Is there a souzy in my future?

[Alex F]

I have not paid much attention in the past to sousaphones and don't claim to know all that much about them. Recently, I've been presented with the opportunity to do some occasional marching (walking) with a smaller group and wonder what would be best to use. I could carry my Conn 10J or the Lidl on a strap (both have strap rings). Or, I could pick up a sousaphone, if I had one.

So, this becomes a "what souzy is best for me" question. I would prefer something manageable and lightweight, and metal (an oxymoron?). Reading recent threads here, it seems that Conn 14Ks, certain Kings (model?) are favored.

An then there's fiberglass. Frankly, I've never had much love for these (bad memories of some bad ones in high school 40+ years back). On the other hand, they are lighter.

Finally, there are some Ebs out there. Dillon has an American Standard on it's site (along with those helicons). I'm not sure I want to deal with Eb fingerings, but . . .

Any ideas welcomed and appreciated.

Alex F.

[imperialbari]

If you can carry the Lidl comfortably by means of a strap, then you hardly will find any brass sousaphone weighing less.

If you make up your bassline yourself, Eb will work. But even a 4 valve Eb sousaphone will not carry a written contrabass line without compromising intonation.

Klaus

[David Richoux]

Without knowing your "Human Factors" (height & weight, body and arm strength, condition of your back and shoulders, etc.) nor the exact nature of your "walking around gig" it would be difficult to help you much in your decision. Things like how do you transport your horn to and from the gig, is there a low overhead (awnings and tree branches, etc.,) indoors or outside, what kind of audience is expected, sound volume and directional issues, group "image," storage for your hard case or gig bag while you do your "walking around" - things like that always help me pick which tuba, Sousaphone, or Helicon I take to a particular performance. I am lucky that I currently have a few horns to choose from (and the space to keep them when not in use) but that is certainly not true for everybody!

You might want to consider a Helicon instead of a Sousaphone in your search. There are many old ones available and at least Cerveny still makes new ones. http://www.cerveny.biz/helikone/

[imperialbari]

The instrument on the drawing is a euphonium.

Everybody is to decide for him-/herself, but my solution for standing euphonium playing was a baritone sax harness.

Klaus

[Rick Denney]

So, this becomes a "what souzy is best for me" question. I would prefer something manageable and lightweight, and metal (an oxymoron?). Reading recent threads here, it seems that Conn 14Ks, certain Kings (model?) are favored.

An then there's fiberglass. Frankly, I've never had much love for these (bad memories of some bad ones in high school 40+ years back). On the other hand, they are lighter.

I find that the 14K in brass is not significantly heavier than a regular fiberglass sousaphone. The 14K was a compact model, and mine fits me fairly tightly. In fact, I can only use one bit instead of the usual two. I think it's a very decent 4/4 tuba wrapped up to look like a sousaphone.

Rick "not commenting on whether you should use a sousaphone in your application" Denney

[Mister JP]

I'm with Dale, become a "strapping" young man.

The only really "good" souzies are the big ones, and you mentioned that you didn't want a big one (can't blame you) I have carried a few different rather large tubas via the strap method in my HS days, and they were all better than sousies, sound wise.

That being said... if you're looking for a "project" Eb sousie, make me an offer. I currently have one being used as "home decor."

[iiipopes]

Check out the Pan Am currently for sale in the "for sale" threads, which is for all practical intents and purposes a 14K with a 24 inch bell.

[Dave Hayami]

Hello,
FWIW,
I believe that your 10J will be lighter than any sousaphone. The 10J that I used to have was WAY lighter than my 14K/Pan American in brass.
Dave Hayami

[sloan]

Sorry. The title of this just made me laugh. Lately our family has gotten on this kick where we've found that, for fortune cookies or horoscopes, it's pretty hilarious to add the words "in bed" to the end of the **ahem** prophecy.

So it led to a pretty serious crack-up to read,
"Is there a sousaphone in my future? IN BED???"

Anyway, just ignore me and shake the magic 8-ball:
http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~ssanty/cgi-bin/eightball.cgi" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank
(it's the best 8-ball on the web that I've found)

Try adding on "with no pants on". It was very funny back in the early '90s with HS kids in my area.

"under the covers" works well with hymn titles...

[iiipopes]

OK, even the old TV game show "Match Game" went through a silly phase where the answers to all of the questions was "in bed." And sometimes, it is really funny.

My high school marching band marched with what were basically wool tuxedo pants during fall football season. They had the old-fashioned zipper sides, and all were well worn. In spite of being warned about having suspenders, there are those who took the chance. One poor sap had his zipper let go in the middle of a show and dropped trou right on the field. I forgot mine before a formal concert once and my side zipper let go just as we were taking our places. I played the whole concert with my coat covering my drawers on the side, and it must have looked interesting with me holding my trumpet and music with one hand and my pants up with the other as we stood to take our bows and exit.

A souzy can make you feel like that if something goes awry, like a stuck valve, dropped mouthpiece and bits (another true story posted elsewhere) or an accident with the gooseneck. But I still enjoy the 38K as much as anything.

[Alex F]

Thanks all. I'll be sure to keep my belt tightened.

I'll try the strap first. My "Stofer-ized" 10J plays well and is relatively light, certainly more so than any brass sousaphone. We shall see.