TubaForum.net

What's the best place to buy Conn neck and bits? Used is fine!

I was in this market recently. Chatting with my local music store and them pricing me parts directly from Allied or Conn-Selmer, this was actually the cheaper/more convenient option:

https://www.1800usaband.com/products/browse/56/246/

Repair folks don't really like to part with them, from what I understand.

I have a used neck if you're interested. Its fairly un-used. Silver
Pm if interested

Call Stan at Taylor Music.
Tell him you're my friend.
Ask him if he has any used Elkhart-Conn goosenecks and tuning bits.
(I'm thinking that when they sell overhauled sousaphones, they supply them with these parts "new".)

I probably have a few, but I'll probably need to use them for desperate scrounging, this summer (school repairs).

Found a neck

Still need bits and a bell screw

Silver preferred...

Thanks everyone!

eBay

$85 - lacquer
$130 - silver

If people are willing to part with used Conn bits, often they're trashed.

I sold a silver Conn bit for $8 in 2016 'cuz I didn't know no better.

I'm thinking that's absolutely full retail, but - so far - I'd wager $2.83 - Brett hasn't called my friend in SD, asking if he has any used ones.

bloke wrote: ↑Mon Jun 19, 2023 3:48 pm I'm thinking that's absolutely full retail, but - so far - I'd wager $2.83 - Brett hasn't called my friend in SD, asking if he has any used ones.

True, but your friend in SD has probably got 10 calls from other ‘friends’ of yours in the last few days, asking the very same question.

bloke wrote: ↑Mon Jun 19, 2023 3:48 pm I'm thinking that's absolutely full retail, but - so far - I'd wager $2.83 - Brett hasn't called my friend in SD, asking if he has any used ones.

I didn't call because I can't afford it. I don't want to waste his time.

Stan often has some acceptable condition Conn tuning bits for reasonable prices. I've bought them from him, and you know that I'm not going to pay too much for any tuba related stuff.

I don't know how carefully you read my post, but when his company overhauls sousaphones, they usually sell off the used necks and bits, and replace them with new.

If he has used Conn tuning bits, and if you mention my name, he'll sell you a pair at a reasonable price.

If you tell him that you're willing to buy some that have the insertion end cracked or splintered, those would surely be even cheaper. I tend to silver braze those cracks back together, rather than throwing bits like that in the garbage. Once they're repaired, they're fine, and they actually play just fine with a little cracks in them, because that part is inserted into the other bit.

bloke wrote: ↑Tue Jun 20, 2023 8:54 am Stan often has some acceptable condition Conn tuning bits for reasonable prices. I've bought them from him, and you know that I'm not going to pay too much for any tuba related stuff.

I don't know how carefully you read my post, but when his company overhauls sousaphones, they usually sell off the used necks and bits, and replace them with new.

If he has used Conn tuning bits, and if you mention my name, he'll sell you a pair at a reasonable price.

If you tell him that you're willing to buy some that have the insertion end cracked or splintered, those would surely be even cheaper. I tend to silver braze those cracks back together, rather than throwing bits like that in the garbage. Once they're repaired, they're fine, and they actually play just fine with a little cracks in them, because that part is inserted into the other bit.

It's not that I don't believe you or didn't understand the post (and thank you, for the information -- much appreciated), it's that I literally have zero dollars, and that's not an exaggeration.

So it could be the best and cheapest deal ever, but when a person has no money, the amount of discount is irrelevant. Sidebar -- I can barely stand to listen to the radio anymore, because every commercial and half of the shows themselves are advertising, and telling you ways you can or should or might want want to spend money. I'm no fool and virtually never fall for advertising (I try to ignore it completely), but it's just even more unbearable to listen to when there is no money. Them: "50% off!" Me: "that's great and all, but I still don't have the other 50%"

Anyway, thanks for the referral, I really do appreciate it. And I'll remember it for the future when budget allows.

At this point though, I think anything else done for this tuba will be to prepare it for selling. Neck and bits are necessary to play it, but also necessary to make sure it's ready to go... and go on and on about how fantastic it sounds. It is depressing though to realize that even this tuba has quickly exposed itself as being too expensive to keep.

Yeah, I'm trying to not even spend $100 or $50 here or there, so I'm right there with you. ( I just replaced my buffing room exhaust fan assembly and had put it off for months. Even though I found one that was only $115 and works fine now that I've installed it, I really didn't want to spend $115. I don't know he would sell a set for $20, $40, or $50....?? Had I known that you were trying to squeeze pennies just like I am, I had a access to a big box of spare Jupiter bits with which you probably could have made do. They belong to a school, but there are so many spares in there that they wouldn't give a crap if I sent off a couple of the ugly ones, and just told them that I gave them to someone who needed them.

OK @bort2.0 ...I gotcha covered - N/C.

Check your email.

bloke wrote: ↑Tue Jun 20, 2023 11:38 am OK @bort2.0 ...I gotcha covered - N/C.

Check your email.

Joe, that's really kind of you -- thank you!

I know my post above says I found a neck. I guess technically, I did find a neck (someone on here contacted me about a neck only), but my money ran dry before I bought it. So for now, I still don't have a neck... and not quite so sure when that might happen. May have to wait to see if conditions improve.

bort2.0 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 20, 2023 8:03 pm

bloke wrote: ↑Tue Jun 20, 2023 11:38 am OK @bort2.0 ...I gotcha covered - N/C.

Check your email.

Joe, that's really kind of you -- thank you!

I know my post above says I found a neck. I guess technically, I did find a neck (someone on here contacted me about a neck only), but my money ran dry before I bought it. So for now, I still don't have a neck... and not quite so sure when that might happen. May have to wait to see if conditions improve.

I learned from ghostbusters not to cross the streams.

And i think that is a more advanced version of oregon trail than i recall playing in my youth.

I'll see what I can do.

I have one that technically belongs to one of my school repair customers, but it had about a inch and a half nearly vertical tear in it which I actually silver brazed back together as an experiment to see how horrible of a crack or tear I could actually repair in that manner, and without even removing the receiver and male insertion parts. I didn't hand it back to the school, and it looks sort of funny because I haven't filed it down and sanded it, but it will play your sousaphone.