From BE2028 to BE2029: Why Besson’s New Prestige Cornet Is the Natural Next Step
For players who have spent years with a Besson Prestige BE2028, the arrival of the new Besson Prestige BE2029 Cornet presents an interesting question:
How much better can a Prestige actually get?
The answer is not about replacing everything that made the BE2028 successful. Quite the opposite. The BE2029 takes the qualities that made its predecessor so highly regarded—its warmth, tonal character, responsiveness and precision—and develops them for the demands of today's players.
For existing BE2028 owners considering an upgrade, the BE2029 is best understood as an evolution of a familiar instrument rather than a completely new concept.
And that could be its greatest strength.
The BE2028: A Prestige for a Reason
The BE2028 established itself as one of Besson's flagship professional cornets, offering a focused and centred sound with an impressive range of tonal colours. Its hand-hammered 124mm yellow brass bell, .468" bore, Monel pistons and main and third-slide triggers gave players a high level of control and flexibility.
For many players, the BE2028 became a trusted musical partner.
It had the ability to produce the warmth and character expected from a British brass band cornet while retaining the focus necessary for demanding solo and ensemble playing.
That is important when considering the BE2029.
Besson hasn't thrown away the Prestige formula. It has refined it.
So, What's New with the BE2029?
Besson's development of the BE2029 involved several years of research and collaboration with some of the leading names in the cornet world, including Roger Webster, Tom Smith and Lode Violet.
The resulting instrument retains the core Prestige philosophy but introduces several significant changes.
Among the most noticeable are:
- A larger 133mm yellow brass bell
- A slightly modified taper
- A gold brass leadpipe
- Revised first and third valve slide arrangements
- A 11.84mm bore
- Main tuning slide and third-slide triggers
- Monel, top-sprung valves
- Revised ergonomics, balance and response
Individually, these may look like relatively small changes.
Together, they make a significant difference to the playing experience.
1. More Projection Without Losing the Besson Sound
Perhaps the biggest development is the BE2029's approach to projection.
Besson says the new design has been developed to produce a more powerful and focused sound with exceptional projection.
For a player moving from a BE2028, this is one of the most interesting differences.
The BE2028's focused, centred character remains one of its strengths. The BE2029, however, gives the player more room to expand the sound when the music demands it.
That could be particularly valuable for principal cornet players.
A quiet solo still needs delicacy and colour, but when the entire band is playing at full power, the principal cornet needs the authority to project without simply forcing the instrument.
The BE2029 is designed to provide that additional headroom.
The aim isn't simply to make the cornet louder. It's to make the available sound bigger and more versatile.
2. A Larger Bell, Broader Possibilities
The BE2028 uses a 124mm hand-hammered yellow brass bell. The BE2029 increases this to 133mm.
That's a noticeable change.
The larger bell contributes to the BE2029's broader projection and gives the player more scope when opening up the sound.
For an existing BE2028 player, this may be one of the first things they notice when trying the new instrument.
The sound isn't necessarily better—because sound is highly personal—but there is a sense of greater scale and freedom.
The BE2029 allows the player to move from an intimate, controlled sound to a much larger orchestral or brass band voice without losing the core Besson character.
3. Greater Response and Articulation
Besson has also focused on the relationship between the player and instrument.
The company says the BE2029 offers improved comfort and balance, effortless control across the registers and crystal-clear articulation.
For a player already comfortable with a BE2028, this is particularly appealing.
You don't have to relearn what makes a Prestige a Prestige.
Instead, the BE2029 aims to make that familiar experience more responsive and adaptable.
Fast technical passages, delicate articulation and rapid changes in dynamics can all benefit from an instrument that responds immediately to smaller changes in the player's air and embouchure.
4. The Gold Brass Leadpipe
Another important change is the move to a gold brass leadpipe on the BE2029.
This contributes to the instrument's tonal character and complements the larger bell and modified taper.
For BE2028 players, it is another part of the BE2029's slightly broader tonal concept.
The result is intended to retain the warmth associated with Besson while giving the player additional depth and flexibility.
5. Familiar Features, Refined
One of the reassuring things about the BE2029 is that Besson hasn't abandoned the features that Prestige players already know.
The new model retains:
- Monel, top-sprung valves
- Main tuning slide trigger
- Third valve slide trigger
- Professional-level construction
- Gold-plated detailing
- The distinctive Prestige aesthetic
In other words, this isn't a completely different instrument wearing the Prestige name.
It is recognisably a Prestige.
What Will a BE2028 Player Actually Notice?
This is probably the most important question for anyone considering an upgrade.
The BE2029 isn't necessarily going to feel dramatically unfamiliar.
Instead, you may notice that the instrument feels as though it has more available sound.
You can play with warmth and restraint when required, but there is greater potential to open the instrument up when the music demands it.
The response feels immediate, the instrument is designed to be comfortable and balanced, and the additional projection gives the player greater confidence when playing at the top of a large brass band.
For an experienced BE2028 player, that makes the BE2029 particularly interesting.
You aren't starting again.
You're building on something you already know.
The BE2028 vs BE2029 at a Glance
Is It Worth Upgrading from a BE2028?
For many players, the answer will come down to what they want from their next cornet.
If you're completely happy with your BE2028, there is no suggestion that you need to change it. It remains an exceptional professional instrument.
But if you're looking for:
More projection
The larger bell and revised design give the BE2029 greater potential for a big, authoritative sound.
More tonal flexibility
The new model is designed to retain the warmth of the Prestige while providing a broader tonal palette.
Greater response and control
The revised design focuses on comfort, balance and articulation across the register.
The latest Prestige development
The BE2029 represents the culmination of several years of development involving some of the leading names in modern cornet playing.
Then the BE2029 is certainly worth trying.
What Does the Industry Think?
Malcolm Kirkpatrick — The Wind Section
“The BE2028 has been a hugely successful Prestige cornet and has earned its reputation with players for very good reason. What makes the new BE2029 particularly exciting is that Besson has taken those familiar Prestige qualities and developed them rather than starting again. For a player who already knows and loves the BE2028, the opportunity to gain additional projection, response and tonal flexibility while retaining that unmistakable Besson character makes the BE2029 a very compelling upgrade.”
Malcolm Kirkpatrick, Managing Director, The Wind Section, Edinburgh
Euan Meikle — Besson Instruments
“We have taken time, care and consideration over the next generation of the Besson Prestige Cornet. The Prestige has a remarkable heritage and has been trusted by generations of leading players, so it was important to us that the development of the BE2029 respected everything that has made the instrument so successful. By collaborating with Roger Webster and his contemporaries, we have been able to build on that heritage while also embracing the exciting future of cornet playing. The BE2029 brings together the experience and knowledge of some of the finest players in the world with the craftsmanship and expertise of Besson, creating an instrument that offers today's players enhanced projection, response and flexibility, while retaining the character and musical qualities that have made the Prestige such an iconic cornet.”
Euan Meikle, UK & Ireland Sales Manager, Besson Instruments
The Verdict: Evolution, Not Revolution
For BE2028 owners, the biggest attraction of the new BE2029 may be that Besson has resisted the temptation to reinvent the Prestige completely.
Instead, it has asked a more useful question:
How can we make a great professional cornet even more capable?
The answer is a larger bell, revised taper, gold brass leadpipe, redesigned slide configuration, improved balance and a greater emphasis on projection and response.
The BE2028 remains an important part of the Prestige story.
But the BE2029 is the next chapter.
For players who have spent years playing a BE2028 and are wondering whether the new model represents a meaningful upgrade, the best answer is simple . . . TRY ONE!
You may find that the familiar Besson sound is still there—but with a little more freedom, a little more power and considerably more room to express yourself.
The Prestige you know. Reimagined for the way you play today.
🛒 Shop the Besson Prestige BE2029 Cornet
