Posted by Dan Schultz on September 20, 2001 at 16:30:41:
In Reply to: Eb Sousaphone posted by Allan on September 20, 2001 at 11:39:30:
A word on Eb sousas.... I own a Conn and a Reynolds. On the Conn sousa, the tube that rests on the player's shoulder is a 'dummy'. On the Reynolds, all of the tubes are functional and there is no 'dummy' tube. The Reynolds is a much smaller horn, mainly due to the fact that without the 'dummy' tube, the wrap of the main branch is much tighter. To me, (I'm 6'0" - 220 pounds) the Conn seems like a good fit. My Reynolds seem like a 'tiny' horn. It's practically impossible to hold the Reynolds in a comfortable position with the valves towards my right side. Instead, the valves are in a position fairly high on my right chest. If you are any size at all, I suggest that you 'try on for size' a Eb sousa made by King, Reynolds, or Olds before you commit to buy it. I also have a helicon made from a York body. The York also has the 'dummy' tube, making it about the same size as a conventional BBb sousa.