Anyway, on to the elusive part...as much as I love the jumbo horns, I think my heart definitely lies with the elusive 4-valve sousaphone (granted a Conn 48K or a King 1265 with 4 valves would be perfection). I have been lucky enough to get to play one of these great horns ever since I was in undergrad at Purdue starting my "first" senior year at Purdue back in '96. As best as I can tell, I've literally been the only one to play this horn in the last 15 years as they were "retired" to alumni band usage at the bowl game the following year (my last year). Of course being the super band nerd that I am...I would show up early for alumni band registration just so I could have "my horn." ....and I always got it.
Since the previous alumni band in '09, I have become MUCH more interested in sousaphones and especially those from pre WWII...especially the giants, jumbos, and 4-valvers made by Conn and King. I had been wanting a King 4-valver of my own, but I found and bought a Conn 40K instead. Since I bought the horn, I have wanted to compare it to "my" Purdue horn ever since. I finally got my chance this weekend. I am still not sure if Purdue's 4-valver is a giant or just a standard 1251...it certainly seems larger than the other horns, but the 28in bell will aid that perception (the bell does fit on my Conn 40K...so I might have to get one for my horn as well). Purdue has three other four valve horns that didn't seem to get used this year.
As a side note, the Purdue horns get abused. it's just how it is....they're lovingly abused, but the stress they have been put through is tough...and they have been answering that call for over 7 decades. They've got battle scars, but I feel it is a testament to the quality of the horns when they were manufactured...I wish they could all look pristine, but they don't...and if they did...it wouldn't last long.
As part of the homecoming festivities, I got to hang with my friend in his college-style bachelor pad....it added to the fun and made for a great time squeezing these horns into just about the only place we could...
The Conn 40K is on the left and the King on the right. Both horns really felt about the same, but the 28in bell on the King made it feel bigger, but when I put it on the 40K...the Conn felt nearly identical, but I don't think the bell throat curve was quite the same as the bell seemed to be an inch or so lower into my field of view.
This is the King valve cluster..it's weird...the valves feel so good and are placed just right, but if you are a big guy like me....the main tuning slide pokes you right in the belly...but it feels like home. Unfortunately, the fourth valve on the King would only be in working order until the first quarter of the game the following day. As I went to oil it during the game, the valve stem snapped off. I was able to re-seat the valve and make the horn playable again, but the fourth valve was out of commission. It's an old horn..things like this happen....although during my undergrad years..this horn was rock solid. I am hoping to get it back in working order before alumni band 2013. Even without the fourth valve...this horn has just a sweet sweet low register.
Here I am wearing my Conn 40K with "my" King on the floor. You usually don't get much of a chance to be around two such rare instruments at the same time. I used my Loud LM-12 with the King. This was a mistake. The Conn loves it, but it's just too much for the King. I also brought my LM-3 which would have been much better, but I had already tied my mouthpiece, neck, and bits to the horn (hey..it's what we do and it keeps those components for taking a swan dive onto the pavement)..and well...it is a fun mouthpiece...just too much for the King and the 28in bell....it did sing in the low register though.
I am on the right with the four valve King and my friend has one of the myriad of Kings that Purdue has with a 26in bell. The picture doesn't do it justice, but the four valver is MUCH larger than the 3 valve horn. This really leads me to believe it is a "bigger" series than the standard horns. I believe Purdue's three valvers are mostly from the 30s and 40s, but there may be a few that date to the 60s.
...a real sousaphone case....and a real PITA to move around...
Getting ready for halftime with the King...you can see the broken fourth valve. If the horn didn't sound light years better than most I have played...it wouldn't be worth it to carry the extra weight...but it really does sound good (although the 40K is better).
Here we are during our salute to the Big Bass Drum's 90th birthday. I am second from the left. The silver horns are the "new" Conn 20Ks. Big Bertha is all the way at the right, and PurdueTubaPlayer and his 1265 are the third in from the right with the bell cover on. It's subtle, but you CAN see the difference of my 28in bell and the 32in bells of the jumbos even from the press box! Also...notice there is a line of horns facing the back sideline at the top of the screen. There is also the same amount of horns to the right of the 50 as well....lots o' tuba at Purdue today!
Well thanks for readying my rambling. I really really like these old four valve horns, and one of my goals this past weekend was to see what I used to play and compare it to what I have now. "My" old King still feels like "home," but the 40k seems to have a better sound. Perhaps the King needs an overhaul (it does), but it still is really no slouch either. I love the look of the 28in bell. It seems to make the horn more manly, but the 24in bell of the Conn seems to make a more focused sound. I guess it really depends on what type of tone you are going for. I am a blat machine at times, but I do like when you can get some silky smooth rumble from these horns as well. I don't know how long I'll be able to do alumni band with such a heavy horn that requires a fair amount of air to play, but I hope I can keep using this horn for a while. If you ever get a chance to play one fo these old King or Conn four valvers...I think you will be pleased. Heck, I'd be happy to play any of these old horns even if they didn't have a fourth valve.
