Brand names vary, but we all generally play bell front Sousaphones and place them in the rear of the band.Jonathantuba wrote:The Besson 982 Eb is almost universally used by the British military bands. What is the type of sousaphone used by the US military? Would the type I saw played by the US Navy band be the same type as the ones on the inauguration parade?
US military sousaphone
- WoodSheddin
- 5 valves
- Posts: 1497
- Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2004 9:44 pm
- Location: On the bike
- Contact:
Re: US military sousaphone
Last edited by WoodSheddin on Fri Jan 21, 2005 5:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
sean chisham
- WoodSheddin
- 5 valves
- Posts: 1497
- Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2004 9:44 pm
- Location: On the bike
- Contact:
Re: US military sousaphone
Almost always BBb 3 valved.Jonathantuba wrote:Excuse my ignorance in this area, but would they be in BBb and with 4 valves?WoodSheddin wrote:Brand names vary, but we all generally play bell front Sousaphones and place them in the rear of the band. For the inaugural I believe all the bands had 9 across the back.
sean chisham
-
- 6 valves
- Posts: 4109
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 4:24 pm
- Location: San Antonio, Texas
- Contact:
US military sousaphone
Just as it was during all the Reagan ceremonies, it was good to see our nation's military bands front and center. These men and women are awesome. They certainly make me proud.
Ray Grim
The TubaMeisters
San Antonio, Tx.
The TubaMeisters
San Antonio, Tx.
The three valve Conn 20Ks are all most of us need to do our marching gigs. The privaledged(false) tones are easy to play in tune and speak very well. It's not very often that I stray too far from the ink on marches, but when I need those notes, they are available. Four valves would just be extra weight.
-
- 4 valves
- Posts: 928
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 7:50 am
Jonathan,
To answer your question, the overwhelming majority of US military bands have used either the Conn 20K sousaphone (in BBb, 3 valves), or the standard King sousaphone at the time of manufacture (model 1250, 2350, BBb, 3 valves). A few bands have tried the Yamaha BBb sousaphone, which is patterned after an old Martin sousaphone, but I have seen mixed reviews on this instrument.
To answer your question, the overwhelming majority of US military bands have used either the Conn 20K sousaphone (in BBb, 3 valves), or the standard King sousaphone at the time of manufacture (model 1250, 2350, BBb, 3 valves). A few bands have tried the Yamaha BBb sousaphone, which is patterned after an old Martin sousaphone, but I have seen mixed reviews on this instrument.
Lee A. Stofer, Jr.