Contempora BBb in Mankato MN

[greenbean]

Why is the per-square-mile density of tubas so high in MN ?

https://reverb.com/item/52423056-used-r ... nlacquered

[bort2.0]

Cool horn. I'm passing on this one though. It's about 90 mins SW of me, so not too far... But I'm just not interested in a bell front tuba.

More tubas for sale, or more being posted to CL and Reverb than in other places?

[donn]

I bet that won't last long, unless there's something wrong with it I can't see. Looks like the leadpipe was replaced and/or moved down, which might be something to think about for tall players, and the pull ring is missing that I think you'd need to exercise the 1st valve return spring gimmick - like a fair amount of work has been done on this horn - but generally in far better shape than I'd expect at that price.

[Tommckamey]

Why is the per-square-mile density of tubas so high in MN ?

https://reverb.com/item/52423056-used-r ... nlacquered

I'm thinking Polka has something to do with it :)

[Doc]

Why is the per-square-mile density of tubas so high in MN ?

https://reverb.com/item/52423056-used-r ... nlacquered

I'm thinking Polka has something to do with it :)

^^^
THIS!
IYKYK

New Ulm is home to the most famous and influential bands in all of polkadom. Gibbon held the granddaddy of all polka festivals. HUGE cultural influence for many decades until recent times. Mankato is near polka ground zero, so a bunch of tubas in MN (particularly southern MN), especially recording bells, is perfectly understandable and ought to be expected.

[Tommckamey]

I've got an old Reynolds Contempora Sousaphone, that was old when I bought it in 1975. It's a fine playing horn. If the upright model plays like the Sousaphone, it should be a really desirable horn. I've also seen 4 valve versions come up for sale at good prices periodically. Does anyone here know how the Contempora uprights compare to the Contempora Sousaphones? Is the valve section basically the same with just a different wrap to the bugle?

[donn]

There's a good site on Reynolds brass, https://contemporacorner.com/low-brass/. At the most casual glance, I'd guess that if the sousaphone has the valves of a lap tuba, it would be the smaller one, not the one mentioned above.

I have wondered though if they shared bells, accounting for the unusual l and angle of the front bell.