Conn Jumbo sousaphone

[Wyvern]

Congratulations Ian! Having been lucky enough to play one of these, I know you will love (once you get used to the 44 lb weight on your shoulder!)

[Dan Schultz]

Congrats! Is there a 'Jumbo Summit 2010' in the works?

[Biggs]

Do you plan on keeping your King as well, or should I keep an eye out for it to hit the market?

[Mcordon1]

That Jumbo looks absolutely fantastic.

Envy...

I was going to get an Eb for quintet stuff in a year or so, but this thread(and Dan Schultz's website) have changed my mind. I want a Jumbo for marching.

And now, to find one!

[Gongadin]

Congratulations, Kiltie!

Not to hijack the thread or anything, but if anyone's interested I may consider selling my Conn 46K Jumbo.
PM or e-mail me.

[jamsav]

beautiful !!! and good luck...I can t imagine what it might be like to march with that beast !!! Hit the gym !!!!

[Dan Schultz]

beautiful !!! and good luck...I can t imagine what it might be like to march with that beast !!! Hit the gym !!!!

Heck... it's only 42 pounds! The problem is after marching with it for several years, you left shoulder would be 'stooped' and your left leg would be 2" shorter!

I'm tentatively planning on using my 48K in an outdoor concert next Tuesday and probably for a couple of 4th of July gigs. Then... it'll go back on the stand until probably TubaChristmas.... unless, of course, someone organized a 'Jumbo Summit 2010'.

Got a Dixieland gig at Noon today but I'm going to travel light with a red, white, and blue 36K.

[TUbajohn20J]

Wow!! I see we both have a passion for huge, old sousaphones (and tubas). I just havent been lucky enough to stumble across any true jumbos. That's a beautiful horn though, I'd love to crank on one of those some day.

[mammoth2ba]

Where do all of the Jumbo owners live? I'd be up for a massive gathering!

Congratulations Ian.........

.....and 'bout time, by the way. King "Giants" (and I use that term loosely) and Holton 345's don't look very big compared to Conn Jumbos......do they?

AFAIK, the largest concentration of Conn Jumbos seems to be in the Midwest. Counting yours, there are now at least 3 in southern lower Michigan. Add the two at Interlochen that don't get out much, and then 2 more in Indiana (one doesn't get out) and another in Illinois.

Have somebody play your Jumbo while you listen from about 150-feet in front. You'll likely be amazed by the sound. You get no idea you're "projecting" that way, from "behind the mouthpiece".

[Bandmaster]

This is the jumbo I would love to get my hands on...



This kid found it in the attic of his Christain School in San Diego a couple years ago. He brings it to Tuba Christmas at Disneyland every year.

[tubainty]

Awesome horn. I've seen the Jumbos at interlochen and they are massive compared to any souzys that I've played, but I've never played one. Is the sound of one similar to that of a large orchestral tuba? Or is it just a darker sousaphone like sound (if that at all makes sense )?

[mammoth2ba]

For those who've recently become interested, or just missed the pictures, commentary, and audio clips the "first time around":

Jumbo Summit 2009

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=34527&p=304123&hili ... 9+#p304123" target="_blank" target="_blank

This post has a particularly good photo attachment showing the size of the bell throat:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=34527&p=306509&hili ... 9+#p306509" target="_blank

[Wyvern]

Is the sound of one similar to that of a large orchestral tuba?

I would put the Jumbo tonally in a class of its own. Such a broad sound that from behind the mouthpiece one cannot fully appreciate as indicated above.

It has been said that the 6/4 tuba is an attempt to capture something of that tone for the concert hall, but even my Neptune is small compared to a Jumbo

[imperialbari]

I guess this one will play in circles around any tubist.

[Steve Marcus]

Could you imagine, with a creative, flexible conductor, how Alexander Nevsky or Lt. Kije would sound played on one of these Jumbos with an orchestra?

[pjv]

Just recently I acquired the gold lacquered Jumbo Grand that you see in Dan's post from the Jumbo Summit 2009. Whats so enjoyable about the Jumbo is how open it plays. In general old Conn's are low resistance instruments. The Jumbo with its large bore, bows and bell throat creates an incredibly open sound. The high register is absolutely no problem and the lows are effortless. As long as I put my air behind it, its an easy drive. It reminds me of my Cadillac. Smooth ride. Step on the gas; vrooooooooom!!

Its not only the size thing, its also the characteristic old Conn sound. This adds up to an instrument which is always present. You not only hear it, you feel it. And its exactly perfect for musical situations were I want to be heard and felt throughout a large ensemble without having to work my butt off.

I use a old Marcinkiewicz N4 on it. The Jumbo has more than enough broad dark tuba sound. The N4 gives me the the agility and front end pop I need to keep control of the situation. And whats a Cadillac without an front end?!

-Pat

[Roger Fjeldet]

Hornucopia in San Carlos CA has a 1929 4-valve jumbo that was used at Universal Studios as their studio bass. Apparently, it was to be gotten rid of when someone smart saved it and it ended up in the bay area. It received a valve job at Anderson's in Elkhart and now is waiting for some slide work and a good cleaning, it is truly an impressive horn! Hopefully I'll be able to play it once they finish it.

Has anyone got the mailadress to Hornucopia in san Carlos?

Roger

[Roger Fjeldet]

Sorry - I meant the e-mail adress or website.
I could`nt find it despite endless googling
Roger

[Steve Marcus]

The staff at Hornucopia has already reserved the Jumbo for a customer conditional upon final inspection of the horn when Larry Souza and crew have completed their work on the Conn within a couple of weeks.

Alas, that customer is not I.

[tofu]

Anybody know how many Jumbo's were made?

Was the Jumbo primarily used by Dance Bands?

That Raincatcher Jumbo looks awesome!