Interesting King Sousaphone

[Donn]

Compared to Conn 40K, from a slightly lower vantage point:



Valve setup is slightly but not radically different, to my eye. Am I missing something?

[Donn]

It's a combination of the thumb ring being rather shallow and the the valves point across rather than up and down. Like on a normal sousaphone you can just lay your arm across the main tuning slide and your hand will rest right on top of the valves.

Forget the tuning slide. Because this stuff was designed for a different tuba, the valves line up at a different angle to the valve tubing ... so rather than install the tubing at the same angle, he installed the valves at the same angle, because the tubing could go in any which way and it doesn't matter. I mean, give me a break, the valves line up within 2-3 degrees the same as they do on my 40K there, and they're at the same position on the circle. It isn't going to force your hand anywhere it hasn't been with any sousaphone.

[Tubaryan12]

....forces your hand to bend at an almost 90 degree angle in order to play the valves.

That would only be the case if your thumb is locked in place.

plus, you could just simply have the thumb ring rotated.

[WakinAZ]

Donn and Bloke are correct, as usual. I would be more worried about the angle of the mouthpipe/receiver and neck. But, as Brian pointed out, Harv is a tuba player - I'm sure he tested it and it works, despite the funky looks.

Oh, and it has those dopey new big-for-no-reason valve buttons. *yawn*

Eric "a King fan, but not seeing the point or reaching for his wallet on this one" L.

[Harvey Hartman]

Here is a pictures of Me Playing the Horn. Thanks Harvs Happy Horns

[Mike-ICR]

Looks comfortable to me! Not much different from a rotary helicon/sousaphone. 4 valve sousas aren't exactly falling from the sky. If I were in the market I would consider it.

[Harvey Hartman]

From Harvs Happy Horns.. I'm using my shorten goose neck Only because thats what I need I have (No Neck) and a 3Xshirt The horn comes with a new goose neck But IF you buy this horn and need a shorter Goose Neck I would be Happy to do that no charge.. Thanks Harv.