DESCRIPTION:
The Besson Meha 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 Besson), Lee Morgan, and Fats Navarro. ML (.460) Bore. 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. These original French Besson trumpets are now collectors items, and command high prices. The original French Mehas are classified in two eras - prewar and postwar. The prewar Mehas (approximately serial number 90,000 and prior) are considered more collectible, although both prewar and postwar are eagerly sought after from a playing perspective. The Besson trumpets of the early 20th century were the first truly modern trumpets. The innovations in lead-pipe 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. Bach trumpets were inspired (or copied) from early Besson trumpets, and most modern trumpets closely follow the same pattern. Most modern trumpets are in fact close copies or clones of early 20th century Besson instruments.