Sousaphone Bits Question

[thetubawizard]

Hello!

The school I'm working with has about 12 Dynasty 4 valve sousaphone (first problem...) and they are INCREDIBLY FLAT. Honestly, I would just like to sell these horns and get better ones but that is not an option right now. My first thought was to check the neck and bits... They look ancient and some of them could probably be used as prison shanks . The other issue is that the bits seem to be too short (I believe they are 2 piece Conn bits). This is causing my students to to bring their mouthpieces to their face in weird angles that it puts pressure on their lips or causes them to stretch their neck to reach the mouthpiece. I'm working on trying to change the way they are holding the sousa's but I don't think that will be enough. I can, and will most likely, be ordering new bits due to the horrible conditions of the ones we currently have.

Could anyone recommend a different set of bits or give me any ideas on how I can fix this issue?

Thanks!
Nick

[Buddym]

You may have to resolder the lower mouthpipe. Thats the tubing that comes off the 1st valve. Have they been overhauled?

[windshieldbug]

If the horns are already flat, extending the bits/mouthpipe will only make them flatter!

[thetubawizard]

I am aware that adding an extra bit would only make the issue worse but I would also rather have a flat section with good embouchure than a in tune section that sounds and looks horrible. Not saying that is the solution, and would rather not do that at all.

Not sure how I feel about re-soldering all the horns... but that is an option I can look into. Thanks for the idea. To my knowledge, they have not been overhauled since getting them 8 years ago.