Will this fit my King fiberglass sousa

[PaulTkachenko]

It's a Jupiter ...

eBay item number:

261607353038

Many thanks if you can give me the answer!

[iiipopes]

Even if it would fit, the metal is inferior. When I was at a community band rehearsal at the regional university some years ago, they happened to have taken delivery of a set of new Jupiter souzys and were unpacking them when I got there. The metal was so thin it dented as they unpacked them, and the tone was so buzzy they sounded like a sudrophone instead of a sousaphone.

[PaulTkachenko]

Inferior to plastic ... wow.

[Dan Schultz]

The real answer is 'no'. The bell tenon on a pre-'85 Conn 14/36K sousa is 6.067".

[PaulTkachenko]

Great, thanks.

Ears to the ground if anyone hears of a compatible King bell 26" ...

[Dan Schultz]

Paul... I think I miss-interpreted your original question. Here are some diameters of the more common sousaphone tenons:

Conn 14K/36K - 19 1/16 circumference - 6.067" diameter
Selmer/Bundy/Signet/Buescher - 6.067" and will probably work on a Conn
King - 20" circumference - 6.366" diameter
Yamaha - 6 9/16"
Conn 'jumbo' - 9 1/4"
Conn 20K - 7 1/4"
M & M - 7.28" diameter
King 'Giant' - 7 1/8" diameter
Martin 'Medium' - 6 1/2"
Reynolds - 6 1/2"

There's not much that will work on a King except for another King.

[bigtubby]

I have a 26" silver King sousa bell that I hadn't planned on selling but for which I have no immediate need. Will dig it out and send a description.

[toobagrowl]

Paul... I think I miss-interpreted your original question. Here are some diameters of the more common sousaphone tenons:

Yamaha - 6 9/16"

Which Yamaha sousaphone is that for? Yamaha makes two different model sousaphones - the brass 411 and the fiberglass 301. The 411 is a bigger sousaphone (about the same size as a Conn 20K) than the 301. I'm guessing that measurement is for the fiberglass 301?
I need to measure the bell tenon on the Yamaha 411 next time I have it at my place, as I play that sousaphone on a weekly basis

Do you have any measurements for the Jupiter sousa bell tenons? I think Jupiter makes 3 different model sousaphones

[Dan Schultz]

Paul... I think I miss-interpreted your original question. Here are some diameters of the more common sousaphone tenons:

Yamaha - 6 9/16"

Which Yamaha sousaphone is that for? Yamaha makes two different model sousaphones - the brass 411 and the fiberglass 301. The 411 is a bigger sousaphone (about the same size as a Conn 20K) than the 301. I'm guessing that measurement is for the fiberglass 301?
I need to measure the bell tenon on the Yamaha 411 next time I have it at my place, as I play that sousaphone on a weekly basis

Do you have any measurements for the Jupiter sousa bell tenons? I think Jupiter makes 3 different model sousaphones

I don't even recall where all of those numbers came from. I just make a not of various tenon sizes when they come through the shop. You are probably correct that the 411 has a larger tenon. I've had 411 sousas here but likely failed to note the size.

[PaulTkachenko]

Super, super helpful.

I'm in London, UK - it would be amazing if you would be up for selling it on (and, even more crucially, posting it!)

[PaulTkachenko]

I suspect adding a brass bell to a fibreglass body will be a great compromise with the weight/sound issue.

Am I dreaming this?

I love my 20k, but there are some standing gigs where it's just too darned heavy.

I did a gig on the Fibreglass King recently and it was (obviously) disappointing compared to the 20K. I thought a brass bell might spice it up.

[butch]

I suspect adding a brass bell to a fibreglass body will be a great compromise with the weight/sound issue.

Jupiter actually markets a hybrid sousa with a fiber body and a brass bell.

This is what I did. I bought a used sousaphone bell to use with my fiberglass sousaphone. You can hear the difference, but the emphasis of the instrument changes, you have to get accustomed to that.

Butch

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