Okiedokie of Oz
Active Member
On Valentine's Day, I suffered a tragic loss, as did brass bands all across the state of Queensland.
My E flat bass, Bessie, was involved in a nasty accident on a streetmarch.
As I do not play her much currently, I had loaned her to the band president, a responsible, mature adult, who knew the cost of a Besson Sovereign 981GS and looked after her. However, while attached to her, he was walking to the marshalling point when he did not see a park bench. Over he went, and onto my beloved Bessie....
Her injuries appear to be fairly severe, but the instrument doesn't look mangles in any way. All the front tubing has been compressed into the main Body, and, as a bandsman put it to me, the slides which are "honeycombed" into the valves, locking them down.
She has been sent to Brisbane, some 600km south of here for assesment and possible repairs. My big fear, however, is if she is repaired, she will never be quite the same.
Should I be concerned?? Should I just let the insurance man replace it with a "better" 982?? Am I idiotic to worry about such a stupid instrument, but be greatful that the band president was unscathed???
My E flat bass, Bessie, was involved in a nasty accident on a streetmarch.
As I do not play her much currently, I had loaned her to the band president, a responsible, mature adult, who knew the cost of a Besson Sovereign 981GS and looked after her. However, while attached to her, he was walking to the marshalling point when he did not see a park bench. Over he went, and onto my beloved Bessie....
Her injuries appear to be fairly severe, but the instrument doesn't look mangles in any way. All the front tubing has been compressed into the main Body, and, as a bandsman put it to me, the slides which are "honeycombed" into the valves, locking them down.
She has been sent to Brisbane, some 600km south of here for assesment and possible repairs. My big fear, however, is if she is repaired, she will never be quite the same.
Should I be concerned?? Should I just let the insurance man replace it with a "better" 982?? Am I idiotic to worry about such a stupid instrument, but be greatful that the band president was unscathed???