Besson New Standard Compensating Euphonium Used

Item Details

This a French Besson compensating euphonium made in England by Boosey & Kawkes circa 1978.  The New Standard is similar to the Besson Sovereign, but the New Standard has a slightly smaller .580" valve set and 11" bell, versus the Sovereign .590" and 12" bell.  Otherwise they are the same sort of thing.  Get this one if you like a little more center and clarity.  The finish is matte silver plate with polished slides, caps and trim.

This Besson is from the collection of LA trombonist George Thatcher, who would use this in the Hollywood studios for doubling.  The first ten photos show the instrument much shinier after a clean and polish.  The rest of the photos were taken upon arrival.  In between it's received a full ultrasonic cleaning, valve alignment and polish by Brass Mavens in Whittier, CA.  Includes 1-year Horn Guys warranty.

Condition: very good, few minor dents, marks from use and age, a decent small dent in the bottom bow, no further evidence of repairs, good piston action, clean and fresh.

Includes good condition original Besson case and George's gold plated Denis Wick mouthpiece.

Instrument weight: 10.15 lbs.  It has some heft to it.  Nice warm snappy player, pitch feels good.

If you'd like to make an offer for the Besson New Standard euphonium, please send a note.

Biography of George Thatcher

George Thatcher, 1953-2024, trombonist, performed as a Hollywood freelance recording and symphonic musician, whose career has transverses a wide variety of styles as well as a number of continents. Since returning to Los Angeles in 1988, Thatcher has recorded for such motion picture luminaries as John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, Randy Newman, Thomas Newman and Danny Elfman, on such film as Jurassic Park, Anastasia, Men in Black and the Shawshank Redemption. He records for television, advertising and records, having performed with such artist as Barbara Streisand, Natalie Cole, Neil Diamond, and Frank Sinatra. Thatcher's orchestral associations include performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Long Beach Opera, the Los Angeles Opera, Opera Pacific, the Pacific Symphony, and @the American Ballet Theater, San Francisco and Kirov ballet companies. His work abroad includes positions of principal bass trombone with the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra, principal bass trombone with the National Symphony Orchestra of the S.A.B.C., and principal bass trombone with the Orchestra Sinfonica Municipal de Caracas. Thatcher records for Raptoria Caam Records as a solo artist and as principal bass trombone of the Viklarbo Chamber Symphony. An active symphonic soloist, Thatcher recently performed Maria Newman's Concerto for Bass trombone and Orchestra (Peccavi) with both the Viklarbo Chamber Symphony and the Occidental-Caltech Orchestra in Los Angeles. He also appeared as soloist with the Eastern Sierra Symphony Orchestra, the Palisades Symphony and the Chamber George Thatcher Orchestra at St. Matthew's, and has been featured at many well known music festivals nationwide. On the jazz scene, Thatcher has toured extensively with famed trumpeters Harry James and Al Hirt. While residing in Johannesburg, South Africa he recorded two original solo albums for the S.A.B.C. Thatcher's later compact discs include "Even Call Girls Get the Blues" and "Terrorist".

-Rene Laanen