Larger Finger Buttons for Conn Sousaphone

[Three Valves]

The fingertip buttons on my Sousaphone are tiny. Dimes would be an improvement!!

I can only find stock replacements.

What can you suggest for an improvement. Say, nickel sized at least.

[bort2.0]

Glue some nickels to the tops, then!

[Three Valves]

That kind of solution is not beneath my dignity, but I was hoping for something more elegant that I can spend too much money on!!

[bort2.0]

Call Martin Wilk.

He makes custom buttons, I wonder if he has them for Conn threads...?

[The Big Ben]

Not sure about the interchangeability of King and Conn buttons but...

The new 2341s use a nice wide, flat button. I have them on my 1241 and my Olds 099-4. I needed to change the valve caps on the 1241 to new style King. The original cap was designed so the button went down into the cap but the new style button is flat on the bottom and needs a flat surface on the top of the cap.

I bought mine on E-Bay, used, from two different dealers. A King dealer could get them for you. Never seen any that Martin Will has made but I'm sure those would be good too but, maybe more expensive. YMMV

[bloke]

If you own a stock/Elkhart-style Conn 36K with stock buttons... (as in your vintage picture of yourself)
...your definition of "tiny" is not mine.

...or do you own something else...??

ALSO...The CORRECT finger buttons are not only about the only ones with the correct threads, but - up underneath (take a look) - the threads END, and there is a little bit move "valve stem" up under there...so a replacement would define valve stems which are too short.

I'm sure those buttons are at least as large as a 5-cent coin, and possibly larger.

[Three Valves]

If you own a stock/Elkhart-style Conn 36K with stock buttons... (as in your vintage picture of yourself)
...your definition of "tiny" is not mine.

...or do you own something else...??

ALSO...The CORRECT finger buttons are not only about the only ones with the correct threads, but - up underneath (take a look) - the threads END, and there is a little bit move "valve stem" up under there...so a replacement would define valve stems which are too short.

I'm sure those buttons are at least as large as a 5-cent coin, and possibly larger.

It's a 1964 Conn 36k bone stock.

Compared to the 1" buttons on my Mack or the paddles on the B210 that preceded it, they seem tiny.

The screw holding them in looks dainty!!

[bloke]

Look underneath but buttons:

PAST their male threads, is a little bit more "stem".

THIS is why you shouldn't replace them (even were it that there were others of that thread size, which there are not).

[Three Valves]

Looks like I'll have to modify the existing button.

BB did it to point coins in my Mack in place of the MOP.

This way, everything fits and lines up and I get larger buttons!!

Or glue nickels on them!!

[bloke]

Any of those things are only going to slow down the valve or (if you stretch the springs to compensate) cause you to have to mash harder.

How large are your fingertips?

How difficult is it to keep three fingers (vs. four) somewhat centered over three buttons?

Why don't oboes have great big buttons on them? ...or violins?

[Three Valves]

Why don't oboes have great big buttons on them? ...or violins?

Because big men with ham fists and sausage fingers don't play those!!

[bloke]

Why don't oboes have great big buttons on them? ...or violins?

Because big men with ham fists and sausage fingers don't play those!!

This is one of my 5-valvers...