John Packer sousaphones

[bloke]

yup.

very good...

affordable...

c. half the cost of Taiwanese...

YET, with JP durability...

compare to King...

ABS case (& shipping) included...

HIGH RESOLUTION PICTURES:
https://i.imgur.com/hnML2AE.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/5QVEwOL.jpg

[Ace]

Do they have a four-valve Sousa?

Ace

[bloke]

Do they have a four-valve Sousa?

Ace

thankfully, NO.
Schools would buy them, if they did.

four-valve sousaphones in schools:
considerable extra weight/exposed small tubing/several additional small and delicate braces/much more damage - some of which would - necessarily - be difficult to access

When the instrument was in development, I strongly encouraged Rob (begged him) to ~not~ offer 4-valve sousaphones. So far, he's heeded my advice and wishes.

again, (as expressed in another post) the JP business model is...
~ a concise and very high quality line of musical instruments which appeals to the widest spectrum of consumers ~

bloke "I made that up, but believe it to be very accurate."

[Kirley]

How's the intonation?
Do they have upper 1st valve slides?

[Three Valves]

Fiberglass??

And how about accessories like a drink holder and umbrella??

[bloke]

How's the intonation?

Compare to King.

Do they have upper 1st valve slides?

Nope. The linked picture above, again (though taken from a phone camera), really is high resolution.

[iiipopes]

How's the intonation?
Do they have upper 1st valve slides?

The "King-style" 1st valve loop is not as amenable to an upper movable slide as is the "Conn-Style."

[bloke]

For those already familiar with John Packer quality,
a possible choice could be

ONE of these: http://www.samash.com/jupiter-594s-bbb-sousaphone-silver-plate-j594sxxxx

~ or ~

TWO John Packer sousaphones.

...and which one, would you guess, would offer FEWER
- torn-up necks
- torn-up neck receivers
- broken brace flanges
- messed-up bell screw flanges
- stuck valves
- failed neck receiver braces
- twisted lower mouthpipe tubes

eh...?