Eb Sousaphones

[Pakins51]

Hello! I am in the market for a four valve Eb sousaphone, but I haven't had the opportunity to play any. I do know I really like the old king BBb 1250 sousas a lot, the newer 2350s played well but were uncomfortable to me. and I'm not the biggest fan of how the Conn 14k and 20ks fit, but I do like the way they play. This has me thinking I would prefer the King 126, but there is a Conn 28k that I could potentially get my hands on. How do they compare to each other? And to other makes/models of 4 vale Eb sousas. The Wessex is the only new one at the moment, and it looks like a conn 28k clone, has anyone played one of these also?

[bloke]

Typically, there's going to be a $1500 minimum extra cost (when buying these), due to worn pistons (unless they're original condition or already rebuilt).

The best one I've ever played was a 28K, but that was AFTER I changed the lengths of three of the four valves' circuits.

Others tend to sport the same sorts of intonation problems as do the various US makes of "monster" E-flat tubas.