Best Sousaphone Model?

[iiipopes]

Why should even one of the limited supply of older US made sousaphones go to this band, who apparently won't appreciate them? Someone has to play the shiny new stuff, let it be this guy's unit.

Well, aren't we mercenary today. I'm sure the OP "appreciates" the way you just insulted him.

And secondly, bloke said exactly the same thing about preferring rebuilt. But I didn't see you deprecate his comments, just mine. And I even gave an opinion as to which instruments I would prefer, if the OP does, for whatever reason, go with new instruments.

Please review yourself before you post further.

[Donn]

I'm sure the OP "appreciates" the way you just insulted him.

You're making an insult out of it. He knows what he wants, and he's told us. If everyone wanted the same thing, it would be more difficult for everyone, not to mention boring. I wouldn't trade my old US sousaphone for a new shiny one, but a band is really an entertainment exercise, and I think it's more than plausible that a set of identical, shiny sousaphones best meets their specific goals even if they are as bloke says under-engineered, fragile and of unexceptional tonal quality. There's really nothing wrong with that.

[Lee Stofer]

Jacob Conner, please PM me about this.

[jconner]

I am not an educator. If I was, I would absolutely be sporting the idea of instrument restoration. I may have been a little dramatic with my original post regarding the neck/bit positioning. The sousas we have now just don’t sit as comfortably some of the other models we’ve played. This is NOT the reason we are replacing our old equipment. It is, however, something we are addressing in our search for new horns.

Thank you, everyone, for you input! This was very helpful.

[toobagrowl]

Japanese-brand (made in China?) sousaphones are expensive and (to me) dull-sounding.

Have you even played Yammy sousas The YSH-411 has "Made in Japan" stamped on the valve cluster, not the bell like other sousas. And even though the YSH-411 is a similar-sized 5/4 sousa like the 20K, the sound and intonation characteristics are very different. The YSH-411 has a much clearer/textured/almost "bright" sound. Great for outdoor playing (what it's intended for).
The 20K (to me) has a too-dark/tubby "cardboard" sound, and does not intonate as well as the YSH-411.

EVERY ONE OF THEM NEEDS NEW GUIDES AND THE CASINGS REWORKED ON AN ONGOING BASIS.

Kids will bust up ANY sousa. I've seen plenty of old Conn and King sousas with messed-up valves, broken bell screws/flanges, mangled necks, etc.

@ jconner: Go with your gut on this and also ask other sousa/tuba players and band directors on what they prefer/like

[iiipopes]

Kids will bust up ANY sousa. I've seen plenty of old Conn and King sousas with messed-up valves, broken bell screws/flanges, mangled necks, etc.

In my high school we had ancient (even then) King 'glass souzys. Never a problem with anything you described. The worst I ever saw was the solder let loose on one bell screw, and when I took it in, thinking I had broken it and would therefore have to pay for it, the tech said it had insufficient solder on it in the first place, and the school picked up the tab.

I play in a community band that meets in a regional junior high school band room. Three ancient 'glass souzys hang on the wall: two Kings and a Martin. The lacquer is long gone from what appears to be 40 years of normal wear. But all slides work, all valves work, and there are no problems. I've even used one for rehearsal when mine was in the shop. No problems at all with anything you describe.

OTOH, the techs in my area tell me that Yammy valves on all of their brass are in the shop more often than all other brands combined, and I have watched students deal with the frustrations of spinning valves.

Jupiters, unless something has changed in the last couple of years, are no better. Before one rehearsal a few, and I mean only a few years ago, I got to my other community band sponsored by a regional university early, and they were unloading a brand new shipment of Jupiter brass souzys. These were faculty, staff, crew and students who knew what they were doing. In spite of this, I watched the metal dent simply from the slight hand pressure needed to lift the souzys out of the packing crates, and they sounded blatty as hell when I heard them played. The only thing that could tame about half of the blat was a really deep mouthpiece like a Schilke H-II or such. The 24AW clone mouthpieces that came with the souzys were trash.

Respectfully, I completely disagree with your generalization. My comments are the summation of decades of observed incidents, and I stand by my opinions as based on empirical observation and experience of playing souzys for 39 years.

[opus37]

Kids will bust up ANY sousa. I've seen plenty of old Conn and King sousas with messed-up valves, broken bell screws/flanges, mangled necks, etc.

In my high school we had ancient (even then) King 'glass souzys. Never a problem with anything you described. The worst I ever saw was the solder let loose on one bell screw, and when I took it in, thinking I had broken it and would therefore have to pay for it, the tech said it had insufficient solder on it in the first place, and the school picked up the tab.

I play in a community band that meets in a regional junior high school band room. Three ancient 'glass souzys hang on the wall: two Kings and a Martin. The lacquer is long gone from what appears to be 40 years of normal wear. But all slides work, all valves work, and there are no problems. I've even used one for rehearsal when mine was in the shop. No problems at all with anything you describe.

OTOH, the techs in my area tell me that Yammy valves on all of their brass are in the shop more often than all other brands combined, and I have watched students deal with the frustrations of spinning valves.

Jupiters, unless something has changed in the last couple of years, are no better. Before one rehearsal a few, and I mean only a few years ago, I got to my other community band sponsored by a regional university early, and they were unloading a brand new shipment of Jupiter brass souzys. These were faculty, staff, crew and students who knew what they were doing. In spite of this, I watched the metal dent simply from the slight hand pressure needed to lift the souzys out of the packing crates, and they sounded blatty as hell when I heard them played. The only thing that could tame about half of the blat was a really deep mouthpiece like a Schilke H-II or such. The 24AW clone mouthpieces that came with the souzys were trash.

Respectfully, I completely disagree with your generalization. My comments are the summation of decades of observed incidents, and I stand by my opinions as based on empirical observation and experience of playing souzys for 39 years.

I agree with these comments. I have a similar experience with a group of 3 Conn 36K Sousaphones that are still going strong after 40 or more years in my high school marching band. I have no experience with the durability of Yamaha horns.

[tclements]

I STILL love those heavy assed short action valved Conns. Make mine silver, please ....