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Anybody know the make/model of Kirk Joseph's new Sousaphone?

Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 4:51 pm
by David Richoux
Saw him playing with Dirty Dozen (after many yeas away from that group) and he had this (looks) new 4 valve horn:
kirk joseph.jpg
Any ideas?

Re: Anybody know the make/model of Kirk Joseph's new Sousaph

Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 5:11 pm
by David Richoux
Thanks.

According to their website it has strainless steel valves!

Re: Anybody know the make/model of Kirk Joseph's new Sousaph

Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 10:35 pm
by Full Metal Ratchet
David Richoux wrote:Thanks.

According to their website it has strainless steel valves!
Makes it easier to hit the high notes! :tuba:

Re: Anybody know the make/model of Kirk Joseph's new Sousaph

Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 8:26 am
by SousaSaver
bloke wrote:"Cut it to CC."
Yeah, for all those orchestral Sousaphone gigs! :lol:

Re: Anybody know the make/model of Kirk Joseph's new Sousaph

Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 2:44 pm
by Alex C
David Richoux wrote:Thanks.

According to their website it has strainless steel valves!
If the stainless steel valve doesn't wear, the piston casing will wear. To repair that (admittedly after many years), the piston have to be trued and fitted as with regular valves. (I don't know what you plate it with.)

So, what's the advantage?

The difference between the weight of the 3 and 4 valve Jupiter sousaphone is immediately noticable. The 4 valve is a boulder on your shoulder.

Re: Anybody know the make/model of Kirk Joseph's new Sousaph

Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 3:18 pm
by David Richoux
Alex C wrote:
David Richoux wrote:Thanks.

According to their website it has strainless steel valves!
If the stainless steel valve doesn't wear, the piston casing will wear. To repair that (admittedly after many years), the piston have to be trued and fitted as with regular valves. (I don't know what you plate it with.)

So, what's the advantage?

The difference between the weight of the 3 and 4 valve Jupiter sousaphone is immediately noticable. The 4 valve is a boulder on your shoulder.
They aren't stainless - they are STRAINLESS! :shock:

I know the pain of a 4th valve - on my 1929 Conn it is not only the weight - the 4th pipe lays right against my diaphragm, even after I had it re-shaped a bit at Best Music Repair. However, I think it is worth the penalties.

Re: Anybody know the make/model of Kirk Joseph's new Sousaph

Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 3:23 pm
by imperialbari
David Richoux wrote:I know the pain of a 4th valve - on my 1929 Conn it is not only the weight - the 4th pipe lays right against my diaphragm, even after I had it re-shaped a bit at Best Music Repair. However, I think it is worth the penalties.

You had Best Music Repair reshaping your diaphragm?

K

Re: Anybody know the make/model of Kirk Joseph's new Sousaph

Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 4:50 pm
by iiipopes
Being a Jupiter, I hope they've done more QC and upgrade to build quality than the souzys I played a couple of years ago that were so light the metal dented just picking them up, and so thin that the entire horn simply buzzed metal resonance instead of intonating an actual souzy tone.

Re: Anybody know the make/model of Kirk Joseph's new Sousaph

Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 9:04 pm
by David Richoux
imperialbari wrote:
David Richoux wrote:I know the pain of a 4th valve - on my 1929 Conn it is not only the weight - the 4th pipe lays right against my diaphragm, even after I had it re-shaped a bit at Best Music Repair. However, I think it is worth the penalties.

You had Best Music Repair reshaping your diaphragm?

K
It wasn't very pretty then and it has gotten worse after 20+ years ;D

(if they had not reset the plumbing I would have to tip the horn back about 15 degrees!)

Re: Anybody know the make/model of Kirk Joseph's new Sousaph

Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 11:57 pm
by toobagrowl
Has anyone here played on the newer Jupiter souzys; especially this 4-valve model?

Re: Anybody know the make/model of Kirk Joseph's new Sousaph

Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 11:47 am
by tokuno
Alex C wrote:The difference between the weight of the 3 and 4 valve Jupiter sousaphone is immediately noticable. The 4 valve is a boulder on your shoulder.
Ah, so you would need an over-the-shoulder-boulder holder, i.e. tubra, eh? :wink: