Newbie Sousa bits question

eli · Post by **eli** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 11:00 pm

Standing as I am on the threshold of joining the breth/sisteren (I'm about to buy a beater sousa for $200), I have the following question:

What sousaphone mouthpipes ("necks") and tuning bits are interchangeable with what others? Specifically, can one use any other brands on a King?

Thanks,
-- eli

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 11:29 pm

Some of the Reynolds, Olds, and York sousa necks with interchange with King. When you get your sousa, measure the inside diameter of the receiver for the upper mouthpipe (neck) and post again. There are often sousa necks and bits for sale on Ebay. Otherwise, you can expect to spend over $100 bucks for a new neck and two bits. I don't know where all the sousa necks go. Probably the same place as all those missing socks!

Dave Hayami · Post by **Dave Hayami** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 12:06 am

To go along with Dan's post,
HN White/King had 2 different styles of "Necks", depending on the age/model of the sousaphone.
The latest style (from the late 70's on) is "shorter" than the earlier necks that go with the sousaphone that had a factory tunable upper first valve slide(sorry I do not know the model numbers,some "Cleaveland" sousaphones also use this "tall" style neck)
In my experience, you need to use the "bottom" of the 2 kings bits to fit in the neck,after that first"king" bit, conn,olds, reynolds, jupiter bits fit. This last TubaChristmas, I soft soldered a Conn reciever onto my latest project just to be able to play it (using a conn neck and bits)
Good luck, let us see your purchase when possible.
Dave Hayami

eli · Post by **eli** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 9:21 am

Dave Hayami wrote:... In my experience, you need to use the "bottom" of the 2 kings bits to fit in the neck,after that first "king" bit, conn, olds, reynolds, jupiter bits fit...

You mean the two bits are different?

Lew · Post by **Lew** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 9:29 am

eli wrote:
Dave Hayami wrote:... In my experience, you need to use the "bottom" of the 2 kings bits to fit in the neck,after that first "king" bit, conn, olds, reynolds, jupiter bits fit...
You mean the two bits are different?

Yes, the 2 bits for King sousaphones are different sizes. You can tell them apart because the rim around the top of one is larger than around the other. I can't remember if it is the bottom or top bit that has a larger "rim." You need a set to work with a King neck. Fortunately King necks and bits are readily available for reasonable prices.

eli · Post by **eli** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 9:33 am

Believe it or not, this horn actually comes with a neck... and from the photos, looks like it has the first bit too. I may have gotten lucky! I'll post photos tomorrow, and we'll try to figure out if it's actually a King neck and bit... considering this horn's condition, not much would surprise me.

eli · Post by **eli** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 9:59 am

Fascinating thing about low note players:

My primary musical outlet is as a weekend warrior electric bassist, and I subscribe to several BBS/email digests about bass. I have found bassists to be extremely helpful and free with advice, and I'm finding the same here at TubeNet.

(Unlike some other musical types: What do violinists use for contraception? Their personalities... "Mommy, I want to play trumpet when I grow up." "Now, Johnny, I've told you before: you can't do both." Stereotypes, sure... but IME stereotypes come from somewhere...)

Thanks all, for all the help. This is quite a group.

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 10:11 am

TubaTinker wrote:Some of the Reynolds, Olds, and York sousa necks with interchange with King. When you get your sousa, measure the inside diameter of the receiver for the upper mouthpipe (neck) and post again. There are often sousa necks and bits for sale on Ebay. Otherwise, you can expect to spend over $100 bucks for a new neck and two bits. I don't know where all the sousa necks go. Probably the same place as all those missing socks!

Well, I have the original neck for my @1935 Conn-Cavalier. It is heavier metal than new ones, and I'd love to use it, but it's been banged up so much over the years my tech said metal fatigue had set in and he could not take the dents out of it. So he gave me a great deal on a used one. Think about it: the neck is just that, and it sticks out and up, and takes a lot of abuse. I don't think they're all with the socks, I think most of them have unfortunately given their all through the various mishaps that can happen.