Sousaware (Wade's going to love this one!)

[Dan Schultz]

I had a customer call yesterday asking if I could fix a sousa. It seems that the bell is in the student's face when he's marching. The bell apparently tips forward. I figured someone had removed the main crook and got it soldered back on slightly forward so I suggested that they bring it by. Well... the horn showed up this morning. I couldn't find anything wrong with it other than the band director was having his students assemble the bell revolved about 60 degrees off so it would 'be more centered' and 'fit in' with the other sousas in his bass line.

The first picture shows the sousa assembled about how it should be... with the bell about perpendicular to the main wrap. The second picture shows the same sousa with the bell assembled so it is about paralell to the main wrap. Tomorrow morning I will unsolder the body elbow and revolve it about 15 degrees to pitch the bell up. The customer's aways right! Right?

OK... The fix is pictured above. I revolved the body crook about 30 degrees to tip the bell up and out of the player's face. I know it's not correct, but the customer is always right. Right?

Oh... 'scuze the blue exam gloves. I always wear them in the shop to keep my hands young and supple! Heh heh (as Rick D would say)

[Steve Inman]

Suggest that the "tip" can be fixed, but that the 60 degree problem is too difficult. If only the bandsman could swivel his/her torso 60 degrees at the waist when marching, that would resolve the first problem ....

... an oblique solution ... ?

[windshieldbug]

I say just unsolder the student's body and revolve it about 15 degrees to pitch the bell up. Problem solved, without any molestation to the equipment!

[andrew the tuba player]

Yeah, i used to set up my 20k like that to. It was always in my face. but, worse is, that it was always going way flat. so, i decided to take one of to see what it would do and dicovered that i couldnt reach the mouthpiece and when i tried id hit my head (:shock: ouch!) so, i turned the bell and...wall ah! it worked perfectly. (imagine that )

[andrew the tuba player]

Oh, sorry my bad. I guess i shoulda read that before i posted it. Ok, what i meant to say, was that since the bell was in my face and i couldnt reach the mouthpiece my band director had me add another bit to the lead pipe. This worked, but my horn was always going flat. so, i took one off and turned the bell so i could reach it and now it works....i hope this will help you to understand that last post.

[Lew]

This band director just needs to have some 'splaining done to him as to the proper way to assemble a sousaphone. My old Conn 28K and 40K both have little arrows on the bell and body that show where to align them when assembled. Of course when they are lined up the horns look like your first photo. Maybe if the band director saw something like that to indicate the way that manufacturers expected the horns to be assembled he would stop causing his students the discomfort of marching with improperly assembled horns.

[iiipopes]

Indeed. The correct wearing of a souzy is readily apparent even if you have no clue as to where to start: line up the flange on your shoulder, turn the bell so you can see, and it all but plays itself for you!

[andrew the tuba player]

yep..see, i dont have the time to possition the bell just right every football game, so one day, i took my 20K (which doesnt have the arrows) and found out the perfect position. then, i took a knife and made a small notch on the outside of the tennon. now, i line up the notch and the guard on the back of the bell and its perfect every time. and if anyone else ever plays it then i can tell them to do the same.

[Tuba-G Bass]

In my "real" Job, I get to go to a lot of HS Football games and see the bands, In my area of Pennsylvania I am seeing them march like
Tubatinker is demonstrating in picture #2, why I don't know, I always did what comes naturally, the upper part rests on the
shoulder and the valve section was at your right side, you could play in one handed if necessary.
My Keefer FrankenSousa redone by Harv Hartman has the alignment arrows and big flat shoulder rest,
playing it so the valve section is on your chest? What are the Band directors thinking these days!
It's like they are playing front action tubas?!
The hands tell it all, the right way, the horn stays put, playing it the "Other" way, you have to hold it from rotating,
have all these band directors look up the word "Torque".
This is kinda like the stupid holding the gun sideways crap you see in the movies!

[eupher61]

what's especially funny is the look on the guy's face in the picture!

[KarlMarx]

They're just putting the gooseneck and bits on "backwards" (re: old tubenet discussions).

[Dan Schultz]

Here's the fix... Scroll up.

[Dan Schultz]

good job...' hope it makes 'em happy. It'll probably throw the sound up in the stands, when they're close to the bleachers.



...There's quite a bit of that souzotulism going around, isn't there?

Those gloves are a nice touch, eh? I'm thinking about taking up proctology as a sideline

[Dan Schultz]

Geographically, you're a bit too close for comfort to approach that occupation.
Please stick to sousatological pursuits.

okay

[Dan Schultz]

Dan, ..... Up there do you have any of these "mega" high schools...with *10 or more sousaphones...and they're all metal...?? ....

I don't do anything with the Evansville School System as they still have their own repair department. The vogue here is shouldered contras (EGAD!) My local high school marches a huge band and uses contras. I don't see any of their work, either... as it all goes to a large local music store that has a fairly big rental program and repair department. I do ALL of the brass work for the local junior high and grade schools. They are a real pleasure to work with and the kids seem to take care of things pretty good.
The sousa described in this thread came from a high school across the river in Kentucky. I don't go after business from local schools and enjoy a great walk-in business and also do quite a bit of 'distance' business via the Internet.
I cut one of those $50 Chinese Bb cornets to C today and it turned out pretty good. Now... if I can just get the valves cleaned up so it's playable!

[OldBandsman]

I'm a little surprised nobody had mentioned balance in this discussion. It's been a long time since I had a sousie on my shoulder, but I remember having it in balance well enough to ride my bicycle with it up there.

Dan, your first picture looks as though its balanced. In the second and third pics it looks as though you have to keep your left hand on it. The New Orleans Olympic guy looks balanced.

Was balance a factor in this transaction at all??

John Roberts

[Dan Schultz]

I'm a little surprised nobody had mentioned balance in this discussion. .......Was balance a factor in this transaction at all?? John Roberts

Hi, John! Properly assembled and worn, a sousa is pretty well balanced. When a customer insists that I do something dumb to their instruments even after I've explained all the options... then balance becomes just one of the problems they have to accept.

[Lew]

Lew,

You said it so much nicer than I did.

Doc

Perhaps, but I liked your response better, and it's what I think should be done.