sousaphone bottom bow protectors

[sousaphone68]

have just spent a pleasant bank holiday Monday playing and polishing my tubas. The time spent on my Conn 26K has brought to my attention some wear and tear to the finish on the bottom bow of the sousaphone.
I use this horn with the Mullingar Town Band Celtic Crusaders Marching Band this is a very busy and popular band in the midlands of Ireland it is not unkown for the band to march in 6 St. Patricks Day parades. This is where the wear occurs as I have to leave the horn on the pavement while loading the case into the coach.

So i am looking for a set of bow protectors for a sousaphone if anybody can either supply or suggest a source for a set i would be most grateful.

I am also wondering if anybody has any tips for spot polishing and then re-lacquering in spots rather than re doing the entire sousaphone?

[mcfolks]

Besides the strap on versions of vinyl bottom bow protectors, I have used peel and stick car trim. It doesn't affect the sound, and I have even used it on some concert horns- Not sure if they make it in a gold or brass finish, but the chrome looks good on a silver plated horn! To get it to adhere and form better, warm it up first before applying it- let the trim set in the sun to make it more flexible and easier to apply.

[Mark]

You could also buy a folding sousaphone stand (resting).

[SousaSaver]

I might have something for you. One of my dear friends makes a product called "Sousa Saver." It is a fiberglass shell that has a foam pad in it. It attached to your bottom bow with a velcro strap and easily goes on and off.

My Sousa section used them in college. They work so well that you can let them hit the ground from waist height without damaging the horn. Anything like this should be used within reason though...

If you are interested, PM me.

[sousaphone68]

You could also buy a folding sousaphone stand (resting).

Thank you for your suggestion but the Sousa is getting scratched as there are no helpers available to load my stuff onto the coach once the band has formed up to parade so a stand would require me to remove the horn lay it on the ground and load the stand onto the coach as carrying a brass sousaphone is enough on a parade. We also do field shows and half time shows that lead to a lot of hanging around with the instruments laid out in a group for security.

So I really would like a set of pads a stand would be handy for the rehearsal hall and at home and I have my eye on one on eBay.

Anybody any advice on the second question any tips on partial polishing/refinishing?