King detachable bell question

[Hank74]

Hi again,

I'm pondering of buying a King 2340 tuba, and currently own a King 1240 version. Both have detachable bells. My question is would I be able to use the bells from my 1240 and fit them possibly into the 2340?

[Rick Denney]

I'm pondering of buying a King 2340 tuba, and currently own a King 1240 version. Both have detachable bells. My question is would I be able to use the bells from my 1240 and fit them possibly into the 2340?

Yes. There is no difference between 1240/41 and 2340/41 bells, except that the 1240 and 1241 bells are reportedly more carefully matched to the instrument than with later instruments. But they are all interchangeable.

The main difference between the 1240 and the 2340 was in the configuration of the third-valve branch (the earlier model has a double loop, ala a sousaphone) and the movable upper first-valve slide (instead of a fixed crook).

Rick "who has installed an older 2341UB bell into a recent 2341 tenon ring and used it on a 1241" Denney

[Hank74]

The numbers 40 and 41 means one is the upright and the other a recording bell?

[Rick Denney]

The numbers 40 and 41 means one is the upright and the other a recording bell?

No. The 40 had three valves and the 41 had four valves. There was an additional letter code for the upright-bell models, such as 2341UB. But many of them came with both bells.

Rick "whose wife's uncle has owned several" Denney

[TubaBobH]

The numbers 40 and 41 means one is the upright and the other a recording bell?

No. The number 40 (1240 and 2340) designates 3 valves. The number 41 (1241 and 2341) designates 4 valves.

Just curious, if you already own a 1240, why are you considereing buying a 2340? There is a school of thought that the older 1240/41s are a little better sounding than the 2340/41s that replaced them in the early 70s. (I love my old 1241UB.)

[Hank74]

The 2340 is in better shape and has fewer dings than my current 1240. But I can see your point about the 1240. It's something to consider.

[Dan Schultz]

Although those bells will interchange, I think the earlier ones had a little different angle on them. Also... something to consider... I've noticed on many of the bell-front Kings that the tuning slide is marked with the last three digits of the serial number. Some of those tuning slides had much longer ferrules than others. I don't think King ever sold a body with BOTH and upright and a recording bell but I've notices that some of those horns go flat when switching from bell to bell. Somehow, I'm thinking that the longer slide went with the recording bells and the short slide went with the upright bells. Maybe others can substantiate or deny this thought.

[jacojdm]

I believe that there are a few differences between the 124X and 234X.
If I'm not mistaken, the 124X bells are larger in diameter.
There is not a top pull first valve slide on the 124X.
The leadpipe on the 124X is angled differently so that the horn does not sit parallel to the player's body as it does on the 234X.

[Dan Schultz]

I believe that there are a few differences between the 124X and 234X.
If I'm not mistaken, the 124X bells are larger in diameter.
There is not a top pull first valve slide on the 124X.
The leadpipe on the 124X is angled differently so that the horn does not sit parallel to the player's body as it does on the 234X.

True. But... there are also many manufacturing changes during the production runs of 124X and 234X tubas. The more of these horns I see, the more differences I see.