Posted by Rob Perelli-Minetti on July 02, 1999 at 07:14:32:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: SOUSAPHONES, SOUSAPHONES, SOUSAPHONES!!! posted by Leland on July 01, 1999 at 17:48:41:
"From the playing end, the 20K seemed to put out less sound for the same effort, and to feel productive at all I had to blow a lot harder."
This is curious, because your observation is almost the opposite of mine (both recent experience and 30+ years ago) and almost everyone I know who has had experience with both Conns and Kings: the Conn 20K is usually thought to put out more sound for the same effort. Some people like the King sound better, but agree the Conn speaks more easily.
Perhaps your 20K needs a good chemical flushing and cleaning (remember all the odd things found in sousaphones from time to time) or there is a hairline leak in it. (Had that problem with a Besson upright once and also with a York BBb -- both sounded much better after they were repaired).
We do agree that Conns and Kings are heads above the competition.