Best Sousaphone Shoulder Pad?

[iiipopes]

OK, after the recent outdoor community concert gig at the annual small town fall festival playing souzy, my shoulder is talking back at me. A quick google search found a couple of pads, but no real reviews, responses, or anything to help figure out what works and what doesn't. Other than a folded up towel and duct tape, anybody have any good experiences with souzy shoulder pads? Or should I go back to the tried-and-true folded up towel and duct tape? Thanks.

[bloke]

Sadly, my experience is that none of them do any good. It’s still the same weight pressing on the same place, whether or not that weight has a completely compressed pad that is also pushing down against that spot.

Actually, the pad adds a little bit more weight.


It would be nice were there a shortcut, but it takes about three days for that soft muscle on the shoulder to toughen up to where it doesn’t bother that muscle to have 25 pounds resting on it.

[Three Valves]

A fiberglass sousaphone.

[tofu]

.

[iiipopes]

Guys, thanks. That's what I figured. Yes, it is used for outdoor concerts and I sit. I guess it's time to drag out an old towel (again). I keep telling myself that I need to just bite the bullet and get a refurb "real" 36K, but this one sounds so good, in spite of all of its enigma - serial number doesn't line up; bell is possibly a replacement; leaky valves that drip out the bottom caps, but still seal up with a little thicker oil, etc. (One of these days I'll post a thread on the enigmatic details for comment - it may be a true frankensouzy) It's not quite to the point of fish or cut bait, and it's not so bad that I must retreat to a Wenger souzy chair, so a towel it is. Thanks.

[Three Valves]

I'd like to spot weld a few supports to a metal folding chair.

[Stryk]

A fiberglass sousaphone.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This.....

[bloke]

As you are sitting and playing, consider one of those old-school style “butterfly“ collapsible sousaphone stands, which function both for storage or playing.
They have been made forever, but now K&M makes them in Europe.
You adjust the height to accommodate yourself in a seated position, you place the sousaphone on the stand, you turn the bell to the right nearly 90°- so that it points towards the front, you rotate the upper mouthpipe and tuning bits way off to the left, and you sit to YOUR left of the instrument - with only your arm going through the instrument’s “doughnut hole”.
When I was 11 years old - in beginner band, these stands were all across the back of our band room, and we didn’t have to support the instruments at all.
I can sell K&M stands, but I have no idea if I could beat the lowest price on the Internet...??

[Three Valves]

^^^

And much less than Wenger's chair!!

[iiipopes]

As you are sitting and playing, consider one of those old-school style “butterfly“ collapsible sousaphone stands, which function both for storage or playing.
They have been made forever, but now K&M makes them in Europe.
You adjust the height to accommodate yourself in a seated position, you place the sousaphone on the stand, you turn the bell to the right nearly 90°- so that it points towards the front, you rotate the upper mouthpipe and tuning bits way off to the left, and you sit to YOUR left of the instrument - with only your arm going through the instrument’s “doughnut hole”.
When I was 11 years old - in beginner band, these stands were all across the back of our band room, and we didn’t have to support the instruments at all.
I can sell K&M stands, but I have no idea if I could beat the lowest price on the Internet...??

I priced them on the internet.

[bloke]

Is there a way to get your right arm through a Hercules?

As you are sitting and playing, consider one of those old-school style “butterfly“ collapsible sousaphone stands, which function both for storage or playing.
They have been made forever, but now K&M makes them in Europe.
You adjust the height to accommodate yourself in a seated position, you place the sousaphone on the stand, you turn the bell to the right nearly 90°- so that it points towards the front, you rotate the upper mouthpipe and tuning bits way off to the left, and you sit to YOUR left of the instrument - with only your arm going through the instrument’s “doughnut hole”.
When I was 11 years old - in beginner band, these stands were all across the back of our band room, and we didn’t have to support the instruments at all.
I can sell K&M stands, but I have no idea if I could beat the lowest price on the Internet...??

I priced them on the internet.

[iiipopes]

It's getting to the end of outdoor fall festival season. The only remaining concert for the community band this season is the indoor Christmas concert, which of course will be tuba, not souzy. I think I'll move this issue to the back burner until next spring. Thanks for everybody's help and suggestions. It is apparent this is not a quick fix, whether the fix be a chair, a stand, or just getting my lazy @$$ up and work on getting back in shape a little better, especially since I am fortunate to not have any other issues to contend with, just a little discomfort.

In the meantime, cheers to all!

Now, if I could only turn one of the bell screws into an eyelet and pull a sky hook over from the third cloud to the left....

[matt g]

The best sousaphone pad is deadlifts.

[tubaing]

I have long wondered about Football shoulder pads since (I think) they have a rigid outer shell.

[bloke]

I have long wondered about Football shoulder pads since (I think) they have a rigid outer shell.

interesting idea...Would the sousaphone slide off...or dent the inside curve of the 3rd branch?

[iiipopes]

I have long wondered about Football shoulder pads since (I think) they have a rigid outer shell.

Or really throw off the geometry of a neck and two bits?

[bloke]

Or really throw off the geometry of a neck and two bits?

not to mention "shave and a haircut".

[Kirley]

The main benefit that I found with a pad had nothing to do with increasing the comfort factor. It was with creating more friction between the instrument and my clothing. It helps a bit with the natural tendency of sousaphones wanting to always rotate forward.

I believe the one I have is made by Neotech. It's a neoprene type of material. Ironically, I use it only on my lightest horn, a Conn 22K (fiberglass).

I prefer metal horns with shoulder plates over those without. I even upgraded the rather small plate on my Wessex helicon with one from a Conn.

Maybe I missed it but why are you playing a sousaphone if you're sitting? Is it for the forward facing bell?

An old King 1240 with a recording bell is a pretty good and often inexpensive option. But maybe you are one of the very few who don't search out excuses for more tubas!

[bloke]

33 helium balloons will lift a pound or so..
Were you to attach only about 600 helium balloons to your sousaphone, the effective weight on your shoulder would probably be reduced to only 6 or 7 lbs.

Obviously, you would wish to avoid 850 or more, as you might actually lose the sousaphone.

bloke "who has a kolij deegree"

[Three Valves]

You know this reminds me of a song, and you know I just won’t let it go…

https://youtu.be/Fpu5a0Bl8eY