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Hello

On Swiss auction site I found a small sousaphone. The seller said it says "Orsi Milano" on the bell. I have no idea about the serial number, but maybe I can find it out. Des anyone has any information (e.g. pitch) about this instrument?

http://www.ricardo.ch/kaufen/musik-und- ... tureKey=48" target="_blank" target="_blank

By the way, at the moment it's at 40 Swiss francs which is little less than 40$. Pick up in Switzerland.

Regards
Butch

EDIT: Seller says no serial number.

Orsi made sousas in BBb and a few different types in Eb. This one is most definitely an Eb. As evident by the small size and the 1/2 circle loop.

Thanks for the answer.

If it is in Eb, is there a way to "modify" it to Bb?

Greetings Butch

There's actually a thread on this very topic being discussed right now: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=52380" target="_blank
Basically, because there is so much difference in the length of tubing between the Eb and BBb tuba/sousa, trying to convert it would ruin the instrument.
Best luck would be looking for a cheap BBb or learning Eb.

Interesting question - do you mean, as in Bb baritone horn? Or BBb contrabass tuba?

Orsi made one of those little Bb sousaphones, and at first I wondered if this dinky thing might be one. The body `circle' appears to be only about 20 inches in diameter, generously ... but I guess that's big enough to be Eb. The Bb sousaphones weren't big enough to fit into, if I remember right (unable to summon up a picture.) Assuming it's Eb, I'm guessing the chances of successful conversion to (smaller) Bb are no better than to (bigger) BBb, perhaps even worse.

Well I thought to cut it down to a Bb baritone horn.

And it may already be a Bb baritone, really not easy for me to make this add up to the 4 and some meters it would need for Eb.



Total height 104 cm, bell 47 cm. So, let's say body circle diameter is 50 cm, circumference thus 157; double-back from the bell adds about a half circle, 235; say 30 cm for the bell and leadpipe, and rounding way up I get 3 meters - much closer to Bb than Eb. (You check my all my numbers, including the exact lengths for Eb and Bb horns, before making any decisions based on this.)

But if it's Eb, that's the deal: it's well over 4 meters, and you have to cut it back to 3, about 2/3 of its length. That missing length was conical, so either you find new larger bore valves and leadpipe, or live with an abrupt change of diameter after the valves.

Clearly, you should buy it. If it's Bb as the dimensions appear to add up for me, then you're in luck. If you think KiltieTuba knows what he's talking about, then it's Eb but will be easy to convert to Bb. I hope you'll give us a report on it in any case!

Here's an idea for you on the dimensions, if you have a good eye for proportion: cut a length of cheap cord to 403 cm (Eb), and lay it on the floor coiled up in the shape of the main bore, including valves, leadpipe and bell. Note the dimensions of your sousaphone mock-up, then cut the cord to 270 cm (Bb) and try it again. They should be radically different. Then all you have to do is estimate bell size, in proportion to the mock-ups, and see if one of them comes out close to 47 cm.

I didn't get it. Someone as quicker than me. But that's ok, I don't know how to play a sousaphone in Eb, as the one seems to be.

butch wrote:But that's ok, I don't know how to play a sousaphone in Eb

We can tell you how, just ask us! Ask us anything!

I'm sure you can. But all our bands sheet music is for Bb-instruments.