EEb to BBb Helicon conversion - has anyone done this?

[Frank Ortega]

Hello Fellow Tubenetters,

Has anyone tried to make this sort of conversion? Combining and old American BBb Sousa with an EEb of the same era and design? I'm aware tubing would need to be added for pitch, but how did the bodies/bells line up?

Just curious.

Thanks for your input.
Frank

[The Big Ben]

Many BBb helicons have been made from cut-down BBb sousaphones. What would be the advantage of modifying an EEb sousaphone?

[Frank Ortega]

I have an EEb York Helicon that's a little worse for wear. Also, I don't play EEb nearly as well as BBb, CC, or F.
For some reason the overtone series just doesn't sit well with me. So, my idea is to take the Bell and back bow off and mount it on a BBb sousa. Seems like a good idea, but I may have to modify the back bow, being too small for a a standard King Sousaphone. Unless I can find a decent sousaphone with a much smaller diameter to the small end of the back bow. I thought that if someone had a similar idea and had tried it before, this would be the place to find them!

Of course, if someone out there wanted to trade an EEb York Helicon for a BBb Helicon of the old American variety. Preferably from the 20's or 30's, I would grab it in a heart beat!

Best,
Frank