Conn 20J

[bort2.0]

Here are a few photos of it!

Initial thoughts:
* Crap...
* Lap sousaphone, for real
* For being so large, it actually feels pretty compact
* IT PLAYS REALLY WELL! Jeez... I haven't played short action valves since college ... Smooth and easy. Response is nice, super easy to play, and intonation is as good as it gets for a 3 valve tuba. Low range pops.
* HUGE sounds from this thing, absolutely point and shoot.
* Really reminds me of playing sousaphone in college. Point and shoot, a LOT of sound.
* It was bought from BBC in 2018, so they aligned, cleaned, serviced etc... and rarely played after that. So there are no leaks or other playing issues. Everything works nicely.
* There are dents.
* The lacquer is ugly and spotty/streaky throughout... And I mean literally over the entire horn. QUESTION --should I try to strip the rest of the lacquer off? If so, how? Hot water? Is this the gross hard to strip stuff?
* I can't see the bell engraving because the lacquer is so gross.
* The cases are new!

Crap...I didn't think I'd like it quite this much. It's just too easy to play. I'm ready to go on it NOW.

Crap again... look for an upright bell? Or a 25J instead? Gonna miss that 4th valve.

Is this my start into American 6/4 BBb tubas...?

Photos:

[Three Valves]

I’d do something about the bell at least. Have you had your booster shots??

I played one in school. HEAVY!! Sounds great.

[tylerferris1213]

Get some tuning bits for it. It'll pull some of the partials more in tune than just pulling the main tuning slide out.

[bort2.0]

I’d do something about the bell at least. Have you had your booster shots??

I played one in school. HEAVY!! Sounds great.

You know it's made of brass, right? :)

Overall, it's just fine. Just needs some finish consistency.

[bort2.0]

And for real, nobody had any expectations here. :-)

[GC]

Get some tuning bits for it. It'll pull some of the partials more in tune than just pulling the main tuning slide out.

These are designed to be played with one tuning bit. As for the 4th valve, if I ever bought one of the 2XJ series again, I'd probably be happier with a 21J. The false tones on these horns are so good that the 4th valve is less useful for the low Eb-B register. I pretty much just used it on my 25J as a sub for 1-3 combinations only. The extra 3 pounds for the 4th valve assembly makes a difference.

[bort2.0]

WTB: 1 tuning bit

[LargeTuba]

I hate to tempt you, but I got a real nice 25j with Both bells.

Just some food for thought!

[York-aholic]

Here are a few photos of it!

Initial thoughts:
* Crap...
*
*

I love that that particular thought rose to the top of the pile!


I once stripped the lacquer off one of these in high school by giving it a bath in really hot water. Unfortunately, I wasn’t planning to take the lacquer off...

[bort2.0]

Here are a few photos of it!

Initial thoughts:
* Crap...
*
*

I love that that particular thought rose to the top of the pile!


I once stripped the lacquer off one of these in high school by giving it a bath in really hot water. Unfortunately, I wasn’t planning to take the lacquer off...

And to clarify, that's as in "oh crap! I actually like this", because I didn't expect to think very much of it.

[bloke]

If someone stripped the lacquer off a 20K with hot water, it was probably rattle-can RE-lacquered.

The EPOXY factory lacquer on these was remarkably durable.

[MN_TimTuba]

WTB: 1 tuning bit

Brett,
Eric Peterson has them, it's where I got mine.
With any luck he can meet you at the door....leave your car running and flashers 'on'.
Tim

[bloke]

I suspect the 20J/tuning bit thing is a superstition...
...and an assumption, based on the Martin 6/4 bit(S) requirement.
Further, I suspect that the ONE bit thing comes from some likely reality that one is all that can really be inserted, without rendering a 2XJ too long to be able to push the main slide in to A=440 (well..., other than F and E...) tuning.

I could be wrong, but I've never seen any "mint" 2XJ tubas with (a) tuning bit in their cases, I've never had a problem (again, other than the crazy-flat 3rd partial pitches) playing these DOWN to pitch, and (mostly) it seems that there is TONS of "group think" that has oozed out of these forums.

[groovlow]

Wow I've got a '57 25J
Its fun. In high school we switched between detachable bell Kings and the Conns depending on section size, performance pieces or location (none our choice). In 2010 I took the 50% blotchy lacquer off with the old aircraft paint remover took me 3 sessions. Two tuning bits accentuate the Conn Sousaphone sound. I have no preference. I play without a bit mostly. Put a Conn bit in any horn and I'll bet you'll hear an element of a Conn sousaphone
I don't like to play mine in my house because of response peculiarities, waves canceling the sound depending on where the bell is pointing and receiving. I find big rooms or outside playing makes for the easiest, most enjoyable 2xJ Conn experience

Euro Tubas Say seriously "We will perform"
American Tubas say "Let's PLAY some Music"

Enjoy Bort
Joe H
ps What Year is it?
Project: remove lacquer {unless you already have secured a movie part}
Get a bell if you can get a steal on it
Cut it To CC

[prairieboy1]

Wow I've got a '57 25J
Its fun. In high school we switched between detachable bell Kings and the Conns depending on section size, performance pieces or location (none our choice). In 2010 I took the 50% blotchy lacquer off with the old aircraft paint remover took me 3 sessions. Two tuning bits accentuate the Conn Sousaphone sound. I have no preference. I play without a bit mostly. Put a Conn bit in any horn and I'll bet you'll hear an element of a Conn sousaphone
I don't like to play mine in my house because of response peculiarities, waves canceling the sound depending on where the bell is pointing and receiving. I find big rooms or outside playing makes for the easiest, most enjoyable 2xJ Conn experience

Euro Tubas Say seriously "We will perform"
American Tubas say "Let's PLAY some Music"

Enjoy Bort
Joe H
ps What Year is it?
Project: remove lacquer {unless you already have secured a movie part}
Get a bell if you can get a steal on it
Cut it To CC

I love that Euro Tuba/American Tuba reference. It is perfect!!

[bort2.0]

What year... Where is the serial number?

[groovlow]

Serial # second valve player side

[bort2.0]

701675

[bort2.0]

Now that you've got it, cut it to CC!!

It's been done:
https://yorkmaster.org/yorkmaster/photo ... index.html

Rotary valves!

Which has also been done:
https://yorkmaster.org/yorkmaster/photo ... index.html

The two haven't been done together, though... yet...

[Three Valves]

701675

Looks like 1957