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txtuba01 wrote:Hello everybody! My instructor/band director is looking for a 'raincatcher' for me for our spring band concert. He wants me to play Beelzebub on an old sousaphone.

Are you looking for a bona-fide 'raincatcher' (a sousaphone that has the bell pointing straight up)? .... or just an old conventional sousaphone?

I understood that he was looking for the bell-up. Isn't that what a "raincatcher" is? I guess one could catch some rain in a regular sousaphone configuration.

TubaRay wrote:I understood that he was looking for the bell-up. Isn't that what a "raincatcher" is? I guess one could catch some rain in a regular sousaphone configuration.

Oh, I think I understand what he is looking for but simply asking for a sousaphone won't get you a 'raincatcher'.

Understood, Dan. I know you likely know a great deal on the subject, as well. I wasn't trying to be critical.

txtuba01 wrote:If one of these bell up horns cannot be found, I will look then for an old sousaphone.

I wonder how hard it's be to make an upright bell for a sousaphone. Start with an old bell, cut the bend out and shape a brass sheet to connect them. If On;y I had an old bell lying around....

Or, make one out of fiberglass. Use styrofoam to make a form, cover it with glass, and trhen remover the foam (might take a solvent to get it all out). I wonder what a glass bell on a metal horn would sound like...

Either could probabably be done in a few weeks. Finding the guy who is capable, willing, and has the time could be difficult. Maybe Joe or Rick is up for a challange?

Another option is to find an upright bell for a Conn 2XJ and use it with a Conn 20K sousaphone. I don't know what it would do to intonation, but it should fit. Of course finding an upright 2XJ bell may be nearly as hard as finding a raincatcher sousaphone.

If I still had my Buescher Eb raincatcher I would think that it would have been the perfect horn for Beelzebub. I find Beelzebub more comfortable to play on an Eb than a BBb, although the only time I played it in concert was on a BBb.

I do know someone with a Holton Monster BBb raincatcher sousaphone, but he is in NJ and not likely to ship it to Texas unless someone wanted to buy it. I don't know anyone in Texas who has one.

Lew wrote:Another option is to find an upright bell for a Conn 2XJ and use it with a Conn 20K sousaphone.

Y'know... I hadn't thought about that but I'll bet it would work. I doubt the bell would have much impact on intonation. Besides.... intonation couldn't be any worse that any ordinary sousaphone! Might be easy to locate a 20K locally and surely someone could loan Txtuba01 a 2XJ bell. If I had a bell I would send it!