NLIC

Why a new tuba in my gallery??  Perhaps because this may be one of the last great Besson Sovereigns ever made - as Besson apparently is going out of business.  Years ago, I toured their fantastic factory on Sonorous Lane, London, but sometime after European Union, Besson instruments were made in Germany and only assembled in the UK. The Besson Sovereigns are perhaps the best compensating EEb tubas ever made.

Earlier BBb and EEb  models were made with three valves on top and one valve on the side operated by the left hand.   Then the 983 came out with 4 valves in front to emulate most other tuba designs (see below) This threw the UK competitive brass bands into a panic as how could they have some tubas leading to the right and some leaning left??  In 2006, I reluctently sold my 983 to a student in Texas because I had great difficulty training my pinky to press the 4th valve!