New Guy's King Tuba

Philip Jensen · Post by **Philip Jensen** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 5:42 pm

Does it look like this? Mine's from ~1913 and looks like hell but sounds amazing.

Mine originally cost $75 from a junkyard and I've invested about $600 in repairs

There are more photos, including a side by side with the new king, at:

http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/p/j ... gtuba.html

Enjoy your horn. I find just about any mouthpiece sounds good on it - just depends on what kind of sound you want

Rick Denney · Post by **Rick Denney** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 10:10 am

LarryR wrote:That is a cool horn, but mine doesn't look like that. I have taken the pictures of it and my 24J - just have to figure out how to post them and I don't have a web site...hopefully we can get them on so people can have a look, maybe tell me about what I have in that old King...

Email the picture to me and I'll post it.

Rick "particularly if you have one with it sitting next to a 24J" Denney

Rick Denney · Post by **Rick Denney** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 3:49 pm

This might use the same valves as a 1241 and a King sousaphone, but they are arranged differently. Clearly, it predates the 1241. It looks similar to a King picture in Stauffer's Treatise on the Tuba being played by his son many years ago (and it's in about the same condition).

I would think this instrument has a high potential for playability, once any needed repairs are made. Fix it up a bit and maybe this is what your son can take to college with him.

I put another picture of it sitting next to a Conn 24J on my Tubas Compared web page.

http://www.rickdenney.com/tubas_compared.htm

Rick "who had to work hard to make these images work, heh, heh" Denney

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 5:27 pm

Looks like what York was doing at the same time--using the bell and bottom bow from their "monster" Eb and making a BBb out of it.

Shockwave · Post by **Shockwave** » Sun Feb 13, 2005 12:51 am

The valve block on that King tuba looks identical to that on my strange old King sousaphone with the tuning slide after the valve section (except for the 4th valve, which my sousa lacks). My sousa dates from 1924. It's interesting to see what the same horn looks like wrapped into a tuba shape.

-Eric

Matt G · Post by **Matt G** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 5:53 pm

I agree with Rick in that fixed up this horn would be very acceptable for collegiate use.

You could take is down to Dillon's (call them in advance) and they could do an econo-overhaul. You will probably spend a nice chunk of change, but considering the amount of investment you have in it right now ($0), it would still be quite a bargain. Even a full blown overhaul will only set you back what a good BBb costs now.

FWIW, this horn is nearly what the new 2341 is now with the large bell flare and "normal" sized bottom bow. I bet it is a nice playing tuba. Definitely nothing that will impede your son's progress if it is in good shape.