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Hi there!

I've been having several issues with my sousaphone in marching band. She's just about 25 years old and is now showing her age.

My issue is the lead pipe. As many of you may know, on a sousa there's the mouthpiece, which connects to the bits, which fit well into the lead pipe. Though sadly, My lead pipe has been bent, So far bent that it's pinched off. There's an incredible amount of resistance and a disturbing airy quality to the tone. I'm wondering if anyone knows how to get that pipe back into shape,and possibly fix any air leaks that have resulted.

Thank you!

OK. Starting with the mouthpiece and going toward the valve cluster you have....

- Mouthpiece
- bits
- upper mouthpipe
(the above items come off the horn)
- the lower mouthpipe (which is fixed to the horn).

If it's the upper mouthpipe... have your band director buy a new one.

If it's the lower mouthpipe... have your band director send the sousa to a repair shop.

If you don't know.... post a picture.