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Hi all!

I'm wanting to try out some sousaphones before I jump in and buy one. I'll be taking a roadtrip in March and I'm just wondering what stores exist in the upper Midwest that typically have sousaphones in stock. I'll be going through the Twin Cities, Madison, and Chicago. If you have any good suggestions, I would be much obliged.

Thanks!!

----edit----
In the interest of being more clear, I'd love to try a Conn 20K or 14K or a King 2350. Anybody in the vicinity of those 3 cities, if you have one you wouldn't mind me honking on for a bit, that would be most excellent!

hit up Borodi Music in Cleveland, he overhauls old horns and had a whole bunch of them when I paid him a visit, came home with a nice Conn 14K

edit: that might be a bit farther east than you were thinking...

Steve, I have 2 good examples of Eb sousaphones if you get down to Fargo. One, 28K and an old King, by H.N. White. I'd might even be willing to part with one of them if you're interested.

Steve,
Buy an old 20K and you won't be disappointed.

Tim

Rob: Cleveland is definitely not in the travel plans this time around, but I like what they have there. Is that 14K the one you play with the Heavyweights?? You sound great on that!! Any plans to come back to Winnipeg anytime soon?

Chad: I just might stop by on the way back through ND.

Tim: I just might. Gotta try one first, though....

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/msg/3579356099.html

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/msd/3568167911.html

Ooh! I got one.

http://www.1800usaband.com/" target="_blank - Taylor Music.
I remember this website from when I was in the hunt for a sousa.
(BTW Steve - yes, this 14k is the one I play with the Heavyweights - thanks! We may try to get back to Wpeg this summer, dunno yet)

They are in South Dakota and their website lists a good assortment of sousaphones. Not too far off your track.

Steve Oberheu wrote:Rob: Is that 14K the one you play with the Heavyweights?? You sound great on that!!

Don't forget The Boxcar Boys, who occasionally play at the Wychwood Farmers' Market at the end of our street!

RE: kiltie's post - I am 150 miles west of Chicago, so I am much less than 8 hours away from Chicago - I'm not even 8 hours away from Minneapolis, and a lot of other places. And, yes, I have some sousaphones, which I'm happy to let anyone honk on. They are not on the website, because I haven't had time to post them.

I am showing three of them at the Army Band's Tuba Conference this weekend. One is on the website, the "Beverely June" Holton raincatcher w/ gold-plated bell, vintage 1933.
I also just recently acquired a 1920's Conn 4v. 40K BBb sousa in silver w/ gold trim. This instrument is a reall honey of a tuba, with all sorts of fine hand-craftsmanship, including mother-of-pearl rings inlaid into the bottom caps around the vent holes.
I'll also show a creation by the late Harv Hartman, a raincatcher sousaphone-of-sorts comprised of a lacquered Martin valveset on a 22K Conn fiberglass body, painted black, where the bell bow has been removed from the body and a King bell socket installed in it's place, and finally a lacquered H.N. White recording bass bell. It sounds pretty bizarre, but looks really rather good, and is a really dark-and-focused sounding player where the bell can be directed upward or at any angle towards the front.

Yes, sir, that's the horn! Pretty interesting, huh?