Fortunately they choose top US maker Kanstul to design and produce the line, and Kanstul faithfully recreated the original horns, and many new models too. Enter Kanstulįor some unknown reason the owners of the French Besson trademark decided to make a new line of trumpet in the early 1980s. Unfortunately they were out of production for decades until…. These original French Besson trumpets are now collectors items, and command high prices. The Besson Meha was also a very popular choice, being a brighter horn more suitable for lead and big band playing, played by the famous Conrad Gozzo and others. The Besson Brevete was a very popular choice for generations of Jazz trumpeters, and was played at various times by artists like Miles Davis, Rafael Mendez (the Olds Mendez was basically a copy of his old Brevete), Lee Morgan, and Fats Navarro. Most modern trumpets are in fact close copies or clones of early 20th century Besson instruments. Bach trumpets were inspired (or copied) from early Besson trumpets, and most modern trumpets closely follow the same pattern. The innovations in leadpipe design, bell shape, and wrap (the overall shape of the tubing and instrument) resulted in a far superior instrument to the trumpets of the day.

The Besson trumpets of the early 20th century were the first truly modern trumpets.

First valve slide saddle, third valve slide fixed ring.

The valves have some wear and will benefit from a thicker oil for vintage instruments. There's some wear and pitting on the finger buttons (especially the first) and a small tool mark on the first valve top cap. The bell flare has had some dents removed, and there's heavy scratching on the inner bell. There has been significant dent work done along the length of the bell.

There are some small pings on the bell tail and bell bend. There are small dents on a couple of the knuckle joints. There's a dent on the third valve slide crook, and the stop screw is missing.

The second valve slide pull knob is missing, and the crook has a couple pings. There are some spots of redrot developing along the underside of the leadpipe. This is a pre-owned horn with some signs of use and repair. These horns have great intonation, especially around the top of the staff. It has a Benge ML Plus feel to the blow. The bell has a beautiful taper reminiscent of a cross between a Besson bell and a Bach 37 bell.

This French Besson trumpets made by Kanstul is very much a traditional professional trumpet.

Kanstul Meha Serial Numbers