Posted by Rob P-M on January 10, 2004 at 23:51:36:
In Reply to: King 1240 and 1250 Comparison posted by Bill V. on January 09, 2004 at 01:55:12:
The King 1250/1251 (for 20 years or so 2350) was the standard King sousaphone from around 1930. (In King tuba nomenclature, a "0" end number indicates a 3 vavle horn, a "1" indicates a 4 valve horn).
THe King 1240/1241 (again in the past 20 years or so 2340/2341) was the standard King tuba, most sold with bell front until the past 30 years or so, but available since the '30s with upright bells as well.
Both horns share the same valve set and have the same .687" bore. Early 1240/1241's had a tuning slide in the lead pipe, as does the 1250 sousaphone; however at least since the end of WWII the 1240/1241's have had a straight to the valves leadpipe with a main tuning slide after the 3rd/4th valve.
In my experience, both horns share what I describe as the characteristic King "sweet" sound, tend to be easy to play in tune, and are probably better in the high register (at least for me) than the pedal register (where I find them both stuffy). My main horn is a 2341 upright bell, which I am pretty happy with, all things considered.
My sousaphone, however, is a Conn 20K, which I prefer for work requiring a sousaphone. The King sousaphone, to my mind, plays more like an 'inside' horn and is (for me) much easier to overblow than the Conn.
If you can find a 1240/1241/2340/2341 at a reasonable price, I think you can hardly go wrong.