Bb Tenor Sousaphone (from India)

[@cobalt._.27]

Trent Hamilton

[@auditrevor]

Great video man. You seem very down to earth. I’ve been wanting one of these not for anything serious music wise but just because I think they are cool looking and unique. They are used allot in Mexican music where things are kinda off tone anyways and it’s just part of the vibe lol.

[@bobjacobson858]

An update--It occurred to me that the valves on my SAI Musicals Euphonium offer more resistance than I've found on any of my other instruments. I took a spring from my Conn 14-I baritone and tested it on the euphonium--and this made a HUGE difference in the resistance level. Therefore, I purchased a set of springs through eBay, and intalled them on the euphonium--and this made it FUN to play, with nearly featherlight resistance but still suffiicient. I still have those silly hexagonal buttons, but they're less of an issue. I wonder if anyone else has had any experience with this. I'll take this opportunity to add that unless one is committed to having a sousaphone, a used tuba of a quality brand had be obtained for about US $700. I have a Conn 20-J and an Olds 0-99, each for about this price, and I'm happy with them.

[@Markworth]

The spring on mine weren't a problem, so I haven't replaced them. Only drilled out the tiny bottom cap holes. There is probably some diversity among these instruments and I would believe anything when it comes to random problems.

[@bobjacobson858]

@@Markworth Thanks! I checked by euphonium, and found that it has bottom cap holes. I suspect you are correct in that there is great diversity among their instruments. Mine is probably much newer than yours, so perhaps they received enough complaints that they made this change.

[@bobjacobson858]

Thanks for this video. Yesterday, at my trombone+euphonium lesson, I saw one of these (being played by the student before me), and it sounded quite out of tune. (A week ago I bought a used Conn 20J recording tuba off eBay, and the tubing is MUCH more massive than this Indian sousaphone.) I recall seeing a review in which the buyer was angry because he didn't realize the Indian sousaphone wasn't a full-sized contrabass instrument when he ordered it. However, my euphonium was purchased on eBay (for $287) a couple months ago, and was made by Sai Musicals (in Meerut, UP, India), and the shipment by DHL was amazingly quick. It came in a trapezoidal case--cloth on the outside with formed foam padding inside, and this serves the purpose very well. I didn't care for its brass mouthpiece, but my Vincent Bach 7C trombone mouthpiece works just fine. My euphonium has brass finish, and it has those clanky valves (with those hexagonal caps) that require oiling every few days. The second valve is a bit flat, but otherwise the horn plays quite well and I'm happy with it. I was told by others that it was a good deal for the price even if not perfect. The main spit valve didn't work because the hole in the tubing hadn't been made, but a local Ace hardware store drilled it for me for free. In any case, I'm glad you like your instrument.

[@freshejyodaddy]

Thank you!

[@paulmullen2620]

Did I not only just hear clear easy false tones on a baritone length instrument, but also a DOUBLE false tone?

[@Markworth]

For all its flaws, which are plenty, this horn can legit drop octave on Euphonium parts. So far, the best results I can get are with a custom JK 1B 7.6 adapted to 11.9mm @ 1:24 shank. The sound is always a bit harsh, with plenty of wonky notes, but some of that is unavoidable thanks to the oversized bell. Still fun to goof around on, regardless.

[@freshejyodaddy]

Great video on the perspective of the horn. I just ordered one for my six year old. He’s used to trombone but wants a tuba. If he learns this and still likes the tuba I’ll know buying a real tuba won’t be a waste of money going into 4th or 5th grade.

[@Markworth]

Just realize that as far as learning it goes, you need to treat it as a Euphonium and not a Tuba. The skills are transferable, but it's important in the context of going from slide to valves. But yeah, it's a fun instrument.

[@conradwilson8148]

This instrument has terrible intonation and It is pretty much unusable for a student

[@jessebrook1688]

I'd recommend one of Wessex's little travel tubas first. They have better intonation, and are actually tuba-length. Remember, you're going to have to listen to him play the instrument. I suppose by now, I should ask, is he a tuba player or a trombone player?

[@godzillapowerpufffan8142]

12:12 I loved that song that you played my only sunshine that's one of my favorite songs as a kid

[@jessebrook1688]

I wonder how it would do with a mouthpiece that has a proper back-bore. That's where the harmonic series starts to form, so I can't help but think that with a better-made mouthpiece, these might have a usable octave! I'm surprised they don't chrome-plate the valves, but that might add too much labour to producing the horn to make it worth it for the maker to sell.

[@Markworth]

With JK 1B 7.6 adapted to proper 11.9mm @ 1:24 shank, it still has some iffy notes above 2nd partial, and really fights in the high range. 1st partial and false tone are very strong providing the ability to play drop octave. Sound isn't great, but you can't win em all.

[@matthewsaxman1028]

Almost all Bb bass/baritone brass have that prominent resonance on a pedal Eb. It's not really a usable sound or technique, more of just a novelty.

[@Markworth]

More notes are always good. This poor thing needs whatever it can get. And I wouldn't say almost all. It has to be larger than a Conn Euph, at least. Not sure the exact cut off. I only have four horns with usable false tones. This was the first and best of the ones in Bb.

[@DavidSantos-lp3mx]

Do you think it’s worth it to buy it

[@Markworth]

Depends on what you intend to do with it and how much you enjoy random instruments. I don't mind that it's primarily a wall-hanger because I really enjoy looking at it. Despite the lack of musical prowess, I enjoy playing it, too. It's a really cool experience. So to me, yes. I think it was worth it. But only at the lowest available price. Don't be plopping $600 on one. It's never going to exceed the expectations of a toy. I have a mouthpiece coming from Josef Klier next week. I'm going to see if it's possible to get the instrument to play remotely in tune. I drilled out the bottom caps to ~6mm and the valves are much better now, as well.

[@Getawayslim]

No I bought it and i hated it after a certain amount of time it became unplayable

[@AkoZoom]

@@Getawayslim so even the forms are right near, the welds are bad, the brass is of poor quality and already oxidized? the pistons and their springs can be changed but in fact they leak?

[@Haliographic2006]

Which brand is that sousaphone belongs to bro please reply.

[@Markworth]

It is unmarked, and was not sold under any specific brand.

[@Haliographic2006]

@@Markworth really awful product bro.you get a serious sousaphone in $1000 in india.try it.

[@Markworth]

@@Haliographic2006 If I wanted a proper Sousaphone, I'd get one. I got this horn because it's mega gimmicky, and I'm very interested in the quirks of various instrument designs and testing to see whether or not they can be overcome. I'm perfectly fine with the fact that thing is mostly a wall hanger. I enjoy looking at it.

[@juliobala2697]

Hello man, do you know where I can buy one of this? Can you send me info.

[@Markworth]

Just go to ebay and search "sousaphone 22 inch". You can still find listings that are under $400.

[@juliobala2697]

@@Markworth thank you man. 👍

[@trombonecoach]

Send it back.

[@Markworth]

This bundle of joy? Never. It's my favorite wallhanger.

[@Hiroyuki_T]

the design is so frikin flat even the bell

[@thanhluyenvu6973]

Mình muốn mua cây này. Bạn bán không?

[@Markworth]

No. You can find this instrument on ebay.

[@mr.vorrnyvorrn2516]

Correction: *Euphonium Sousaphone*

[@mr.vorrnyvorrn2516]

Or perhaps *Sousaphonium*

[@Markworth]

Shoot. I wish this was a Euphonium. I think the original patent name (from WAYYY long ago) was Baritone Sousaphone, but no one calls them that. Nah, this thing has Saxhorn-like tubing profile with quite a bit of cylindrical tubing in the leadpipe. Then it explodes into conical tubing.

[@hernandezpalmerosreneaugus3522]

Did you buy it on Amazon?

[@Markworth]

No, I got it on ebay from uniquestore9.

[@gramergonzalez5579]

Sounds like shit bro send it back

[@bruhtimes223]

It would cost more to send it back than it costs in the first place. Indian instrument companies (especially sai musical) are scammers

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

It really needs work

[@killian9679]

Is it easy to get notes out of? It looks easy, but I can’t be too quick to judge.

[@Markworth]

Despite all of its flaws, it's very easy to blow. It doesn't take much air and isn't taxing. When I've tried to play actual music with it, the most exhausting thing BY FAR is the constant attempt to lip everything in tune. If you're just monkeying around and not paying close attention to intonation, it's pretty fun.

[@jomarluke]

@@Markworth Try playing a serpent if you enjoy lipping all your notes, lol.

[@PedroGomez-bd9ro]

So its unplayable

[@Markworth]

Umm...no, but yes. It's really good at what it does. It's just a really awful design and basically worthless in an ensemble. If someone made an instrument similar to this with just enough improvements to make the intonation passable, it would be pretty dominant. Basically just needs a much smoother transition (probably dual bore) from cylindrical to conical, and a reasonably sized bell.

[@simonzelf]

Sounds terrible 🙉