Besson BE162-2-0 - PRODIGE 162 SILVER PLATED

The "New Standard" Series: A Reliable Entry Point to the Euphonium

The New Standard range is aimed at musicians who want to access the euphonium with a reassuring, coherent, and immediately rewarding instrument. The idea is simple: to offer a model that facilitates learning the fundamentals (breath, intonation, articulation, legato) while providing an already expressive sound. The New Standard 162 thus positions itself as a wise choice to start an euphonium "career," whether in music school, concert band, or brass band, with an instrument designed to provide good reference points from the very first notes.

Who is the New Standard 162 suited for, and in which styles?

Thanks to its ease of sound production and consistent response, this euphonium is particularly suitable for beginner to intermediate levels, as well as for players returning after a break. It will allow for confident work on breath control, attack stability, and air column management without feeling the need to "force" to achieve a full sound. In terms of repertoire, its warm and centered tone makes it relevant for concert band music, brass band, brass ensembles, and orchestrated popular music. It can also serve as a solid foundation for approaching a more lyrical style, with long, singing phrases typical of the euphonium's melodic role.

Sound, Comfort, and Finish: An Euphonium that Highlights the Musician

The New Standard 162 emphasizes a rich, warm, and centered timbre, meaning a sound that is both dense and well-focused, useful for blending within a section as well as standing out on a melodic line. The design aims for a consistent response across all registers : register changes remain smooth, helping the player develop steady sound production and more stable intonation. Regarding playing feel, the instrument is described as easy to blow, a key point for students and long rehearsals. The piston mechanism, described as fast and silent, contributes to clean and comfortable playing, especially appreciated on articulated passages and position shifts. Finally, the silver-plated finish provides a sober and flattering aesthetic while offering a pleasant tactile glide at hand contact points and supports.

Recommended Compatible Accessories

To preserve the mechanics and maintain a consistent response, adding a brass maintenance kit (appropriate cleaning brushes and microfiber cloth) as well as high-quality piston oil is recommended. These essentials improve piston regularity, limit wear, and help maintain a smooth playing feel daily.

Technical specifications

Level	Student	Color	Grey
Tone	Bb	Finishing	Silver
Body material	Silver-plated brass

Key	Bb	Playing comfort	comfortable at the mouthpiece (according to supplier description)
Bore size	14.72 mm	Not specified	no included accessories are indicated in the supplier description
Finish	silver-plated	Playing character	easy to blow
Number of pistons	3	Sound	rich, warm, and centered timbre
Water keys	2	Response	consistent across all registers
Bell	handmade	Mechanics	fast and silent piston mechanism
Bell material	brass	Ergonomics	comfortable under the fingers (according to supplier description)
Bell diameter	279 mm