a four valve euphonium or even baritone

[@drzoidberg71]

Do you still have access to this horn? Have you investigated alternate fingerings?

[@asterlb1885]

is that an echo cornet on the wall behind you?!? video please!!!

[@Octovol]

There is one already, check his channel video list 😊

[@stephenbransgrove3542]

Hi Trent, please forgive my ignorance, what are the comparative values with other makes of baritone ??

[@kermitthemutantlevitatingfrog]

I never new that a baritone that still has its varnish exists.

[@PiperX1X]

I’m finding my love for brass again and regrettably I haven’t played for probably 20 years but I’m now looking to get back into it and as the last instrument I played was the euphonium and I’ve found a Besson international euphonium for sale it’s in really good condition apart from bit of silver plate wear on the rear but it is really clean. could I please ask you your expert knowledge of these Besson international euphoniums before I part with my cash as I’d be grateful for any advice given.

[@TrentHamilton]

Not the top line, but still usable instruments. It depends what level you wish to play to.

[@edballew2200]

As someone who took a huge hiatus from music, for work mostly, you MUST get back to it! Feels good man

[@mr.starfish4965]

Can you do a review of the Wedge mouthpieces? I’d personally prefer a review for the euphonium mouthpiece, but I’d be fine with a review of it for any brass instrument

[@staritone3883]

Send him one!

[@mr.starfish4965]

Staritone | I don’t have one on me at the moment, I might within the next year but I doubt it.

[@xetzclapezzz9755]

Are you using a Microphone or why is your Sound on Camera so clean?

[@blakekuhn5]

Who already sent in there new Intro to Trent Hamilton?

[@TrentHamilton]

Huh?

[@SphericalCheese]

Oh, this one isn't new, it's just an intro theme he uses less often

[@blakekuhn5]

I ment who rather than how.

[@blakekuhn5]

I already sent mine in

[@jmarq2283]

Yo, I did

[@bobrexford1718]

I see list prices for this at over $8300 USD.

[@cartergmusic5108]

I got a tenor horn shaped like a French Horn (piston valves), is there any other name for that? It’s coiled like a French Horn, uses a trumpet size mouthpiece and has piston valves.

[@Markworth]

The ones that are fully French Horn shaped and have a bell throat like a French Horn are called Tenor Cor (or Cor Alto in French). The mouthpiece should be rather deep and you shove your hand way up in there to make the high range work. The 90 degree angled smaller things are (Concert) Mellophones, and the rotary valve versions are called (in German) Konzerthorn or Althorn in Waldhornform.

[@FrankTheStud]

I noticed this on a friends Besson cornet that I played... The harmonic series is all wonky. Gs are flat and 4th space E is high (HUH?) It's so backwards from the norm

[@jethrothorne4801]

Hello Trent, been watching your videos for a long while now! I was curious as to how you got your hands on this instrument.

[@TrentHamilton]

It belongs to the band I play for.

[@brasschick4214]

I spent months contemplating the 3V vs 4V Wessex baritones. I finally bought the 3v as the intonation was better, the timbre was a true baritone sound rather than something between a Bari and a Euph plus the 3v was freer blowing than the 4v which was difficult to sound at times. The only gains I could see to buying the 4v was ease of fingering in the lower ranges if you are stuck on 2nd Bari and alternate fingering.

[@maxalain9948]

This is the first time in my life I've seen a 4-valve baritone. I want one. One day I've have the money

[@SanjayBalkissoon]

Haters will dislike

[@TheAwesomeTan-vt9xc]

Is that an echo cornet i see in the back?

[@TrentHamilton]

Yes. A kind viewer sent it in. I’ll be doing a video on it in the future

[@lewiscollins3984]

The valves are very loud with clicking sounds when you depress them that’s no good

[@UgoNwakanma]

i thought my video was sped up but nope

[@GrantDolanMusic]

I had a late 1980’s Besson euphonium that was stolen in 2013. I got a new Besson to replace it and the intonation is considerably worse than the old model. It sound amazing but a pain to tune.

[@BimboKatan]

I love my late 80's Besson/B&H Sovereign. (And no, it's not yours). LOL.

[@elliotharrington5632]

I disagree with that. Have you had a look at the Geneva baritones that is the peak of British brass band style baritone. You do sound good in it though, so props to you.

[@tonysalvatore2608]

If you want a euph sound BUY a euph!!! The intonation needs a n engineer.

[@Markworth]

Literally two completely different instruments that exist in the same ensembles.

[@oldleatherstocking3185]

Weary, and wary are two different words that don't mean the same thing. Please look them up. Please.

[@Xenol1997]

oof even to my ears that top C is woeful, lovely tone though

[@grantjohnson9701]

d flat*

[@lewiscollins3984]

I can hear the valves man so BAD

[@jaidenivers5554]

I’d have to agree with the hand Laotian and thumb getting stuck - absolutely annoying. Is it a Germany made instrument of England made instrument? I know that when they made the move to Germany made there were some funky instruments coming from there. But when they went back to England made things seemed to get better.

[@TheJH1015]

German. The Prestige baritone has only been around for a couple of years. All professional Besson instruments are being made in Germany now, none in the UK afaik

[@nealmitchell3811]

I don't believe any besson professional standard instruments have been made in the UK for about 14 years now. My Sovereign is a German made one, and compared to the prior one which was made in the UK, the German made one is better than it in every way

[@jaidenivers5554]

Fair enough. I thought that they made the switch to Germany but went back not long after. But that’s okay! Thank you for the information! I really appreciate it!

[@Oops2007]

Why am I here? I play flute

[@countersoprano]

oh that's cool I mainly play trumpet but I also play flute and some other woodwinds

[@dadevi]

The intonation sounds horrible. Not sure if it's the instrument, or the player.

[@lewiscollins3984]

Geneva makes better stuff than Besson now Trent

[@TrentHamilton]

I wish I had the opportunity to try their gear.

[@richarddavy-smith6626]

I think you might just be a slightly better baritone player than you give yourself credit for.

[@Markworth]

This is what happens when you toss history in the trash and let one guy redesign your entire lineup. Baritone Horn should have typical saxhorn intonation tendencies. Sharp 3rd partial and run of the mill octave expansion with tolerable intonation issues because "9 foot Bb is best Bb". Now you have octave compression (BAD) and partials that are all over the place because of the modernized instrument profile, and it doesn't really even sound better than the old models. I enjoy me some horns with bad intonation, but not for the high end of 4 figures. Good grief.

[@erniearruda8861]

It’s not a spit valve ,it’s called a water key. 🤬🤬

[@bun-bun5623]

Same thing

[@composingatnight]

So it’s another overrated piece of crap?

[@JAMESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS]

the best baritone is a euphonium

[@pauls5745]

2 different instruments and very different history

[@TheJH1015]

No. Just no.

[@nealmitchell3811]

Wrong. So wrong.