TubeNet

TubeNetters,
I'm looking to buy an sousaphone that will easily give you the "overblown" or "rattle the bell" sound. I have an idea that this involves thinner brass, smaller bores, but maybe not.
Recently I have come across studio situations where I know that is the sound that the producer wants. (My "good horn" is made to avoid the sound....) And, being in my 50s, I don't want to work harder than necessary to get the sound.
What horn do I need? Good response and intonation is a plus, is a plus, even in these days of autotune...
I bet that some of the band directors on the board have compared horns, and I bet that the repair meisters (Bloke, Lee, etc) know too.
Thanks in advance!!!! Bubba

In college, we played King silver satin souzys, and never had a problem peeling the paint off of the press box. If we weren't getting hateful looks from the woodwinds, it wasn't a productive rehearsal.

You might also try a shallow mouthpiece, for another way to get a more colorful sound. I guess LM12 is the extreme case, Marcinkiewicz has a couple different options, like the H4.

But not the Miraphone C4 (TU23), for example - while somewhat shallow, it's not at all what I'm talking about at all. Narrow throat? I don't know, just isn't it.

Any King brass Sousa will get this job done.

The director of my community band will tell you that my Conn 36K (yes... fiberglass) and a PT-48X is a pretty deadly combination! I thought for some time that he was just being friendly when he put his hand up while we were playing!

Vince has a King 1280 fiberglass souzy that would be perfect for you:
http://www.tubaexchange.com/used-produc ... G%20681540" target="_blank" target="_blank

Conn 14K or a Conn 20K USA

Bubba - You never mention what your "good horn" is. This might help some of the TubeNet users figure out what works for you, and what a potential alternative to that might be. Are you looking for a growling type sound?

Any Jupiters manufactured prior to the Sam Pilafian and Pat Sheridan revamp.

They are cheap to find and fit the bill perfectly.

'Netters,
THANKS for the good info.
I think I'll get an 80s King (or a Jupiter if one shows up).

Heres the story of why I need this.

I lost out on a session with a very hip national group. (would have been a BIG feather in my cap) They called me and just asked for marching band tuba. I brought my good horn (a PT1 with PT82 mpc). But the part to play was a funk riff, and the sound they wanted was a paint-peeling overblown sousaphone. I could not produce it on that horn. I wanted them to get the result they wanted, so I very carefully explained to them to not ask for a tuba, the sound they want is an overblown sousaphone, and I gave them the phone number of the top guy in town who has a collection of @ 30 horns of all types. I saw him a week later and asked him how the session went. He said they called him and then cancelled at the last minute. I then asked him how the call from the group came in, and he said they just asked for marching band tuba.....

Anyway, I gleaned some lessons.

1) Most people, even musicians, when they say tuba they are thinking sousaphone.

2) I used to read interviews with top session bass players. Invariably they would describe the ARSENAL of instruments they would have at every session. I first thought that was crazy, with all the tools engineers have to shape sound. I now think I could take a cue from them.

The last session I did I took 3 horns (2 upright tubas and plastic sousaphone). The producer picked the plastic King sousaphone.(Although I know he really would have like a brass sousa sound if I had one). Success, anyway. And this recording, when it comes out will be a big feather in my cap.

Onward, Bubba