Looking for easily "overblown" sousaphone

[Bubba Blasen]

TubeNetters,
I'm looking to buy an sousaphone that will easily give you the "overblown" or "rattle the bell" sound. I have an idea that this involves thinner brass, smaller bores, but maybe not.
Recently I have come across studio situations where I know that is the sound that the producer wants. (My "good horn" is made to avoid the sound....) And, being in my 50s, I don't want to work harder than necessary to get the sound.
What horn do I need? Good response and intonation is a plus, is a plus, even in these days of autotune...
I bet that some of the band directors on the board have compared horns, and I bet that the repair meisters (Bloke, Lee, etc) know too.
Thanks in advance!!!! Bubba

[MileMarkerZero]

In college, we played King silver satin souzys, and never had a problem peeling the paint off of the press box. If we weren't getting hateful looks from the woodwinds, it wasn't a productive rehearsal.

[Donn]

You might also try a shallow mouthpiece, for another way to get a more colorful sound. I guess LM12 is the extreme case, Marcinkiewicz has a couple different options, like the H4.

But not the Miraphone C4 (TU23), for example - while somewhat shallow, it's not at all what I'm talking about at all. Narrow throat? I don't know, just isn't it.

[SousaSaver]

Any King brass Sousa will get this job done.

[Dan Schultz]

The director of my community band will tell you that my Conn 36K (yes... fiberglass) and a PT-48X is a pretty deadly combination! I thought for some time that he was just being friendly when he put his hand up while we were playing!

[toobagrowl]

Vince has a King 1280 fiberglass souzy that would be perfect for you:
http://www.tubaexchange.com/used-produc ... G%20681540" target="_blank" target="_blank

[TUbajohn20J]

Conn 14K or a Conn 20K USA

[SousaSaver]

Bubba - You never mention what your "good horn" is. This might help some of the TubeNet users figure out what works for you, and what a potential alternative to that might be. Are you looking for a growling type sound?

[djwesp]

Any Jupiters manufactured prior to the Sam Pilafian and Pat Sheridan revamp.

They are cheap to find and fit the bill perfectly.

[Bubba Blasen]

'Netters,
THANKS for the good info.
I think I'll get an 80s King (or a Jupiter if one shows up).

Heres the story of why I need this.

I lost out on a session with a very hip national group. (would have been a BIG feather in my cap) They called me and just asked for marching band tuba. I brought my good horn (a PT1 with PT82 mpc). But the part to play was a funk riff, and the sound they wanted was a paint-peeling overblown sousaphone. I could not produce it on that horn. I wanted them to get the result they wanted, so I very carefully explained to them to not ask for a tuba, the sound they want is an overblown sousaphone, and I gave them the phone number of the top guy in town who has a collection of @ 30 horns of all types. I saw him a week later and asked him how the session went. He said they called him and then cancelled at the last minute. I then asked him how the call from the group came in, and he said they just asked for marching band tuba.....

Anyway, I gleaned some lessons.

1) Most people, even musicians, when they say tuba they are thinking sousaphone.

2) I used to read interviews with top session bass players. Invariably they would describe the ARSENAL of instruments they would have at every session. I first thought that was crazy, with all the tools engineers have to shape sound. I now think I could take a cue from them.

The last session I did I took 3 horns (2 upright tubas and plastic sousaphone). The producer picked the plastic King sousaphone.(Although I know he really would have like a brass sousa sound if I had one). Success, anyway. And this recording, when it comes out will be a big feather in my cap.

Onward, Bubba