TubeNet

This Sousaphone is listed for sale here in Norway (by a seller from Denmark).
The rather unusual 4th valve arrangement made me think custom job, correct me if I am wrong. The seller claims it was built ca 1965.

If the instrument in genuinely a 1965 - vintage Sousaphone, I would say, with near certainty, the 4th valve is a custom job. What is the serial number of the instrument? If it is a C. G. Conn, Elkhart, Indiana instrument, the serial number is on the second valve casing. There are reliable listings of Conn serial numbers that can be used to date the instrument.

I absolutely agree that on all Conn souzys, the upper loop of at least the 1st valve circuit, as I have not had the pleasure of playing a 4-valve Eb souzy, should be modified to be a movable slide.

How much did they have to drink before they came up with that wacky idea? Could it be more useless?

tofu wrote:How much did they have to drink before they came up with that wacky idea? Could it be more useless?

I know tuba players AND euphonium players who wouldn't dream of a pinky-operated 4th piston.

As the player of a Boosey 3+1 this seems like an eminently sensible arrangement for an added 4th valve. There are many players in the Scandinavian region that favour the "traditional" british brass band 4 valve layout over the "traditional" 4 in a line German/American model. I agree that on a non-comp some pulling of slides would be desirable but if the guy who had this done wanted to play ledger lines below the staff constantly he'd have bought a Bb. This would be the perfect instrument for a brass band Eb player who wanted an instrument for marching/dixieland gigs.If I was remotely interested in a 4 valve Eb sousy I'd be contacting this seller in a shot.

I happen to have a beautiful 28K 4 valve EEb sousaphone WITH MTS hard case if you are looking to get one. I believe it even has the gold wash bell.

I have just been informed by the original owner that the horn I have is NOT a 28K, but an EEb Sousaphone Grand, which is a much more rare instrument as well as better playing.



Roger

It seems on the face of it a good Eb sousaphone for those players used to the British 3+1 valve arrangement. No doubt the person originally adding the 4th valve was of that thinking.

Of course how it plays is anyone's guess?

I am not in the market for an Eb Sousaphone. My career on Eb ended at the age of 12.
Since I haven't seen that valve arrangement on an american (or any other for that matter) sousaphone I just had to ask here if anyone knew. And it seems that I was right, it is a custom job.
The seller is asking about 3K $ for it.
I'll stick to my CC (tuba) and if I'm getting a sousaphone in the future I will go for the real thing; a BBb.

I decided to perform necromancy on this thread because it also gives me an opportunity to correct some misinformation.

First, a question; does anyone know if a 1925 Conn 28K might have been made in low pitch? I acquired a specimen that plays in tune with itself, but is almost a 1/2 step flat at room temp with the mts all the way in. It’s currently in the shop to get 1.5-2” removed from the mts. Just curious if anyone knows anything about hi/low pitch relative to year of manufacture.

After spending a few weeks with my tech, fixing up this horn and making modifications, I’m learning quite a bit. Some corrections to previous posts:

Roger: the 28K’s official catalog moniker is “28K Sousaphone EEb Sousaphone Grand.” They are not separate models. Just as the 38K = BBb Sousaphone Grand (corrected my correction).

Bloke et al: unfortunately for me, the the 1st and 4th valve slides cannot be flipped for left hand tuning without a complete valve section reconstruction. The 1st loop isn’t counterbored to receive a tuning slide on either side (unlike my 36K) and the 4th loop doesn’t even go across the top/lefthand side of the horn.

Just trying to be helpful Incase anyone else with this model comes across this post.

Ltrain wrote: Roger: the 28K’s official catalog moniker is “28K Sousaphone EEb Sousaphone Grand.” They are not separate models. Just as the 32K = BBb Sousaphone Grand.

38K = BBb Sousaphone Grand

The 32K was the “lightweight” version.

I know, not the point of your post.

Kirley wrote:

Ltrain wrote: Roger: the 28K’s official catalog moniker is “28K Sousaphone EEb Sousaphone Grand.” They are not separate models. Just as the 32K = BBb Sousaphone Grand.

38K = BBb Sousaphone Grand

The 32K was the “lightweight” version.

I know, not the point of your post.

You’re right... typo fixed! Also made me laugh a little regarding Conn’s Grand/Lightweight sousas... my 28K is HEAVY (Grand?) for an Eb. Like, if you told me it was made of iron, I’d believe you.

Back to my question: does anyone know about this whole high/low pitch thing in context of 36/38Ks?