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Yup... I had a little shop time to spare so I took the opportunity to clean up my 48K and make some needed repairs. Aside from making the silver dazzle..... there was some pretty bad damage to the bottom bow that required replacement of the bow guards. The horn looks pretty good now.

Only three pictures allowed per message. Two more to follow....

Two more pictures....

Nice! I've always wanted to try one of those - bet it weighs a ton, especially after a long parade in the wind!

jonesbrass wrote:Nice! I've always wanted to try one of those - bet it weighs a ton, especially after a long parade in the wind!

Forty-two pounds.... 28" bell.... .775" bore. This sixty-five year-old won't be marching with this one!

Holy crap, that is a large sousa!

TubaTinker wrote:

jonesbrass wrote:Nice! I've always wanted to try one of those - bet it weighs a ton, especially after a long parade in the wind!

Forty-two pounds.... 28" bell.... .775" bore. This sixty-five year-old won't be marching with this one!

Dan, how many lbs did it lose after all dirt was removed?? Looks great. It probably can be spotted and photographed from the SPACE STATION.

Looks Grrrreat!

Nice work Dan!

7/4. Magnificient. If I were 20 years younger....

Dan -

I would like to volunteer myself to march with your horn. You have my number!

According to the Conn catalog from the late 1920's, the gold wash of the inside of the bell of Dan's 48K was a slightly higher priced option than the silver finished bell on my 48K.

As much as I love playing my concert tubas, I must say that playing my 48K is a special experience in itself. I take it now on all Dixieland/trad jazz, klezmer, ethnic, and the rare "funk"-type gigs. The bands really like the sound. When someone sitting in front of me in the band hears it for the first time, their head flicks around quickly to see whence that sound cometh.

I have been foolish enough to play mine on short walking (not really marching per se) engagements. The challenge hasn't been so much the weight on my shoulder as dealing with the wind hitting the 28" bell.

I REALLY need one of those "X" type sousaphone stands, but I've been unemployed for 8+ weeks. However, if anyone knows where I can find a used one, please steer me in the correct direction. I know that they appear occasionally on the auction sites.

Nice job on the polishing, Dan!

Dan, Great, looks even better than when I played it! I still have fond memories of its glorious sound, and seeing the pictures reminds me of the shoulder pain from its weight

Jonathan "who would love to play a 48K again, but with its weight taken by a stand!"

KiltieTuba wrote:Wow Dan! It must look even better in person

What'd you end up doing to the bottom bow anyway aside from the bow guards?

The bottom bow guards had to come off in order to get the dents out of the bow. Do you remember that there were a couple of pop-rivets holding two of ends of the guards on? Those pop-rivet holes had to be silver-soldered over and ground flush. Then... I bought new silver-plated guards and put them on. There are three guards. The one in the center goes on straight like most any other guard. But.... the ones on either side of it have to be bent on compound curves. It takes a while to put them on.... soldering about 2" at a time and then bending them the 'hard way' to match the bow. I expect the Conn factory had a fixture to make those 'hard way' bends.

WOW! I just added to my "bucket list". Let me know is you don't have room for it at your shop. Great job.