Help Identifying a Conn Sousaphone

[ParLawGod]

Hi everyone - a trombone/euphonium player here

I direct/conduct a local community band, and just received approval to sell an old Conn sousaphone. It is a big horn, quite heavy, and so it is not practical for our current section to march with (one gentleman is older, the other has back issues). In fact, it has been sitting and collecting dust for years. My long term goal is to get rid of this one and invest in a couple fiberglass sousies.

Any idea what the model is? I am trying to find a ballpark range of what it is worth, but not sure where to begin.

Thank you for any help!

http://www.jeremiaheis.com/pictures/Conn/Conn6.JPG" target="_blank" target="_blank
http://www.jeremiaheis.com/pictures/Conn/Conn12.JPG" target="_blank" target="_blank
http://www.jeremiaheis.com/pictures/Conn/Conn2.JPG" target="_blank" target="_blank
http://www.jeremiaheis.com/pictures/Conn/Conn3.JPG" target="_blank" target="_blank
http://www.jeremiaheis.com/pictures/Conn/Conn4.JPG" target="_blank" target="_blank
http://www.jeremiaheis.com/pictures/Conn/Conn5.JPG" target="_blank" target="_blank

[Dan Schultz]

Hard to tell from the pictures. It's not a 'Jumbo'. I'll stick my neck out and say 32K. Check the bell tenon/collar and see if there is a stamped number/letter.

[BrassBandBass]

Hi it looks like a Conn 38K Sousaphone Grand , i have one just like it . they are great playing horns . good luck in selling it !

[Jose the tuba player]

well these are the most recent ones on ebay so depending on the ebay crowd you might be able to get 1000 for it
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Conn-38K-BBb-Vi ... 1c3a1cfb24" target="_blank" target="_blank
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1926-CONN-38K-G ... 58a7591cd4" target="_blank" target="_blank

[ParLawGod]

Thanks everybody! Your help is most appreciated.

I didn't even think of checking the bell tenon, and will do so next time I open the case.

[imperialbari]

http://www.jeremiaheis.com/pictures/Conn/Conn12.JPG


Very open throat compared to bell diameter. How wide is the bell?

[pdonoh]

I am only a state away from you and would love to make an offer on your horn, but I already have a 38K. Everything posted earlier is true, they sound great, are as heavy as can be (made back when men were men and brass was brass) and probably would fetch about $1,000 on e-bay. Mine is identical to your pictures, except the back of the bell is different. Fiberglass sousaphones have their place, but they'll never come close to the sound quality of a 38K at full volume. If you set a price, its still going to tempt me to buy it, I can't help myself with Conn Sousaphones.

[Donn]

I didn't even think of checking the bell tenon, and will do so next time I open the case.

The first picture shows a number on the tenon (or above it, really, on the flange or whatever it is.) It looks to me like a 2 and a 3, but the 3 would be upside down. So maybe "28", I don't know.

[imperialbari]

Hardly a 28K, as that was the 4 piston Eb model.

[Donn]

Hardly a 28K, as that was the 4 piston Eb model.

Sure ... the number on my 40K's bell is "21". I don't know what the numbers mean, I'm just calling it like I (don't very well) see it.

[Dan Schultz]

Hardly a 28K, as that was the 4 piston Eb model.

Sure ... the number on my 40K's bell is "21". I don't know what the numbers mean, I'm just calling it like I (don't very well) see it.

Some bell tenons have two digits followed by a 'K' (for sousaphone) or 'J' (for tubas). Random numbers such as your '21' is just a manufacturing number to identify the sets of tenon/receivers as they are run through manufacturing.... batch numbers.

What I do know about Conn tenon diameters:
- 14K, 32K and some other 'regular' size Conn sousas = 6" diameter.
- 20K and some other 'medium' size Conn sousas = 7 1/4" diameter.
- 48K and some other 'jumbo' size Conn sousas = 9 1/4" diameter.

Seems like some ungodly steps between the three! If there are other Conn tenon tuba and sousa tenon diameters... please post them. This sort of information is great to archive and helps make for easy identification.