sousaphone_help identifying and making playable

[imperialbari]

Please try to upload photos of the instrument with your set-up of each of the neck-bits set-ups in what you consider the right position. That gives us better chances to imagine what to correct.

I cannot read the engraving from the the photo, so a transcription would be welcome.

The main tuning slide wrapped below the 1st slide looks very much like a King.

Klaus Smedegaard Bjerre

[iiipopes]

Yes, that is a variant of the real King logo. It is a King. I've played them. The inside bore of the 2nd valve should be .687. If the valve block is in good shape and there are no leaks, it's probably worth it.

[Dan Schultz]

That's a King souzie allright. There are two variations of the King mouthpipe... one that is taller than the other... and the shorter one extends horizontally a little farther. Both are commonly available from just about any repairman.

[iiipopes]

ESPECIALLY what bloke said about the tuning bits. If you don't get the correct pair, and don't get them in the right order, you will have intonation issues. This is the only downside to a King souzy. I would wager that the majority of people who express displeasure at a King souzy if, upon inspection of the bits, would find either non-King bits and/or in the wrong order, and may change their mind upon getting the correct bits in the correct order.