Instrument Leview: England v Japan

We put two top of the range euphoniums up against eachother in the 4BR test to find out which one is the best. This time it is the Besson Prestige against the Yamaha Custom - England versus Japan.

Seconds out...

Introduction:
The Besson Prestige BE2052 and the Yamaha Custom YEP842 were tested over a significant period of time. They were tried out in solos, in wind band and brass band rehearsals, concerts and contests to explore all their excellent and not so excellent sides. We asked our reviewer to give both instruments a good going over and they certainly did that (the review period lasted three months!) and just like the mystery driver in the "Top Gear" car programme, he (or she) has asked to remain anonymous.

Build quality:

Besson Prestige:
The Besson Prestige was the first euphonium to come with both silver and a bit of lacquer added on the valve caps and trigger etc. While some might associate the looks of the instrument with the costumes of kitsch artist Liberace, most people think that the Prestige design is elegant. The euphonium certainly stands out from the more ordinary models. Apart from the basic design the most striking visual attraction is of course the trigger system on the main tuning slide. This construction appears to be solid, but it must be said that the former trigger adjuster was too weak and broke off on quite a few instruments. The new adjuster is of much more solid quality and should make up for the dodgy reputation the trigger may have got. The Prestige comes with a nice black hard case with space for music on the outside and the whole thing is draped in fabric. The valves are a bit slow in the beginning because of some metal dust, but by cleaning and frequent use of valve oil during the first months they work smoothly and precisely.

22 points

Yamaha Custom:
If you place these two euphoniums side by side you will see that one of them is heavily inspired by the other to say the least. Both come with this combination of silver and lacquer. To be honest Besson was first, but then Yamaha put even more lacquered parts on. However the producers didn't care to put a water key on the 1st slide, which just seems to be lazy or perhaps even a bit cheap. Mechanically the valves are very clean, tight and precise. The Custom euphonium feels very solid in your hands and our Japanese friends are reliable when it comes to build quality. The hard case is not at all new. Remember the dull case that used to come with the old school band model/jazz euphonium YEP201 in the 80's? The Custom case is identical. I rest my case.

23 points

Intonation:

Besson Prestige:
I believe that the problem notes of sharp high F, F# and G (in Bb) appear on all euphoniums of all brands. The solution seems to be either to bend the notes down, to use false fingerings or to install a trigger on the main tuning slide. Besson chose the latter option on the Prestige, which then enables the player to blow in the middle of the instrument with a good sound as opposed to the other options. So apart from the slightly flat middle F and F# and second space D (also in Bb), which can be adjusted with the use of the 4th valve, the ability to tune almost perfectly on the Prestige with the trigger feature is there for the experienced and conscious player.

24 points

Yamaha Custom:
Yamaha are known for good intonation on their instruments. This is also the case with the Custom euphonium, to a certain extent. In general, you can play fairly in tune on the Yamaha with the use of false fingerings and a bit of bending. In the key of F major in Bb (Eb major concert) especially the sharp high F, G, A and top C cause plenty frustration. Combinations 1/3 on the F and 2/3 on the top C are in tune, but they could be hard to hit properly and when exceeding mezzoforte the notes sound harsh and forced. Also the bottom Ab and Db (in Bb) are significantly flat and extremely hard to lip properly up. It seems to me that a trigger is the best solution on the Custom euphonium, and this should be considered by the Japanese producers.

22 points

Ease of blowing and tonal quality:

Besson Prestige:
The different Besson models has improved a lot over the years when it comes to ease of blowing. I believe that the Prestige model combines the famous ‘Besson sound' with the aspects of response that modern euphonium playing demands. The instrument responds well in the whole register, but I had to work a bit harder in the middle register from around low Bb to approximately middle G (in Bb) to make it speak as good as the rest. Generally, you get what you put in. If you work hard to really fill the whole instrument, the sound you get is great.

23 points

Yamaha Custom:
The Custom euphonium's perhaps biggest asset is the incredible ease of blowing. All the way from bottom to top you just have to think about a certain note and it will be there. Soft playing is really easy and the instrument feels very even in the whole register. Obviously Yamaha has had a bad reputation for the sound their brass instruments make. I think the 'Yamaha sound' has improved significantly. It's not bad, neither brilliant. I felt that that the metal seemed a bit dead - you couldn't make the sound you really wanted on it. For solo playing the instrument is good. In a brass band however I thought it just lacks that extra power and ability to sing. If the instrument is too easy to blow, the sound will then suffer. So is the case with the Yamaha Custom.

22 points

Overall Performance and Value for Money:

Besson Prestige:
What really counts when you're looking for a new euphonium is what you like personally, and not necessarily what mister Hot Shot is playing. There are several models on the market, student/school band models, semi professional models and professional. Obviously this test is comparing the two top models from the producers of Besson and Yamaha. Your personal taste is very important, but there are also objective and rational arguments that need attention. Is the instrument solid, what about intonation, sound, response and what's the price? This test is displaying all these aspects and this test panel found Besson Prestige to be the most satisfying. In the UK you can buy a Besson Prestige for a bit more than £3200. The Prestige then comes with some extra equipment such as two Denis Wick SM mouthpieces, an extra set of valve springs and two different sets of valve caps for altering the sound and response slightly.

23 points

Yamaha Custom:
Yamaha Custom is a very reliable euphonium. It is very solid, the response is great and the instrument looks good. The price is also more or less the same as for Yamaha's British competitor, around £3200. What's wrong then? Nothing's wrong if you like a Yamaha. But personally I feel that the Yamaha has a brighter sound, more metallic than the Besson has. It is difficult to create a personal sound on the Custom, difficult to get it warm and round. Having tested it in bigger halls the sound doesn't carry that far either. I don't recommend this euphonium for brass band players that use a lot of air support, as it is simply too weak in that setting. If you put a lot of air through the Custom, it can't really take it and the result is a hard sound. More "modest" players will find it easy to handle, it all comes very easily to you. But then again, it's too expensive for school bands etc. The Custom loses points on sound and intonation but it gains points on build quality, consistency and ease of blowing.

21 points

Summary:

As you can see, a pretty close call between the UK and Japan. However, Besson is the winner of this test. Personal taste is important when choosing a brass instrument. But first of all, you need to consider the basics: sound and intonation. Yamaha's most extreme quality is the response, which you will fall in love with immediately when trying the Custom. But in the long term, sound and intonation is what really counts. And these are the points that Yamaha needs to focus on to be a serious challenger to Besson. Especially since these two euphoniums have the same steep price. But if you want quality, it's going to cost you anyway!

Besson
Build quality: 22
Intonation: 24
Ease of blowing and Tonal quality: 23
Overall performance and Value for Money: 23

Total: 92

Yamaha
Build quality: 23
Intonation: 22
Ease of blowing and Tonal quality: 22
Overall performance and Value for Money: 21

Total: 88

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