Besson Sovereign 928G B-flat cornet (silver)

£3,400.00

Ref: BE928-2

0 in stock

The Besson Sovereign remains one of the defining professional cornets of the British brass band tradition. Designed for a broad, expressive sound with excellent projection and secure intonation, it reflects more than fifty years of continuous development. Whether on the front row of a brass band, leading a concert band cornet section or in the hands of a soloist, the Sovereign continues to offer the rich tonal palette and responsive playing characteristics that have made it a consistent favourite among discerning performers.

The current Sovereign 928G features a 11.84 mm (0.466-in.) large bore paired with a hand-hammered gold brass bell, producing the warm, singing tone for which the model is renowned. Precision Monel pistons deliver a smooth, dependable valve action and long-term durability, and 1st- and 3rd-valve slide triggers provide convenient intonation adjustment without interrupting the flow of playing.

Silver-plated finish
Bore size: 0.466 in. (11.84 mm)
Bell diameter: 4.88 in, (124 mm)
Gold brass bell
Two sprung water keys
Triggers on 1st and 3rd slides
Monel valves
Wood shell case

Introduced in 1974, the Sovereign cornet has come to shape the sound of the modern British brass band. The original 920 and 921 models established its reputation for a rich, singing tone, while the comprehensive redesign of 1984 produced the now-familiar 927 and 928 models. Although refined over the years and manufactured in England, then France and, more recently, Germany, the Sovereign has retained its distinctive tonal character and remains one of the most widely played professional cornets in the brass band world.

Model/finish*		Slide triggers
Model/finish*		1st & 3rd	3rd & main
Sovereign	Lacquer	928G-1	928GT-1
Sovereign	Silver-plate	928G-2	928GT-2
Prestige 2028 (discontinued)	Lacquer		2028-1G
	Silver-plate		2028-2G
	Gold lacquer		2028-8G
NEW Prestige 2029	Lacquer		2029-1G
	Silver-plate		2029-2G
	Gold lacquer		2029-8G

* Sovereign models have a gold brass bell. Prestige models have a yellow brass bell and gold-plated trim.

Besson Sovereign cornets: FAQs

FAQs

It’s all about tuning. Traditionally, intonation is adjusted by the embouchure (‘lipping’). Mobile slides offer a manual means of helping correct notes that tend to play out-of-tune, and triggers provide a quick and smooth way of moving the slides during performance.

First- and third-valve triggers allow the player to fine-tune notes involving those valves. Multi-valve combinations tend to become increasingly sharp as more valve tubing is added, with the 1+2+3 combination requiring a greater correction than 1+2. With practice, players develop a feel for the appropriate slide positions for particular notes, allowing rapid passages to be executed accurately without relying entirely on embouchure for pitch correction.

A main tuning slide trigger allows the overall length of the instrument to be adjusted while playing, providing fine control over the pitch of any note. This can reduce the need for embouchure correction and is especially useful for open notes, changes in playing conditions and when intonation is affected by mutes. It can also be valuable when matching pitch within a mixed ensemble.

First- and third-valve slide triggers were introduced on the original Sovereign 920 and 921 cornets in the early 1970s and subsequently became standard on professional British brass band cornets. The 1984 redesign introduced the 927 and 928 models, retaining the same trigger configuration. The main tuning slide Sovereign variant was released in 2016, mimicking the trigger set-up on the Prestige model.

Neither material is inherently superior; the choice reflects the different design objectives of the two instruments. Gold brass, with its higher copper content, is widely associated with a broader, warmer, more rounded sound, complementing the Sovereign’s rich, singing tone. Yellow brass tends to produce a more focused, immediate and projecting sound, suiting the Prestige’s more concentrated tonal character.

Monel is a nickel-copper alloy valued for its exceptional resistance to wear and corrosion, helping the pistons maintain a precise fit over many years of regular playing. Stainless steel offers similarly durability, but Monel valves have a long-established reputation for smooth, reliable action and long service life. Besson uses Monel pistons on its Sovereign and Prestige cornets as part of their standard professional specification.

Manufacturer’s website: besson.com