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I was called last night by a lady and asked to consider purchasing a 1920 Conn 40K Sousaphone that belonged to her late husband. I was going to ask the experts here for their opinion as to it's value, and also if anyone is interested in it. Unless I can get it for very little, I don't have too much interest in it, so I can arrange to give the person's contact number.

I just returned from having a look at the instrument. It is in very nice original condition for a 1920 horn. It seems to have been very well cared for, but has not been played in well over 20 years, probably more like 40 is my guess. It is silver plate, but the finish has a very heavy patina on it, and would need to be properly cleaned. The condition of the silver plate is just a mystery at this time with the heavy patina. I played it, and it is not bad, but I would not call it "playable" in the condition it is. The horn will need valve work as they are loose and leak. Oil would have helped, but without that, I can not really tell how it would play. It is in no way even close to either of my Reynolds in playability. I have read posts where they were referred to as a 6/4 sousaphone, but it is really not much larger than the Reynolds, and comparable weight. It has a 24" bell, but I do not think that it is the original neck. It comes with a very nice case, that is probably not original, but my guess is late 50's vintage. I did a search for 40K and saw some posts about the neck, and the neck is not like the ones posted, so it would most likely need something different. It had a funky extension on the neck to reach the mouthpiece. The bell is almost completely dent free, (only one very small mark), and shows no signs of previous dent work on the horn that I can see. Very few and all very minor dents anywhere on the horn. It seems to have all of the original braces, valve caps and water keys and all intact with no sign of damage. This horn was certainly never near a high school. I feel that it would certainly need a valve overhaul to make it a playable horn. Any feedback as to the value and what would be a reasonable offer, and also if anyone is interested would be greatly appreciated. I have 9 horns now, including two very nice playing sousaphones, so I don't need another one, but this Grand Bass is very intriguing.
She also has a double bell euphonium that I had a chance to play. Neat, but also needs work from a proper technician who can do a proper restoration.

Steve

40K is a great sousaphone, maybe the best, but that doesn't seem to matter as much as maybe it should. I guess because the sousaphone isn't regarded as a serious performance quality instrument, so no one really cares that much about things that would be a big deal if the tuba were folded up to fit in your lap. So ... a lot depends on you and what you want out of a sousaphone, particularly the 4th valve question. And whether your back is good enough, though if you were bothered by the weight, you didn't mention it. I've more or less come to the point where I doubt anyone's going to value my 40K as highly as I do, and it's just going to be my good tuba. Yeah, a sousaphone. (Valve job done, by the way.)

I've heard good things about Reynolds sousaphones.

Well I see this horn has made it to E-bay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-CG-CONN-BB ... 5418c29dc3" target="_blank I PM'd the contact info to a few from Tubenet. I talked to her and she said someone called and drove to Wisconsin from Ohio to get it. I don't see the case or neck included in the auction, or any mention of the valve issue, so "plays" should be taken with a grain of salt, but what happened to the case and neck? I feel that perhaps I gave her poor advice as to it's value? Does not leave me feeling very good.

"PLAYS
24 INCH BELL
ONLY SOME MINOR DINGS AND DENTS AS PICTURED
ALL SLIDES MOVE EASILY
SLIDES AND CROOKS HAVE NO DENTS
NO CASE ,MOUTHPIECE , BITS OR NECK
YOU ARE BUYING ONLY WHATS PICTURED"

I guess I may have miss-spoke about the "oil might help". When I talked to George Borodi about how to check for loose valves, he suggested I use STP to oil the valves to see if the horn would then be able to play notes to check the sound. It would be thick enough to seal and show the need for a valve job. With that in mind, that was what I was thinking, if oil is needed to get it any real sound out of it, then they are worn out. My son's Conn 1920 New Wonder Cornet has the same problem, but no amount of oil other than STP will fix the problem. (obviously you can't play with that in them.) When I grabbed the valve stem, there was significant play in the valves that show it needed a valve job. In any event, if the horn was anywhere near the value that is being asked for, then I really miss-led her onto it's value. This was a widow that was getting rid of her husbands stuff, so she wanted to get rid of it, just get a reasonable amount for the horn.

Steve

Hi-
The seller 'ILoveBadGirls' sells A LOT of stuff on Tubenet and always has sousaphone stuff on there. He either bought it and is attempting to make a good buck ( his right) or his 'commission' rate is very high (his right). This is not your fault at all--as soon as I saw who was selling it on eBay, everything started to click...
Mark

$3K might be a little optimistic, but for someone who really wants one it's reasonable. I believe the seller is a Tubenet member, by the way.

Reading the above to see what we said, I cringe to think that you'd have taken bloke's "offer her $1000" as a sort of blind appraisal value, but really there isn't any natural value for something like this, it entirely depends on who's buying.

I don't get how you know this is the same instrument, though - I read you to say that the one you looked at had silver plate?

.

saxophyte wrote:This sousa is mine its bare brass and its not the silver one from Wisconsin.
Yes I did buy the one from Wisconsin.It had been in a fire and had considerable work done to it and is now being restored .It is now living in Brazil.
Steve the one from Wisconsin is the one you tried to buy from the poor widow for $200

Well, I am sorry I ever got involved in this, and I offer my very public appology to saxophyte. I guess I have been played by her. I called her the other day to see how things went, and she said that the person I gave her contact info to is trying to flip it on e-bay without the case, and for a significant profit. (That is certainly your right, and nothing wrong with that. ) She did not tell me what she sold it for, and I didn't ask. The impression that I had from her was that she was not happy with me. As for the $200 dollar remark. I told her that I was not interested in it as I only had $200 and the horn was worth more than that and I would try to find a buyer for her. I told her that with the valves repaired, and in good playing condition, it was probably worth in the range of $2,000.00 I even offered to offer find recomendations on who to contact to repair the valves and evaluate the horn. I NEVER attempted to purchase it from her for $200, but the fact that she told you that makes me wonder about anything she said. Again, saxophyte, I am sorry to have posted any update on this. I wish you the best with your auction and will leave this to rest. Sorry I posted this.

Steve

This is kind of a funny story, hope you two take it in that vein. When I get a call from a widow with an old instrument to sell, I'm going to tell her she has the wrong number.