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lost wrote:http://www.ebay.com/itm/Conn-48k-sousap ... 339cc5930b

Now that there is so much supply, I wonder if the prices will follow.

Not necessarily. TubaTinker mentioned many months ago that he had received an offer of $6,000 for his 48K.

Interesting this one has a smaller than usual bell.

Possible. Kiltie and I remember a 4-valve Conn Jumbo that had a 24" bell.

The standard diameter of a 48K bell is 28" (mine is an example). The seller may be slightly off in his measurement...or, Conn could have custom built a 27" bell.

KiltieTuba wrote:In fact I think this might be the same "48K" that was sold on here or Ebay a few years ago...

... if you look at the bell and bell knee on the body, you'll notice the general lack of a brace supporting the bell knee/receiver. You'll then see the rather odd ferrule by the upper inner branch, which would be where the bell originally mounted to. I'm pretty sure this is the same converted raincatcher from Sonicwave, or Ultrawave, or Superwave - Shockwave:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=47603

This is also the same horn that Lee Stofer recently worked on. So assuming that it is the same "48K" as the converted raincatcher, we know that each of the following own a 48K:

- Mike Lynch
- Steve Marcus
- Dan Schultz
- Greenleaf Collection at Interlochen (the Conn 50th Anniversary unique-never-to-be-sold Jumbo with the ornate 36" bell)

That makes 4 48K's + 1 50th Anniversary. Is that few enough to be considered "rare?"

What other Conn 48K 4-valve Grand Jumbos do we know of?

P.S. FWIW, I truly enjoy playing my 48K for trad jazz, various kinds of "ethnic" music, etc. because of its big, warm, full tone quality. No fancy formation marching, but I have been foolish enough to accept "strolling" gigs with the Jumbo. I played it in concert with Chicago Metropolitan Brass Ensemble for - what else? - a circus march (Barnum & Bailey's Favorite). This one horn took the place and function of two horns (which is how I convinced my wife to let me purchase it). I sold a 20J AND a 36K sousaphone with 14K brass bell to make room for the 48K, so I'm not really a "collector." Yes, the Jumbo looks cool, too. At 58 years of age (the horn is 85 years old) and 5'4" in height, so far my shoulder and other parts of my body have held up well even after long sets with the Jumbo. Hopefully, this will remain true for many years to come.

There is one in St Louis. Can't come up with the owner's name.