SousaSaver - "new" Sousaphone device

[SousaSaver]

The SousaSaver was invented by a friend of mine. In my opinion it is better than the traditional vinyl pad because it protects from dents as well as scratches.

It is a thick fiberglass shell that is painted with a slip resistant paint. It is lined with foam and attaches to the instrument with velcro for easy installation/removal for polishing your horn before performances.

They are made 100% in the USA, right here in Kansas.

It will fit on almost every Sousaphone except Jumbos.




The Sousaphone in the photo above is a King. The model is my friend Zack, who is a fine Tuba player who just finished (or is finishing) his masters in Tuba at UNT. (Thanks for agreeing to be my model!)

Please let me know what you think. If you have any questions, please let me know.

[Bob Kolada]

Cool idea; doesn't make sousas any less shitty to carry though.

[fairweathertuba]

Carry them? I just roll mine.

But in all seriousness, wouldn't such a thing deaden the sound down somewhat?

[imperialbari]

Carry them? I just roll mine.

But in all seriousness, wouldn't such a thing deaden the sound down somewhat?

Version 2 will have amplifier & loudspeakers.

[SousaSaver]

Carry them? I just roll mine.

But in all seriousness, wouldn't such a thing deaden the sound down somewhat?

In my opinion, no way...but it does protect the bottom of your Sousaphone from "concrete rash," accidental falls and other unsightly damage.

This device doesn't do anything "magical" or have any special properties, it just keeps Sousaphones from being damaged.

[fairweathertuba]

Carry them? I just roll mine.

But in all seriousness, wouldn't such a thing deaden the sound down somewhat?

In my opinion, no way...but it does protect the bottom of your Sousaphone from "concrete rash," accidental falls and other unsightly damage.

This device doesn't do anything "magical" or have any special properties, it just keeps Sousaphones from being damaged.

I was experimenting with using pipe insulation as a shoulder rest on my horn (my beat up ole helicon) and I thought that it did deaden the sound down a bit, perhaps it was just my imagination because I expected there to be some deadening, or it really did deaden the sound or maybe there was some other physical explanation like the dampening on my shoulder decreased the sensory input from the instrument to my shoulder, which could possibly have caused less internal travel of sound to my internal auditory sensing. Anyway, I stopped using the insulation even though it was a little more comfortable because I felt there was some tonal difference. Maybe this was a wacky decision on my part since there was no definitive proof of sound degradation. One thing for sure, I often would like to have a more comfortable arrangement while holding a horn on the shoulder!

[Elbee]

Is it paintable? thinking school colors etc.

[SousaSaver]

Is it paintable? thinking school colors etc.

I can paint them in any color you like. I just need a color sample to match. The paint we use is slip resistant versus raw fiberglass.

Currently, the trim and velcro would still be white. Here is a photo of one I did for a school in California in black.