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As I help my son's high school band director purchase "new" sousaphones for the band, my research, and the school's budget, has encouraged us to consider refurbished or overhauled Conn 14Ks or 20Ks from the Elkhart factory era.

The 14K seems like a great fit for a high school context, as it has a clear, focused sound, and is slightly smaller and lighter than the 20K (and like all older Conns, they are sturdy instruments).

I've read nothing but positive comments about the 14K here on TubeNet, so this is probably the direction we will go. But before we pull the trigger (or, er, push the piston?!) on a purchase, are there any concerns out there regarding the 14K?

This is high school. The fact it is not a jumbo is a benefit.

Before production of the 14K ceased, it was a standard sousaphone for schools, along with the King 2350 (or whatever it used to be called), and if lighter weight were desired, the fiberglass analogs of these two models, 36K and 2370.

I have played them. They are solid, substantial, good sounding, good intonation instruments. They will take the inevitable hard wear that happens in a school. A refurbished 14K will last longer than a new Jupiter, and is less expensive going in.

Because it had been made for many decades, every shop worth its tools will have a good morgue of "crash parts."

Yes. I believe a refurb 14K (or King, for that matter) is a better investment than any new sousaphone made today.

I have either owned or played over the last forty years:
King fiberglass
King brass
Conn 14K
Conn 20K
Conn 36K
Conn 38K
Reynolds
Olds
Buescher
Jupiter
Bundy/Signet
Cavalier (the horn that later became the Conn 14K)
Yamaha

Finally, one of the community bands I play with occasionally rehearses at a regional high school. Every time I go, I am pleased that they still have a wall full of 36K's in good condition, now 30 years after cessation of production, and they were a few years old even then.

The original Conn 14K (Elkhart era) sousaphones are pretty nice. I like them better than the Conn 20K. I group the 14K along with the Continental Colonial, 36K and Selmer Signet sousas. They are all similar with just slight differences between them.

Sound: Very dark, smooth (probably the darkest-sounding of the "4/4" sousas.) But not as clear or textured as the Kings or Yamahas.

Intonation: Above average/good. Flat 4th partial open Bb and second-space C right above it. Sharp 6th partial open F (like the Kings). Really, not too bad though, and everything else is very close.

Craftsmanship/build: Very good. I Think the Selmer Signet may be even better-made because of the thicker bracing and metal used in the valveset.