I am currently looking for both a sousaphone and a concert tuba. Both need to be in the key of BBb/Bb and in reasonably good condition. The tuba needs to be ready to go and play perfectly fine, I wish to not have to do much anything other than give it a bath and polish it. I prefer to not have to do much refurbishing on the sousaphone, but I’m open to older antique/vintage horns that play but need some cosmetic tlc and cleaning. Here’s my requirements for each instrument:
Tuba:
•Key - Bb/BBb
•Number of valves - 4 or 5
•Preferred size- 4/4 or 5/4
•Preferred set-up - Front-action piston valves. I don’t like rotary valves too much and have always preferred pistons.
•Preferred brands - Conn, King, or Wessex. These are just preferred brands, and I’m open to basically anything. All I request is no Jupiters and no plastics such as the cool-wind tubas.
•Preferred bell diameter - 18in. to 22in.
•Preferred finish- silver plated
•Price- $3,000
•Preferred Condition- Used, but in excellent shape or better (new, refurbished, or open-box/b-stock if possible)
Sousaphone: *NO fiberglass please!*
•Key- Bb/BBb
•Preferred brands: Conn, King, or some other vintage/antique horn. The older, the better.
•Preferred bell diameter- 26in, minimum of 25in.
•Preferred finish- silver plate or nickel plate
•Max price- $2,500
•Preferred Condition- Doesn’t matter for the most part. Must be functional with no missing parts unless it’s something minor such as a spring, water key, water key cork, or something of that nature. If it is in silver plate, it doesn’t matter if it’s heavily tarnished (even to the point of being odd brown, black, and yellow colors) if it’s in silver plate.
*Note: I would prefer to either get the sousaphone really cheap (less than $2k) or be able to pay it off through some type of financing.
Thank you for viewing, and thanks for any help!
*Note: I’m open to trades as well, but it depends on what you are looking for as I have 4 instruments in working condition I’m currently willing to go that route with. They include two euphoniums and two trumpets. I have a few more that have to be repaired first but are almost done. I still have a few other instruments I could trade, but it will take quite the bargain to get me to let go of them. If you’re interested in a trade, tell me what you’re looking for and I can tell you if I have it or not. Thanks everyone!
