Posted by Chuck(G) on January 30, 2002 at 12:49:42:
In Reply to: Re: Old Besson CCs posted by Paul Scott on January 29, 2002 at 19:04:55:
You're right on, on the sound--veddy veddy British; kind of like those old BBbs made by convicts in Manchester. What I'd call "sweet".
I'd guess that these were made by Boosey using available parts. The valve section looks to be from the 3v BBb; the bell and bottom bow could well be from the Eb. On the Imperial BBb, there's a fake handrest by the valves; on the CC, it's an active branch. The tuning slides, including the main, are definitely BBb relics. And I suspect the other large branches are simply shortened BBb animals.
All in all, it's pretty remarkable how well this instrument plays in tune, compared to some of the Boosey BBbs I've played.