Besson BE-985 $8,000

[Sousaswag]

Didn’t even know these existed. Compensating F tuba in the BE-983 style? Cool. Wonder how the pitch is.

https://flemingrepair.com/products/bess ... uaaIxaQnO5

[bort2.0]

They do exist.
There aren't many.
The ones I've seen were all nearly unused.

That's pretty much your answer.

[arpthark]

Trying to work through the compensating fingerings for this in my head:

C 4
B 24
Bb 14
A 124
Ab 234
G 134
Gb 1234

That would hurt my brain, especially that 124 A.

[Bob Kolada]

That's a chunky bell, looks bigger than a 983 and closer to a 981 or the like. What it really reminds me of is an Eb cut to F. Rich Watson, rip, had a big Holton Eb that had a fantastic sound but also had iffy intonation. He told me he initially had it cut to F but it was so bad it was extended back to Eb. Cutting (or designing, as appears to be in this case, the Internet seems to indicate it has a .750 valveset) a big Eb to F seems to have a lot more issues than a small Eb to F or a Bb to C.

[Bob Kolada]

Trying to work through the compensating fingerings for this in my head:

C 4
B 24
Bb 14
A 124
Ab 234
G 134
Gb 1234

That would hurt my brain, especially that 124 A.

One of the DC guys played a 983 primarily, but also posted on the old forum that he played a 4 valve Eb helicon, a 5 valve Eb tuba (iirc the PT Eb), a Yamaha 621 F converted to Eb but drew the line at a 3+1 comp Eb. That's at least 3 different low range setups before the 3+1, assuming the converted 621 didn't have anything funky. No thank you.

[arpthark]

3+1 compensating Eb is easy for me to conceptualize because you push down your left hand and boom, BBb fingerings. But inline compensating horns are no bueno for me.

[Sousaswag]

I would imagine this model is literally a cut 983 that they decided to throw together. I'm surprised it even exists, to be honest with you.

bort's probably right on why there are so few around.

[LargeTuba]

Can someone post the pictures? I think I was banned from that group because the admin thought I was a scammer

[Bob Kolada]

[iiipopes]

I saw one in lacquer, decent shape, at a Tuba Christmas a few years ago. Unfortunately, I did not get the chance to toot on it, and the guy who owned it played it only in section, so I can't tell you how it plays or sounds. But yes, as above, there are a few of them out there.