Sousaphone Appreciation Thread

humBell · Post by **humBell** » Sun Oct 11, 2020 11:57 am

How come you like sousaphones?

Any particularly deserving of recognition?

By all means, share stories and pictures.

I mean to lead by example soonish, but for the 'nonce, i am lazy. I also am certain folk here have far better to offer than my small eventual contributions.

Three Valves · Post by **Three Valves** » Sun Oct 11, 2020 12:19 pm

Why??

Because sousaphone = party.

bort2.0 · Post by **bort2.0** » Sun Oct 11, 2020 12:19 pm

Played one for 5 years in college ... Was never interested in them before that, haven't missed them since. I have no hate for them, just all around very neutral towards them. I do dislike how much it makes people ask about them. A regular tuba nicely goes unnoticed...

lost · Post by **lost** » Sun Oct 11, 2020 2:22 pm

You just haven't found any fun sousaphones Bort. Behold Matilda....

RenoDoc · Post by **RenoDoc** » Sun Oct 11, 2020 4:13 pm

Three Valves wrote: ↑Sun Oct 11, 2020 12:19 pm Why??

Because sousaphone = party.

EXACTLY!

I bought a Conn Naked Lady 14K sousaphone a couple of years ago. If I'm playing it in public, it generally means I'm doing something really, really fun! Its first appearance was for a 4th of July parade up here in Truckee, CA in 2019. It had been years since we had a band in the parade and buying the sousaphone motivated me to put a marching band together. It was a blast as we got a lot of the band parents in their 40s's/50's to join their kids in Jr High/High School to march together. I can't remember the last time I laughed and smiled that much.

Since then, I'll show up at some local 5K running races on the course playing my tuba with a background track in the back ground. It's a great way to cheer on the runners. I suppose I could drag out my tuba but somehow the sousaphone is more fun.

As much as I love listening to incredible classical tuba players, hearing Kirk Joseph with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Bennie Pete with Hot 8 Bass Heavy Slim with Dupont Brass (amongst others) or Jordan Nadell with West Grand Brass Band crank out base lines is what really gets me dancing!

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Sun Oct 11, 2020 4:38 pm

Three Valves wrote: ↑Sun Oct 11, 2020 12:19 pm Why??

Because sousaphone = party.

YES!!! I have more fun playing sousaphone, especially outdoor gigs, than just about anything else other than playing my bass guitar in different countries on different continents.

Dave Detwiler · Post by **Dave Detwiler** » Mon Oct 12, 2020 5:19 am

Why do I like Sousaphones?

1. Their history: The instrument was conceived by and named after the legendary bandmaster, John Philip Sousa
2. Their appearance: Nothing is more impressive in a marching band than a massive Sousaphone section!

: Penn State Blue Band - my son is there somewhere.JPG (111.34 KiB) Viewed 1184 times

3. Their sound: When they are quality horns that are played well, as in the above band, the sound is awesome!
4. Their convenience: They are way easier to carry and play at our outdoor TubaChristmas concerts each year!

: 2012 TubaChristmas - Lansdale, PA.JPG (69.29 KiB) Viewed 1184 times

bloke · Post by **bloke** » Mon Oct 12, 2020 9:23 am

' anyone here a member of the SSS?
(Sousaphone Secret Society)

MN_TimTuba · Post by **MN_TimTuba** » Mon Oct 12, 2020 10:46 am

bloke wrote: ↑Mon Oct 12, 2020 9:23 am ' anyone here a member of the SSS?
(Sousaphone Secret Society)

If they admit it, it won't be a secret anymore.

bloke · Post by **bloke** » Mon Oct 12, 2020 10:49 am

MN_TimTuba wrote: ↑Mon Oct 12, 2020 10:46 am
bloke wrote: ↑Mon Oct 12, 2020 9:23 am ' anyone here a member of the SSS?
(Sousaphone Secret Society)
If they admit it, it won't be a secret anymore.

ssshhhh.... !!!

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Mon Oct 12, 2020 11:32 am

Dave Detwiler wrote: ↑Mon Oct 12, 2020 5:19 am Why do I like Sousaphones?

1. Their history: The instrument was conceived by and named after the legendary bandmaster, John Philip Sousa

Yes, but his invention, as realized by J. W. Pepper, was the bell-up "raincatcher" version which he preferred, as in your avatar. It was Conn who took the bell forward.

Dave Detwiler · Post by **Dave Detwiler** » Mon Oct 12, 2020 11:39 am

iiipopes wrote: ↑Mon Oct 12, 2020 11:32 amYes, but his invention, as realized by J. W. Pepper, was the bell-up "raincatcher" version which he preferred, as in your avatar. It was Conn who took the bell forward.

No argument there - but that version is where Sousaphone history begins, and I think that's pretty cool!

Kirley · Post by **Kirley** » Mon Oct 12, 2020 3:18 pm

I'm a card carrying member of the NSSSS (not so secret...) and proud of it!
Here's my 1924 Conn 38K.

She's a survivor. Lived out most of her years in a closet just waiting for me.
Sousaphones definitely bring the party!

humBell · Post by **humBell** » Mon Oct 12, 2020 11:04 pm

Looks right at home with the axle and a barrel a cooper would be proud of!

Sorry i am still slow to contribute, but the SSS and subsequent permutations made me laugh.

On first pass i was tempted to call this a thread for slightly strange sousaphones, trying to encourage the unusual, and went on to comment that perhaps the unrestrained sibilence would be more appropriate to a serpent thread... but then i thought maybe i was being too silly.

Anyway, sorry i am still slacking with my contribution...

RenoDoc · Post by **RenoDoc** » Fri Oct 16, 2020 2:41 pm

Can't wait to get back to these kinds of events.

: 65957739_10156059191491734_6406288019447349248_n.jpeg (105.33 KiB) Viewed 1081 times

humBell · Post by **humBell** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 6:03 pm

Hope this is a sufficiently interesting instrument for this thread...

Any questions?

pittbassdaddy · Post by **pittbassdaddy** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 7:21 pm

Here's two fun sousaphones for your appreciation!

humBell · Post by **humBell** » Thu Oct 22, 2020 9:30 pm

pittbassdaddy wrote: ↑Thu Oct 22, 2020 7:21 pm Here's two fun sousaphones for your appreciation!

A Holton and a Conn? (I am not so good at id-ing, so i need the practice...)

Strange things are afoot at the Circle-k...

pittbassdaddy · Post by **pittbassdaddy** » Fri Oct 23, 2020 9:40 am

humBell wrote: ↑Thu Oct 22, 2020 9:30 pmA Holton and a Conn? (I am not so good at id-ing, so i need the practice...)

The one on the right is a 30 inch bell Martin Mammoth (with a Conn neck and bit)

Kirley · Post by **Kirley** » Fri Oct 23, 2020 11:13 am

humBell wrote: ↑Thu Oct 22, 2020 6:03 pm Any questions?

I'll bite. What is it?
Some kind of "junior" model?

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