Holton Sousaphone

[Tubaing]

I saw them on tubenet.
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=22577&hilit=holton+ ... t&start=24

[TubaDave88]

I've got one of those Holton short-stroke sousaphones. The valves feel great, just as fast as a trumpet. Sadly, the intonation isn't the best, but then again, the neck I have is slightly bent. With the first valve, the Eb is sharp and the C above it is flat, too bad...

-Dave

[ztuba]

get A CONN 20K

[Matt G]

These valves are inventive, but do not seal as well as other pistons. They are like an unrolled rotary valve that is actuated in a vertical movement instead of rotational.

Also, the valve design is prohibitive to anything more than three valves. It would be difficult to make a four valve cluster. You can see it better in my pics (link posted by tubaing). All of the plumbing is on one side of the cluster.

The stroke is short and quick, probably more so than a Conn 20K set. The valves are also significantly lighter than Conn units, IIRC.