Marching with a Sousaphone

[Radar]

Lee, that's extremely useful information thanks for identifying the instrument for me. Should definitely help with getting the right bits, and gooseneck.

Thanks!!
Ray

[J.c. Sherman]

..... The Sousaphone I'm playing belongs to the Fire department and has no Manufacturer's name or other markings on it, and the Bits I have now weren't with the horn originally. I have been having trouble finding a set of bits, or combination of position of the bits and lead pipe that allow me to reach the mouth piece comfortably, and I do feel like I'm leaning into it a little. I've actually got my eyes open for a decent condition used fiberglass instrument. There is another problem with this Sousaphone in that it feels smaller than those of my band mates that I've tried on, and the valve tubing pushes into my ribs.

Can you post an image of the sousa?

If you are looking for a decent fiberglass sousa... a good choice might be a Selmer 'Signet'.

This is the second time I've heard of these referenced recently; what's different/better about them?

I found the carcase of one at my shop... wondering if I should repair it now...

[NCSUSousa]

My problem was a mild discomfort (muscle strain) in my lower back on the right side.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions, I've definitely got a few good ideas both for Strengthening my core, and for working on better mouthpiece placement so I don't feel like I'm leaning forward.

One more note about core strength:
Something I've learned (through both college classes health and in recreational weight lifting) is that it's almost impossible to directly strengthen the lower back because your spine isn't designed to flex in a rearward direction. This is why serious lifters will wear their back support belt throughout a workout session that addresses the back.
This is also why it takes a long time to recover from back injuries - spinal or muscular.
The advice that all of my teachers and trainers gave is to focus on the adjacent core muscle groups. Working those muscle groups helps to support the smaller individual muscles and make the whole much stronger than the sum of the parts.

[Dan Schultz]

.... If you are looking for a decent fiberglass sousa... a good choice might be a Selmer 'Signet'.

This is the second time I've heard of these referenced recently; what's different/better about them?

I found the carcase of one at my shop... wondering if I should repair it now...

JC... I stumbled across two Selmer 'Signet' fiberglass sousaphones at a school auction several years ago and bought them for little of nothing. They turned out to be good horns with very little work. They both play well. I painted one red, white, and blue and the other is simply white. I decorate the white one for Christmas stuff.

I've played fiberglass Kings, Reynolds, Olds, and Conn sousas and I think these are the better players with the exception of one Reynolds that I let 'get away'.

The good thing is that the 'Signets' tend to go for cheap. The bad thing is that parts are not common and not available.

[J.c. Sherman]

.... If you are looking for a decent fiberglass sousa... a good choice might be a Selmer 'Signet'.

This is the second time I've heard of these referenced recently; what's different/better about them?

I found the carcase of one at my shop... wondering if I should repair it now...

JC... I stumbled across two Selmer 'Signet' fiberglass sousaphones at a school auction several years ago and bought them for little of nothing. They turned out to be good horns with very little work. They both play well. I painted one red, white, and blue and the other is simply white. I decorate the white one for Christmas stuff.

I've played fiberglass Kings, Reynolds, Olds, and Conn sousas and I think these are the better players with the exception of one Reynolds that I let 'get away'.

Hmmm.... if the gooseneck and bits are available from Allied, I may have to reassemble that old sucker! If not, it sounds like the parts would be coveted.
The good thing is that the 'Signets' tend to go for cheap. The bad thing is that parts are not common and not available.

[Z-Tuba Dude]

.......good horns with very little work. They both play well. I painted one red, white, and blue and the other is simply white.

Dan, do you have any pictures of your red white & blue horn?