TubeNet

Hi there,

Can the sousa-experts please take a look at the sousaphone on this link:
http://www.2dehands.be/sousafoon-martin ... er=2137071

The text is in dutch, but it says only that this is a Martin sousaphone...

What can you tell me from this horn with the pictures?
Can somebody give me more information on how Martin horns play in general?
This one looks like a smaller bore horn, or am I wrong?

Thank you gentlemen,

Wim

I actually used to play on one of these back in high school. One of the sousaphones had the Martin design engraved on the back of the bell. They're a pretty nice horn to play on. Sound is very free flowing and you can really crank out some notes with the horn as well. That's about all I remember from the horn though.

If you're thinking about purchasing it, I say go for it. I don't think you'll have any problems with the horn.

Martin’s best model apparently was the Handcraft. Only a look at the bell engraving will tell whether the auction sample is from that line. I agree with this one being a medium sized sample.

Klaus

imperialbari wrote:Martin’s best model apparently was the Handcraft. Only a look at the bell engraving will tell whether the auction sample is from that line. I agree with this one being a medium sized sample.

Klaus

The bell engraving says 'handcraft' allright. (zoom the picture a bit)
Do I have a winner?

Wim

You have a potential. Whether you have a winner may only be determined by test and inspection.

Klaus

imperialbari wrote:Martin’s best model apparently was the Handcraft. .... Klaus

From what I've seen of Martin brass instruments, the word 'Handcraft' was used on many Martin models. From my experience, 'handcraft' doesn't mean much unless you plug in other words like 'committee', 'imperial', etc.

From what I've read, Martin's 'claim to fame' was the alloy of their brass... which was supposed to have contained more copper and less zinc.

imperialbari wrote:You have a potential. Whether you have a winner may only be determined by test and inspection.

Klaus

OK, maybe a stupid question, but will my denis Wick 2L fit this sousa?

THX,

WIm

oedipoes wrote: OK, maybe a stupid question, but will my denis Wick 2L fit this sousa?

THX,

WIm

As the DW L series fits the normal American basses (but not the old small receiver Eb tubas) your DW2L should fit that Martin also.

Klaus

TubaTinker wrote:

imperialbari wrote:Martin’s best model apparently was the Handcraft. .... Klaus

From what I've seen of Martin brass instruments, the word 'Handcraft' was used on many Martin models. From my experience, 'handcraft' doesn't mean much unless you plug in other words like 'committee', 'imperial', etc.

From what I've read, Martin's 'claim to fame' was the alloy of their brass... which was supposed to have contained more copper and less zinc.

The Martin's you've had in your hands, were they well put together?
You've probably seen them from the inside?

Wim

oedipoes wrote:

TubaTinker wrote:....The Martin's you've had in your hands, were they well put together?
You've probably seen them from the inside? Wim

Yes... I've had several Martin sousas and tubas apart... including a BBb 'mammoth' and an Eb 'medium'. None of them exhibited more good or bad workmanship issues other tubas or sousas I've worked on. I have yet to see a tuba or sousa with perfectly smooth transitions inside the ferrules. ... but Martin seemed to take pretty good care during the hand-assembly operations. Developing smooth transitions inside the ferrules is a very time consuming process and anyone who has ever worked in manufacturing knows that there is almost always a trade-off when it comes to quality and speed. I suppose Martin was just as concerned about the quality versus profit issue as every other horn maker of it's day.

It's a bit of a tangent but modern manufacturing techniques lends itself more to better quality because the consistency of the parts coming to the final assembly bench is better than in the old days when those large sousa and tuba bows were pretty much hand made.