Hail to the King baby! - New Jumbo Sousa Day!
Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 11:14 am
Well, I finally did it! I am the new owner of a Jumbo sousaphone...a King 1265. I picked it up yesterday at the Chicago Greyhound station, carried it a few blocks in the south loop area, and took it with me on the commuter train out to the 'burbs. The horn was packed in bubble wrap and arrived safely. GPX has my vote for a safe way to transport a tuba!
This thing is HUGE!
While carrying the horn on city streets, I was really surprised at how uneventful people seemed to think it was. Although, carrying a sousaphone around seems to really make women take notice and smile at you. The men seemed oblivious. So, I guess if you're looking for a date....this may be for you! My wife likes the horn...so maybe there is some truth to it!
I sat in the Great Hall at Chicago's Union Station for about an hour with the horn laying on the floor by me. I so wish I had a mouthpiece on me...might have been able to make a few bucks while waiting for a non-rush hour train (I figured the conductors would be none-to-pleased if I took up four seats on a rush hour train). I think the Jumbo might have sounded pretty good in that hall. The horn also attracted the interest of a couple homeless people....heck...it made for an interesting afternoon!
....anyway, on to the horn.
I purchased the horn from a Tubenetter, and this horn's serial number is exactly 1 number before Kiltie's...they're practically twins! All the bracing seems to be in good shape. The plating is good as well. There are lots of dents, but nothing too severe. The third valve seems a bit airy to me, but it plays pretty well. The pad on the spit valve has more or less disintegrated, so that may be the cause. I am not 100% sure that the neck/bit is correct for this horn. The neck looks right I think, but it has a strange single long "bent bit." I think this causes the bell to sit too far forward. Overall, this horn is really close to being a great player. I think a quick tune-up will fix most of these issues. Maybe a complete restoration should be in the works as well.
I am going to be on the lookout for some vintage-style parts to complete the horn's "restoration." I know these are all laying in a parts box in someone's repair shop...I just need to find them! I need:
* 3 bell screws (the bell fits really light without them though
* lead pipe screw (the screw in it now has a modern knurled flat head)
* proper lead pipe / bits
* 3 silver valve caps
Right now, this horn feels like home. It looks like a King...it sounds like a King...yup...it even smells like a King. It really just feels like a bigger version of the King 1271 4-valve Giant I have played for years both in undergrad and alumni band at Purdue. I only got to hold Purdue's Big Bertha once, and that was over 15 years ago...so unfortunately I can't compare this horn to it. ...the weight seems about right though (less a fourth valve)
I am hoping to have mine in tip top shape for Purdue's 2013 Homecoming game Alumni Band! That would put three King Jumbos on the field at the same time. I am going to also have to work out a bit if I expect to carry it very far!
I tried a couple mouthpieces with the Jumbo. I first tried a Loud LM-7. It was OK...nothing extraordinary about the sound. I then thought that maybe a bigger cup was needed to bring the voice out. So, I tried an LM-3. It gave the horn a nice and dark sound, but it lost a lot of the characteristic sousaphone edge. So, then I, of course, had to try the LM-12. Yup...that did the trick....phat lows and great sizzle! In the hands of a better tuba player than I....this thing would be dangerous!
In my picture above, the horn in the background is my Conn 40K with a 24in bell (it is actually sitting on a stand). I still think the 40K is an overall better "tuba," but the 1265 makes for the better sousaphone with its looks and just obscene size (and sound). It is also a very good thing that our old house has 9ft ceilings. While standing, I just barely fit!
I've convinced my wife to learn tuba (she plays tenor sax) so that we can both play at Tuba Christmas (I play at Chicago and Antioch...and some others)...her with the Conn, and me with the King! However, she's asked that I buy no more tubas....and maybe consider selling a couple bass guitars... She's been great to put up with me....I'll have to see what I can do. ...and we have agreed that this stuff needs to get insured.....I think it's time to put this stuff on a specific music instrument policy.
I'll try and update this thread with more pictures and size comparisons with the 40K. I think this project is going to be fun!
...and so the fun begins...I mean continues!
jc
This thing is HUGE!
While carrying the horn on city streets, I was really surprised at how uneventful people seemed to think it was. Although, carrying a sousaphone around seems to really make women take notice and smile at you. The men seemed oblivious. So, I guess if you're looking for a date....this may be for you! My wife likes the horn...so maybe there is some truth to it!
I sat in the Great Hall at Chicago's Union Station for about an hour with the horn laying on the floor by me. I so wish I had a mouthpiece on me...might have been able to make a few bucks while waiting for a non-rush hour train (I figured the conductors would be none-to-pleased if I took up four seats on a rush hour train). I think the Jumbo might have sounded pretty good in that hall. The horn also attracted the interest of a couple homeless people....heck...it made for an interesting afternoon!
....anyway, on to the horn.
I purchased the horn from a Tubenetter, and this horn's serial number is exactly 1 number before Kiltie's...they're practically twins! All the bracing seems to be in good shape. The plating is good as well. There are lots of dents, but nothing too severe. The third valve seems a bit airy to me, but it plays pretty well. The pad on the spit valve has more or less disintegrated, so that may be the cause. I am not 100% sure that the neck/bit is correct for this horn. The neck looks right I think, but it has a strange single long "bent bit." I think this causes the bell to sit too far forward. Overall, this horn is really close to being a great player. I think a quick tune-up will fix most of these issues. Maybe a complete restoration should be in the works as well.
I am going to be on the lookout for some vintage-style parts to complete the horn's "restoration." I know these are all laying in a parts box in someone's repair shop...I just need to find them! I need:
* 3 bell screws (the bell fits really light without them though
* lead pipe screw (the screw in it now has a modern knurled flat head)
* proper lead pipe / bits
* 3 silver valve caps
Right now, this horn feels like home. It looks like a King...it sounds like a King...yup...it even smells like a King. It really just feels like a bigger version of the King 1271 4-valve Giant I have played for years both in undergrad and alumni band at Purdue. I only got to hold Purdue's Big Bertha once, and that was over 15 years ago...so unfortunately I can't compare this horn to it. ...the weight seems about right though (less a fourth valve)
I am hoping to have mine in tip top shape for Purdue's 2013 Homecoming game Alumni Band! That would put three King Jumbos on the field at the same time. I am going to also have to work out a bit if I expect to carry it very far!
I tried a couple mouthpieces with the Jumbo. I first tried a Loud LM-7. It was OK...nothing extraordinary about the sound. I then thought that maybe a bigger cup was needed to bring the voice out. So, I tried an LM-3. It gave the horn a nice and dark sound, but it lost a lot of the characteristic sousaphone edge. So, then I, of course, had to try the LM-12. Yup...that did the trick....phat lows and great sizzle! In the hands of a better tuba player than I....this thing would be dangerous!
In my picture above, the horn in the background is my Conn 40K with a 24in bell (it is actually sitting on a stand). I still think the 40K is an overall better "tuba," but the 1265 makes for the better sousaphone with its looks and just obscene size (and sound). It is also a very good thing that our old house has 9ft ceilings. While standing, I just barely fit!
I've convinced my wife to learn tuba (she plays tenor sax) so that we can both play at Tuba Christmas (I play at Chicago and Antioch...and some others)...her with the Conn, and me with the King! However, she's asked that I buy no more tubas....and maybe consider selling a couple bass guitars...
She's been great to put up with me....I'll have to see what I can do. ...and we have agreed that this stuff needs to get insured.....I think it's time to put this stuff on a specific music instrument policy.I'll try and update this thread with more pictures and size comparisons with the 40K. I think this project is going to be fun!
...and so the fun begins...I mean continues!
jc