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Lew
5 valves
5 valves
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Post by Lew »

Conn defined the bore on these as 0.770". There always seems to be at least one of these on ebay at any point in time. I have owned 4 different samples of these, 2 with upright bells, 1 with a recording bell, and one with side/front action valves. They do have a big, resonant sound, but the third partial is generally flat. I prefer similar Martin horns for that reason.

4 valve versions were also offered and regularly for sale, although I have never personally seen a 4 valve version with side action, only top action.
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Chuck(G)
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Post by Chuck(G) »

For a brief time, I owned a 25J (4-valve with 24" upright bell) version of the 2xJ. Definitely not my cup of tea--big and woofy with interesting intonation. If you want a big horn, a good Martin or Holton woiuld be a better choice, I'd thnk.

Given that the seller wants to ship this as two boxes via Fedex Ground, I think that the current price ($500) is about right, shipping's going to run another $250.

(The guy I sold it to also owned it for a breif time, as did the guy he sold it to.)
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Chuck(G)
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Post by Chuck(G) »

harold wrote:
Personally, I've been looking all my life for the "Citroen" of tubas.
Aren't those called Kalison?
Nope, they'd be Courtois or Cuesnon, right? Kalison would be a Fiat or Alfa.
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twoconnguy
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Post by twoconnguy »

Yes they are quirky intonation wise, and heavy, but I play in community bands that play for the average joes in the crowd, not the music majors in the band, or directors trying to impress other directors, and I am the only tuba at times, so I love mine. I use the bell up on a stage with good deflectors or band shells outdoors that work, and the bell front for the questionable acoustics venues or outdoors without a shell. We get a lot of positive comments from the crowd about actually being able to hear the tubas for a change, and I think Sousa and Karl King (the largest part of our repetoire) wanted the tubas to be heard.
As for the car comparisons...1950 Buick Dynaflo?
Now can someone out there that appreciates these horns a bit tell me what is with the third valve tubing on this one?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 7327008054
I've never seen that before...is it a very early model or something custom?
Silver 25J, Bell Up & Front
Silver 38K Sousa
186-4R Mirafone, Bell Up & Front
M & W 19, Detatchable Bell
First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band
http://www.sousaband.net" target="_blank
Plymouth Concert Band
http://www.plymouthconcertband.org" target="_blank
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Lew
5 valves
5 valves
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Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 4:57 pm
Location: Annville, PA

Post by Lew »

twoconnguy wrote: ...

Now can someone out there that appreciates these horns a bit tell me what is with the third valve tubing on this one?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 7327008054
I've never seen that before...is it a very early model or something custom?
Yes, this was the original third valve wrap on a 20J. I don't know exactly when they changed, but some time in the 50s or 60s they went to a version with a single loop, like on this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... eName=WDVW
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