Conn 40K

[Lew]

Less than 6 hours left and no bids? OK, I know it needs a valve job, but $1500 is still a great price for a 40K. These are hard to come by.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/COMPLETE-VINTAG ... 3cc1b2fe96" target="_blank

[PMeuph]

Unfortunately, this horn requires a valve rebuild before being playable. We just don't have the time to dedicate to making this beauty playable again. For the right person, however, this instrument will be perfect!


PLEASE NOTE: Unlike most of Wichita Band Instrument Company sales, this instrument is offered AS IS, no warranty or returns. Please contact us if you have any more questions. Again, this instrument ships AS IS with no warranty or return option.

[EdFirth]

I had one of these and ended up selling it to Harry Connick for his "Second Line" segment. When I got it , it was unplayable. Got the dents removed and checked it for leaks and it was still unplayable. Finally figured out that the first valve was a replacement and although the holes were in the right places the guide was not. So we moved the guide and it was Much better but still weird. Figured out that the replacement valve was a little small so did a valve job. Then it was GREAT! As good as any tuba I have ever played so I took it on a strolling job and it about killed me. These things are Heavy. So it sat for another year until Harry's trombone/tuba player called looking for a horn that "sonuds great but looks like ****" to fit the New Orleans flavor. I said I had a horn like that but that it was too heavy to really use but he only had to play it on one tune so Harry owns it now and the trombone/tuba player, John Allred is freelancing in New York City. Which is the long winded way of saying that whatever is wrong with it can be fixed - if you can deal with the weight.Ed

[EdFirth]

Mine had the smaller bell and it was original. Mabye they offered some options?Ed

[Donn]

From my experience with the market for a 40K, it isn't as good as you'd think.

My guess is that the problem isn't so much the weight, or any particular flaw of the instrument - I think most potential buyers get that this is among the best sousaphones that have ever or will ever be made.

Yeah, they're heavy, but I've survived a few parades under mine. Mine is about 33 lbs, I know that doesn't match some other figures I've seen but that's my story. My accordion is also about that weight, and slender French girls seem to be the main market for similar accordions.

The real problem is that while tuba players are perhaps to an absurd degree convinced that only the latest hot 6 valve orchestral CC BAT will do, they bring a completely different attitude to the sousaphone. It just has to be good enough, and they trust themselves to know what's good enough. A Conn 40K is overkill - it's too good. I expect I will be keeping mine.

[MrBasseyPants]

From my experience with the market for a 40K, it isn't as good as you'd think.

My guess is that the problem isn't so much the weight, or any particular flaw of the instrument - I think most potential buyers get that this is among the best sousaphones that have ever or will ever be made.

Yeah, they're heavy, but I've survived a few parades under mine. Mine is about 33 lbs, I know that doesn't match some other figures I've seen but that's my story. My accordion is also about that weight, and slender French girls seem to be the main market for similar accordions.

The real problem is that while tuba players are perhaps to an absurd degree convinced that only the latest hot 6 valve orchestral CC BAT will do, they bring a completely different attitude to the sousaphone. It just has to be good enough, and they trust themselves to know what's good enough. A Conn 40K is overkill - it's too good. I expect I will be keeping mine.

Agreed! Love my 40K! It is the best sousaphone I have ever played. The 4-valve1271 King Giant I used to play had a sweeter low end rumble, but the rest was just OK. The 24in bell seems to keep the sound nice and focused unlike the Giant's 28in bell. Sure the King made a great super-fortissimo horn, but in truth the 40K seems to play just fantastically doing everything else!

Looks like someone got a decent deal. I paid $1700 shipped with a case two years ago. Mine is definitely playable.....perhaps it could use an overhaul, but there is no real immediate need. It looks like a 40K in playable condition is in the roughly 2-2.5K range....maybe more if it looks really purty. At any rate these are rare enough that if you want one....maybe grab one while you can.

.....then again maybe you just want a loud noisemaker with a big bell....then yes....this is overkill!

jc