Conn 38K/40K sousaphone pitch standard(s)

[WakinAZ]

I now have a mid to long term goal of acquiring a BAT while I am still young enough to schlep it and fill it up with air. Unfortuntately my dreams usually run ahead of my income, so I figure a Conn Sousaphone Grand would be an affordable way to get a BAT (not interested in 2XJs). One concern I have is these horns seem to have been primarily produced during the years of the transition from low to modern pitch. The always interesting, but not always accurate, Conn Loyalist lists them as Low Pitch horns. Can anyone offer any further information on this?

Eric

[windshieldbug]

LP horns built to A=435 can always be shortened to A=440, while HP A=45x horns can be lengthened, and the slides pulled. I wouldn't worry too much if the intent is to play at A=440, as long as you'd be willing to make some (easy) changes (if necessary).

[WakinAZ]

Dandy, thanks guys.

Eric

[Lew]

My 40K is from about 1924 and plays at A=440 with the main slide only slightly pulled. This isn't to say that it's possible that some were made in high pitch or low pitch, but mine and any others I have played all have been "modern" pitch.

[iiipopes]

Conn, in the early days, listed their model numbers by size category, number of valves, and high pitch/low pitch. 38K is for the Grand model, three valves, low pitch. 40K is for the four valve version.

If you do get a Conn souzy, don't forget to have your tech convert the upper loop of the 1st valve tubing into a movable slide for your left hand. I have done this to a Cavalier (predecessor to the 14K) I used to play. With 3 pulled to get 2-3 in tune, 1-2 tunes up with about 1/2 to 5/8 inch pull, 1-3 tunes with a 1 to 1 1/2 inch pull, and 123 tunes with @1 1/2 to 1 3/4 inch pull. Because the throat is so large, open Eb "priviledged" or "false pedal" is so smooth and in tune it sounds like 4th valve, so you don't need a 4th valve, and you can descend chromatically from there D-2, Db-1, C-12, and B nat 23 to true open pedal BBBb.

[WakinAZ]

http://www.dillonmusic.com/HeleoCart/Pr ... 89884.aspx

How about this big boy? It'd be a bit more fun to play while sitting!

Actually, I have that pic as my desktop background currently **drool**. You must have missed my poor-mouthing above, but $5K is about twice my ideal budget.

Also, I plan on using a sousa chair.

Eric "not into paying for rarity, at least not at current income level" L.

[WakinAZ]

...don't forget to have your tech convert the upper loop of the 1st valve tubing into a movable slide for your left hand...

I notice you recommend this modification in just about about every souzy thread. My local guys are not into mods too much, so I would have to ship it out for this. I used to have a 32K (other predecessor of 14K) without mods, and it played just fine (both in the normal and false/pedal range), at least to my tin ear.

I'm probably not quick enough on the draw to get it pulled and put back in time anyway - not very coordinated.

Eric "who rarely, if ever, pulls slides on any horn" L.

[iiipopes]

Hey, Eric -- that's OK. I don't really like pulling slides, either, but it's there when I need it, and being "right there" with your left hand, especially since you'll be using a souzy chair, it's worth consideration.

On my 186, the slots are just fine that I usually don't pull on it, either, and, of course, it's made to pull! It's nice to have just because you will need it somewhere, sometime.

I just want to make sure that those who want to know it can be done, and if you're using a mouthpiece like a LOUD that tends to have pretty tight slotting that you can work with it.

EDIT:

Remember, from this thread:

viewtopic.php?t=4176&postdays=0&postord ... ne&start=0

Chuck G attributes to Pat Sheridan the concept that we pull for tone, not for pitch.

[windshieldbug]

Remember, Pokorny says we pull for tone, not for pitch.

Man, that's right on the money! When did he say that?