Conn 32K 4v Helicon

SousaSaver · Post by **SousaSaver** » Tue Apr 05, 2011 10:27 pm

BBb

If you buy this, plan on having the valves rebuilt. These are SUPER cool, but this one will be heavy heavy heavy.

The Big Ben · Post by **The Big Ben** » Tue Apr 05, 2011 11:43 pm

KiltieTuba wrote:ASP quotes about 120 per valve if you send in the whole valve section for replating - so add another 480 or so

Plus the cost of detaching the valve block from the body and putting it back together again. In any event, it is a way cool horn and, if it could be afforded, worthy of a hugh-buck restoration and replating. Perhaps even re-engraving, too.

tubaforce · Post by **tubaforce** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 2:00 am

HI!
I second what my fellow Washintonian(Big Ben) wrote. Anderson does most of the valve plating in the US, and does a good job, but you can expect to pay 2-3 hundred bucks for the removal and replacement of the valve block, and the FINISH lapping a REAL craftsman does when the valves come back from Anderson's! Too many "overhauls" don't include the attention to detail that a proper reconditioning demands. Also, was the horn in tune with itself when it was new? It would really bite to spend $700.00 bucks on the axe, only to turn around and dish out 2-3 times that much making everything "right"!
be carefull,
Al

Tuba-G Bass · Post by **Tuba-G Bass** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 5:20 am

Right in my backyard,

Hmmmmm

The Big Ben · Post by **The Big Ben** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 8:28 am

DP wrote:It deserves a complete refurb, no?
With plenty of straight tubing on this'un I would LOVE a 4-banger Conn helicon pitched in CC !

You are so bad. Go to your room.

bort · Post by **bort** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 8:51 am

tubaforce wrote:It would really bite to spend $700.00 bucks on the axe, only to turn around and dish out 2-3 times that much making everything "right"!

Oh I don't know, if I were seriously motivated, spending under $3000 for the tuba + restoration might be appropriate!

The Big Ben · Post by **The Big Ben** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 11:07 am

bort wrote:
tubaforce wrote:It would really bite to spend $700.00 bucks on the axe, only to turn around and dish out 2-3 times that much making everything "right"!
Oh I don't know, if I were seriously motivated, spending under $3000 for the tuba + restoration might be appropriate!

This will give you kind of an idea of what one could sell for. It's a 3v White- not the same but similar:

http://www.oberloh.com/sales/tubas.htm" target="_blank"

Scroll down a bit and you will see it.

tofu · Post by **tofu** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 1:56 am

KiltieTuba wrote:
Tubajason wrote:Great horn, if you buy this you have to restore it out of love for the instrument if you are doing it for any other reason than you will just lose money. I wonder how hard it would be to find a neck for it.
It takes a normal Conn sousaphone neck and bit - the helicon is essentially a sousaphone with a different bell

The original helicon neck for this horn is actually different - it is vertically shorter and horizontally longer and has more of a hard 90 degree bend vs. the more graceful curve of a Conn sousaphone neck. A Conn sousaphone neck and bit would fit and work - it would just have some impact on value to someone buying from a collector point of view.

EdFirth · Post by **EdFirth** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 6:25 pm

Twentysome years ago when Dave Gannet and I were the tubas in the DisneyWordl Band the boss decided that he didn't like marching tubas and would prefer sousaphones for parades.Dave got Mike Lynch to send two Conn helicons, a three valve and a four valve for us to try in a last ditch effort to avoid the dreaded sousaphones. They were both in similar condition to the one for sale. The three valved one, which Dave preferred, had a sweet sound and was Very easy to play. The four valved one, which I liked, had a big dark sound. There were no crazy pitch problems with either, although neither one had the W tuning slide.The Boss passed on them because the sound went to the left, like a tuba, and we got stuck with sousaphones. But they were very fine instruments worthy of restoration. Whoever gets the one on the 'Bay will be happy. If there's a good repair person to at least line up the valves. Ed

Mikelynch · Post by **Mikelynch** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 11:40 pm

Ed,
As soon as I dropped those helicons off at Greyhound to send them down those many years ago, I regretted telling Dave that I would sell them. Sorry you had to play the dreaded sousaphones, but I was so glad to have those come back home . . .

The 4 valve is in the guest room right now (just in case a guest needs to rip off a chorus of Under the Double Eagle in the middle of the night). Worse case of seller's remorse I ever had--this time I was just lucky enough to get a do-over.

Mike

SousaSaver · Post by **SousaSaver** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 12:14 am

Dreaded Sousaphones? Why? The Helicons aren't much different. Any pitch problem you would find in a Sousaphone is going to be virtually identical in it's corresponding Helicon.

For what it's worth I had a customer (and good friend) bring an ancient (this term used loosely of course) Conn "rain catcher" Sousa today. I can't wait to tear it apart!

J.c. Sherman · Post by **J.c. Sherman** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 12:58 am

The Big Ben wrote:
KiltieTuba wrote:ASP quotes about 120 per valve if you send in the whole valve section for replating - so add another 480 or so
Plus the cost of detaching the valve block from the body and putting it back together again. In any event, it is a way cool horn and, if it could be afforded, worthy of a hugh-buck restoration and replating. Perhaps even re-engraving, too.

Totally, totally worth it. Find a repair tech interested in the outcome...

SousaSaver · Post by **SousaSaver** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 2:04 pm

I know a guy who would be...

The Big Ben · Post by **The Big Ben** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 5:14 pm

BRSousa wrote:Dreaded Sousaphones? Why? The Helicons aren't much different. Any pitch problem you would find in a Sousaphone is going to be virtually identical in it's corresponding Helicon.

Bend over at the waist with each and you will quickly see the difference. Gravity is a law you break at your peril.

SousaSaver · Post by **SousaSaver** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 10:33 pm

Be careful using words like "theory" where the common usage of the word and the scientific usage of the word vary wildly.

On the other hand, I played Sousaphone in my college marching band for years and did all kinds of goofy horn moves that included bending over with the horn. How many occasions do you find yourself bending over with a Tuba? That is more difficult and far more troublesome as concert Tubas aren't near as durable as Sousaphones.

Not trying to start trouble, just being practical.

Bob Sacchi · Post by **Bob Sacchi** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 3:13 pm

When I played in the Dixieland band at Yankee Stadium in the 1980's, I used (briefly) a 3 valve version of this horn.

Pros: Great sound, good intonation, cool looking.

Cons: Heavy and extremely unbalanced. Since the horn would always try to fall forward, I spent much of the time shifting the horn back onto my shoulder. Also, in my opinion, the sound projects too far away from the player's ear. At that time I was a strapping young man of 25 years, and even then it was a tiring instrument to play.

The key word in the first paragraph was (briefly).

Bob

Brown Mule · Post by **Brown Mule** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 6:05 pm

I think I will up that 14,445.22 in last 15 seconds.The Plastic is burning my pockets.

bisontuba · Post by **bisontuba** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 7:21 pm

HI-
Did I ever mention about the upcoming Asian 4v CC Helicon coming out--for under $1K.....JUST KIDDING.......
mark

SousaSaver · Post by **SousaSaver** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 9:24 pm

Winning bid: $2425.00

Anybody here win it?

TubeNet

Conn 32K 4v Helicon

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