Donn wrote: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
