Why does the Helicon Still Exist?

[Rivercity Tuba]

Because it's enormous. All questions answered below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwV1lWolWBw" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

[Michael Grant]

I’ve always had the opposite question in mind when it came to Helicons. Why did they stop making them? For starters, they play better than a sousaphone (sounding and playing more like a tuba - which makes sense since they are tubas) and the top slides are adjustable. I wanted a horn that sounded like a tuba, could be played in tune, wasn’t stuffy, had the full range of the instrument (4 valves), and could be used for outdoor gigs (marching, walking about, etc) as well as with an indoor ensemble. In other words, a very versatile horn. So I sold my sousaphone and picked up a Wessex helicon. If I could have purchased a Cerveny BBb for the same price, I would have but I am not sorry with my purchase. Fellow musicians and audience members love the sound (as do I) and people are constantly asking about it. It is the BBb version, does have a removable bell and came with a hard case. The case is large and with the horn in it, quite heavy. It has wheels and rolls easily. The horn is too large for your standard sousaphone gig bag. The E-flat version will fit in a standard sousaphone gig bag.

One note on the Conn 20K that I sold: I had the top first valve slide redone so it was adjustable. It made a huge difference in the playability of the horn. I highly recommend it to anyone that owns a sousaphone.

[hubert]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8W7LYBLYqE

Hubert

[hubert]

I meant: growing interest of European bands nowadays.
Uwe Schneider always has some on offer.

And only for fun:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8W7LYBLYqE

Hubert

[The Big Ben]

And this:

https://youtu.be/8G3A42NrF7U" target="_blank