Jumbo Sousaphones
The original Sousaphone was a large BBb tuba designed for use
in Sousa's Band in the 1890s. The concept was simple: add a
curve to the bell of a helicon so that the sound is directed
upwards and not at the audience. There is some disagreement as
to who made the first of these and I'm not interested in
discussing that here. We do know that Sousa wanted the tubas
to add the sound of the largest organ pipes to his band and had
great appreciation for the very large European BBb tubas,
including helicons, that were available. Shortly after the turn of
the 20th Century, Conn developed a BBb Sousaphone (the term
was originally considered a proper noun) that was even larger
and more organ like in sound. They called this the Jumbo
Sousaphone. The bore through the valves was .775" and the
size of this tuba through its body was larger than any BBb
instrument that had been made previously and in the hands of a
very good player is indeed organ like. An instrument this size in
standard tuba form would be difficult or impossible for all but
the largest to hold in front of them while playing so the circular
shape was especially important. Some time in the late 1910s,
Conn started producing a recording, or forward facing 26" or 28"
bell, in contradiction to Sousa's preference, but making them in
the form of our modern marching band tuba, including all of
them that I show here.
In the 1920s, King decided to do Conn one better by producing
an even larger instrument with a bore measuring .815" and a bell
rim diameter of 32". The body was actually very slightly
smaller, being 1/4" smaller in diameter at the bell receiver (where
the bell connects to the body). Conn made one special
instrument to commemorate their 50th anniversary in business
with a fully engraved 36" bell, but bells larger than 28" were only
available by special order. Other US makers produced similarly
large Sousaphones, including Buescher (Buescherphone) and
Holton (Holtonphone). Martin (Mammoth) and York (Monster)
made large Sousaphones with valve sections and bodies the same
size as their largest upright tubas but with bell rims diameters of
28" or larger. King also produced a large Sousaphone with a 29"
bell that they called the Giant. The first photo to the left shows
my nephew Chris Menter holding the King Jumbo next to Dave
Hayami with his Giant. For even more contrast, the second
photo shows Chris next to Jim Self's Selfone being played by
one of Jim's students. Next is a photos with another King Jumbo
next to a Conn 20K with 28" bell (this is the largest Sousaphone
that has been produced in the last 60 years) and a Conn
Sousaphone with a 26" bell, which is the standard size bell on
most instruments today. In this photo, on the extreme left, is the
travel trunk case for the Jumbo. Fortunately, this has wheels on
it, because it is large enough to hold both the Jumbo along with a
standard size Sousaphone strapped in the lid.
The last two photos are of Conn Jumbo Sousaphones with front
facing bells. This first is an example in its most common form,
with satin silver plating and gold in the bell, being tested by the
great Hollywood trombonist Alan Kaplan with the help of his
friend, Ross DeRoche. Last is a gold plated example that was
custom engraved for Earl Field, who played in Sousa's Band in
the 1920s, although he wouldn't have been allowed to use this
bell front version since Sousa only allowed the upright or
"raincatcher" bell tubas in his band.
Click on images for larger views.
in Sousa's Band in the 1890s. The concept was simple: add a
curve to the bell of a helicon so that the sound is directed
upwards and not at the audience. There is some disagreement as
to who made the first of these and I'm not interested in
discussing that here. We do know that Sousa wanted the tubas
to add the sound of the largest organ pipes to his band and had
great appreciation for the very large European BBb tubas,
including helicons, that were available. Shortly after the turn of
the 20th Century, Conn developed a BBb Sousaphone (the term
was originally considered a proper noun) that was even larger
and more organ like in sound. They called this the Jumbo
Sousaphone. The bore through the valves was .775" and the
size of this tuba through its body was larger than any BBb
instrument that had been made previously and in the hands of a
very good player is indeed organ like. An instrument this size in
standard tuba form would be difficult or impossible for all but
the largest to hold in front of them while playing so the circular
shape was especially important. Some time in the late 1910s,
Conn started producing a recording, or forward facing 26" or 28"
bell, in contradiction to Sousa's preference, but making them in
the form of our modern marching band tuba, including all of
them that I show here.
In the 1920s, King decided to do Conn one better by producing
an even larger instrument with a bore measuring .815" and a bell
rim diameter of 32". The body was actually very slightly
smaller, being 1/4" smaller in diameter at the bell receiver (where
the bell connects to the body). Conn made one special
instrument to commemorate their 50th anniversary in business
with a fully engraved 36" bell, but bells larger than 28" were only
available by special order. Other US makers produced similarly
large Sousaphones, including Buescher (Buescherphone) and
Holton (Holtonphone). Martin (Mammoth) and York (Monster)
made large Sousaphones with valve sections and bodies the same
size as their largest upright tubas but with bell rims diameters of
28" or larger. King also produced a large Sousaphone with a 29"
bell that they called the Giant. The first photo to the left shows
my nephew Chris Menter holding the King Jumbo next to Dave
Hayami with his Giant. For even more contrast, the second
photo shows Chris next to Jim Self's Selfone being played by
one of Jim's students. Next is a photos with another King Jumbo
next to a Conn 20K with 28" bell (this is the largest Sousaphone
that has been produced in the last 60 years) and a Conn
Sousaphone with a 26" bell, which is the standard size bell on
most instruments today. In this photo, on the extreme left, is the
travel trunk case for the Jumbo. Fortunately, this has wheels on
it, because it is large enough to hold both the Jumbo along with a
standard size Sousaphone strapped in the lid.
The last two photos are of Conn Jumbo Sousaphones with front
facing bells. This first is an example in its most common form,
with satin silver plating and gold in the bell, being tested by the
great Hollywood trombonist Alan Kaplan with the help of his
friend, Ross DeRoche. Last is a gold plated example that was
custom engraved for Earl Field, who played in Sousa's Band in
the 1920s, although he wouldn't have been allowed to use this
bell front version since Sousa only allowed the upright or
"raincatcher" bell tubas in his band.
Click on images for larger views.
