TubeNet

Having covered my sousaphone needs for now the market still has my interest, even if I don't follow auctions very regularly any more. While following links provided in another thread I found this:

Holton $1600.00 Frank Holton brass sousaphone. Valves just rebuilt. Very few dents. With neck, bits and case.

My immediate reaction was, that this is not a very high price. But then the US$ is rather cheap for Europeans these days. My question is about what US Americans think about this price for the given instrument?

Klaus Smedegaard Bjerre

bloke wrote:Were I a band director, here are the makes/models that I would chose (in order from first to last, including new and old/rebuilt like new)

*King standard model (old)
Conn 14K (Elkhart)
Conn 20K (Elkhart)
Olds/Reynolds (Calfornia)
King (new)
Dynasty (Brazil)
Buescher/Selmer/Bundy (discontinued - Selmer U.S.A.)
Conn 20K (new)
Besson (England)
Jupiter
Mirafone
Holton


_____________________
*The level of sturdiness outranks playing characteristics here.

The large bore Yorks and medium large bore Bueschers (c. 1920's) are too rare and (parts replacement-wise) too impractical to list.

Obviously I am not from Sousaland. Søren and I probably are among the best equipped sousa owners in Denmark with our Conn's. I like my Conn's because they are good instruments, not just good sousaphones. The 1929 or so 26K is very special with its heavy brass sheets. The (relatively) light 26K didn't really catch me until this summer. It responds well over a very wide range.

In 2000 I tested a small Conn BBb in Copenhagen to help a Swedish correspondent decide whether it was worth travelling after. It had all Conn traits, just in smaller amounts, even the bell screws were down to two 180° apart, which I did not like, as that invites a wiggling after some wear. Even if it was not down to a Barcone it was too small for a serious player (the Boneyard Wanderers might have loved it for its low weight).

I have tried an Amati BBb which was useless if it was about making music. And a couple of Besson Eb's which were almost as terrible.

Holton has some following in horns and bassbones here, but I never was tempted. Still it surprises me, that you list the Holton sousaphone right at the bottom. But as I believe you, I now better understand, what appeared as a low price to me.

Klaus