Some questions about sousaphones.

[David Richoux]

If you fancy making an impression try this one.
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Sousaphon-Sousaf ... 0401476%26" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

Not sure of its country of origin Guggenmusik usually means Indian on eBay

Photo not great, but this one could be a Conn Eb, taking it beyond the Guggenmusik sphere.

The Dutch also have bands similar to Guggenmusik. Aside of maybe rhythm those carnival bands don't put much weight on the same parameters that real musicians work to optimize like sound and intonation.

Klaus

Yes - I was the one who added the Wiki note about "Dweilorkest" - very similar in style!

[David Richoux]

In the context of eBay listings Guggenmusik usually means to me an Indian Sousa there is a repeat listing for a Swiss seller that uses this description for Indian made horns.
I am aware that its proper use is for a street music groups.

Just trying to expand the general knowledge level of the list The topic of amateur and professional "popular" brass bands from around the world is of great interest to me.

BTW, if anyone will be in Rome June 21-23 of this year there will be an international gathering of Street Bands called Sbandata Romana - I have heard (and/or played with) several of the groups who will be there. Like the Honk! Festivals in the USA, there will be many tubas, helicons, Sousaphones and other low brasses playing all over the place!

[butch]

In the context of eBay listings Guggenmusik usually means to me an Indian Sousa there is a repeat listing for a Swiss seller that uses this description for Indian made horns.
I am aware that its proper use is for a street music groups.

I play in a "Guggenmusik" and I know a lot of other sousaphone players from other bands and I don't know anyone who plays an indian made sousaphone!

Regards
Butch

[Viktor]

Maybe I will go to Germany this summer for some sousaphone testing! What better vacation could one have! But now i have found a store in Sweden that sells two used sousaphones. Yorke and Buescher. Has anyone heard of these? are they worth taking the trip to test them?

[David Richoux]

But now i have found a store in Sweden that sells two used sousaphones. Yorke and Buescher. Has anyone heard of these? are they worth taking the trip to test them?

Bueschers are usually very desirable for traditional jazz playing. I know several players who would not ever give theirs up. York, I don't know - they made some good tubas but I have not heard much about their sousaphones.

[butch]

Someone need to smuggle a bunch of decent sousaphones over to Europe...

Yes! Absolutely yes!

[tubajazzo]

From Düsseldorf it is not too far to the Netherlands:

http://www.muziekcentrumvangorp.nl/bras ... beTMNc5ru8" target="_blank" target="_blank

seems they have a whole bunch of used sousies...

[Viktor]

Tomorrow im going to test the york sousaphone. What should i look at when i test it? How do you test tubas you are interested in?
Here is a pic. The seller says its a "bigg model" and asks 1500 euros for it.

[imperialbari]

At least:

Valve action. Valve wear

Stability of neck and bits when mounted.

Soundness of structure: stays and solderings.

No significant dents in areas where a repair demands unsoldering.

Check the response and of all notes also in the pedal and altissimo ranges.

Odd responses may indicate leaks. Leaks due to worn valves are costly to repair.

Klaus

[ggdadams]

Bring a tuner (and selection of mouthpieces if you have more than one), and check the instrument against the tuner once the open BBb s are in tune. Try it with a couple different types (cup vs funnel) and sizes of mouthpieces.
Play very softly. Make sure the instrument can sustain a very soft note with good resonance, it is a good test of overall condition. Play very loud also, make sure there are no odd noises or vibrations which can be evidence of loose solder joints.
Make sure all notes (both range and valve combinations) sound and feel equivalent. I bought a tuba a number of years ago that after I played a while, noticed the 1 + 3 valve combination, especially below the staff C, felt less centered and more open. It was a good tuba and I still would have bought it, but that characteristic made it worth a little less (to me at least) than what I paid.
Make sure you like how open/freely it blows. That is a matter to a large extent of personal taste. I like very open blowing instruments with little back pressure or resistance.
As Krause says, look for valve wear. Try gently wiggling the valves from side to side when fully open, partly open and depressed. There should almost imperceptible play, no more than 0.001" or so is ideal. The valve nickel plating should not show any copper or steel underneath but should be non corroded nickel only visible.
Make sure all slides pull.
Look for visual evidence of leaks or cracks (most leaks or cracks are easily repaired but you would want to know up front before you buy). Use a magnifying glass and small bright flash light if needed.

[Donn]

Another point in favor of playing it rather loud, even if it's awkward to do it in that setting, is that you want to be sure it's suited to your plan for it. It looks like a big model indeed - bigger than I think many street jazz players like, and not just for physical convenience, I think they like the tonal properties of a smaller instrument too.

I hope all the parts are available so you can play it. Sousaphones sometimes have mismatched parts later in life, like different leadpipe/bits or even a different bell, and of course it's difficult to find parts like this when the manufacturer is long gone. Dent repairs and even valve restoration, on the other hand, won't necessarily call for any new parts.

[sousaphone68]

Bring a musician friend whose ear you trust to listen to your sound as you will hear yourself very differently than you are used too if this is your first time to play a sousaphone.
If you can't bring some one play some scales and pieces you know while facing a wall.

[Viktor]

Now I finaly bought a nice sousaphone! I traveled around Sweden a bit last week and tried the two used sousas avalible in the country. The first one (a very big York) had a fantastic sound but intonated strange on the midle valve (it was almost a half step to low). Then I went to a music store far out in the coutryside and found a Conn. It was very good and it had newly renovated valves. So now im a proud owner of a nice Conn sousaphone from 1926.

[imperialbari]

Tilykke med den, har selv en fra 1927. Tung som et ondt år, men spiller fantastisk godt.

Klaus

[Donn]

I believe mine's from '26 likewise. Nice plating. That is one fine instrument.