Introducing the New Conn 40K Sousaphone

[TUbajohn20J]

It's here.

[bort]

I don't get it...

[Bill Troiano]

Does it come in CC?

[aqualung]

Is that the model number, or the MSRP ?

[TUbajohn20J]

Conn Selmer just released it on their Instagram page. It's not on their website yet to my knowledge. I'm guessing the MSRP is close to $10K since the new 20K's are around $8K. I want one in satin silver!

[MikeMason]

There's also an HD version.heavy duty bracing,especially at the receiver.

[achmiedl]

For those who think its an April Fools joke, it is not. We played the 40k at TUSAB. My Army band is replacing sousaphones on life cycle this year and this is the direction we are leaning. Does anyone have the contact for the rep from conn that was at TUSAB, He said he was the production manager, we would like to get the specs for the request.

[bort]

I thought it was an April Fools day joke too.

I guess its neat, but I wish Conn would focus on putting out more and better tubas, instead

[Art Hovey]

I tried that horn at the Army Conference. It played well, but was too heavy for a skinny old fart like me.
I asked the guy if that valve section could be purchased, and he said yes. I asked for his card, but he took my email address instead.

[TUbajohn20J]

I thought it was an April Fools day joke too.

I guess its neat, but I wish Conn would focus on putting out more and better tubas, instead

I'm personally glad they came out with this. Tons of us love these big 4 short action valve horns. Maybe now that this valve set is back in production, they will eventually make a big tuba 5/4 and 6/4 with them as well. One can only hope.

[TUbajohn20J]

They had one at the Army conference.

I wish they would make a buttload of those valves (several hundred 1's, 2's, and 3's for PARTS ONLY to sell to repair EXISTING instruments...along with the specific GUIDES, and a some CAPS, the two specific-to-20K crooks, and the specific-to-20K lower mouthpipe tube)...


...and then stop putting that gimmicky crap on their instruments, and go back to manufacturing the 38K/14K (normal) style pistons.

oh !!...and go back to using the proper gauges of metal for the branches and slide tubes.

I heard they're eventually bringing back other models of sousas as well. The 14K to be specific. I just hope it's not the king clone 14K they made for a few years..

[TUbajohn20J]

http://www.conn-selmer.com/en-us/our-in ... hones/40k/" target="_blank

[Jose the tuba player]

.

[Lee Stofer]

I checked out the new 40K sousa at the Army Conference in February. The instrument was a very, very nice player. It is heavier than some, but I'm not convinced that it was any heavier than a Yamaha YSH-411, and is lighter than the Jupiter 4-valve.

From questioning the Conn-Selmer Rep., here's what I got; 1) This instrument was one of two prototypes, the other one being still raw brass at the factory. 2) They are considering putting it into production sometime this year. 3) The Rep. did not want me to talk-up the instrument yet, like it was some sort of secret. 4) Pricing? More than a 20K, I could have guessed that.

I asked about giving input that might help them please the public and sell more of them, and he took my e-mail address - have heard nothing yet. I was just going to suggest that they include a slide in the upper 1st valve tubing loop, a metal shoulder guard, and finger buttons with real mother-of-pearl inserts, and refer to that as the professional model. IF they will do that, and make them in the USA, I will buy one for myself and promote them to others.

[Donn]

a metal shoulder guard

Yeah, when I was looking at the picture and wondering where he dug it up from for April Fool's Day, that was one of the reasons I couldn't take it seriously. Short stroke valves, whatever, who knows what they're thinking, but the 40K has a shoulder plate and surely they wouldn't omit that.

[jbaylies]

Any more news on this? Anyone buy a valveset yet?

[TUbajohn20J]

Any more news on this? Anyone buy a valveset yet?

It's in production already on the Conn Selmer site. Haven't actually seen one yet though.

[Dan Schultz]

Any more news on this? Anyone buy a valveset yet?

It's in production already on the Conn Selmer site. Haven't actually seen one yet though.

Don't hold your breath and wait on this one! The parts list for the 40K sousa is not yet on the Conn-Selmer website that's available to registered repairmen and dealers. In fact... the valve section for the three-piston short-action valve section is not shown, either.

The current retail price for just a single piston for a 20K is well over $300 and then you have to add another $150 or so per hole for the cap, guide, etc. Soooo..... even if Conn-Selmer were to make a 'ready to go' valve section available for the new 40K.... I would imagine the price would equal better than half the price of a new complete 40K.

Even if they make the new 40K valve section available... I'm sure it will be an 'extra-special order' and not available for general purchase.

Besides.... why would Conn-Selmer really want to make parts for 'project horns' available?