$2000, and don't forget to budget for back surgery bills bills from holding it up......

Wow, never thought I'd see ANOTHER one of these, looks to be in better shape than mine too.....

Bloke, got out the calipers. Bore of the horn is 0.609 or so. The neck is probably a Frankenstein creation of the guy a bought it from, he’s a HVAC and refrigeration guy so he can get creative with a torch. The bore of the mouthpiece receiver is like 0.55 or so, a conn bit goes in about half way ...

As for what Buescher bits looked like, someone posted a picture of some repair parts catalog that identified various bits, no idea where to find that picture now.p, but I recall the buescher having a unique shape.

Have a 110 year old Buescher Eb helicon, looking for a Buescher tuning bit for it. No guqrantee that the neck on it now was original, in any case a Conn bit fits but sits awkardly. I think Buescher bits were a unique zig-zag/lighting bolt looking affair, not the simple slight angle of most ...

For a free metronome, there's an app called "Soundbrenner" that's pretty capable. Soundbrenner sells some watch gadget that's supposed to interface with the app, but the app works pretty well on your phone by itself.

In the negative column for Ipad or other gadgets and outdoor gigs: during outdoor gigs in the summer, I've seen Ipads shut down from overheating. Something to be aware of.

I found the ringing interfered with my pitch perception. One or two of these https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-too ... 66055.html helps.

Ergonomics may vary by your body configuration, but the Conn Helicon I have is a good 6 pounds lighter than my King Sousaphone, so one must choose sore wrist or a sore back!

Could be someone else's new helicon day if they are near LA:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/235954513660?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=2EHjyOFkQyG&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=X_f_UdR1Sra&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Looks good, silver body and brass bell is either a feaure or a bug depending ...

Checked out the Geneva Bandroom display, since a friend has a new euphonium from them and is crazy about it. Tried the Eb compensator (classic upright 4th valve on the side) and oh boy what a nice horn. Reminds me of of the similar Miraphone rarely seen on this side of the pond. At $15,000 I don’t ...

Breezed right through tonight with my pre-approved pass, thanks for clearing the way!

What in the name of the M C Escher is going on with that 5th valve?

Planning to go, seems the exact schedule isn’t up yesterday but the guest artists look amazing. Like the idea of badges, although in my experience tuba people are not hard to talk to when surrounded by the similarity afflicted. Missed it last year due to illness.

Wow that's pretty. Too bad I can't justify getting it, but maybe if, since I'd be in the area, I got a few cases of Schell beer too.......

If you go see Vince Simoetti’s collection you will learn that every conceivable Rube Goldberg valve operating system has been tried at least once.

Second on the Besson bells fitting. I bought what was advertised as a King bell: once I the tarnish was removed discovered it was a Besson; it works well enough so no complaints.

I carry my recording bell King in a gig bag (which fits with the upright bell) by removing the bell and putting it in the bag upside down over the body of the tuba, padded with towels, pillows and stuffed animals (can't have the tuba getting lonely in the dark bag). A bit inconvenient but workable.

Can confirm: the upright bell from a 1241 will turn a King sousa into a rain catcher (did this to avoid schlepping two horns to out-of town gigs involving marching one day and sit-down the next, community band gigs so if they complain about it looking funny they got what they paid for....) , but ...

These look interesting, not interesting enough to roll the dice on international Ebay deals and international shipping. And the price on the Wessex: really?