Posted by Lew on August 14, 2002 at 10:50:03:
In Reply to: Conn vs. King sousaphones posted by Eric Howard on August 14, 2002 at 07:23:13:
Rob gave a very good description of the historical differences in specs between the most common King and Conn sousaphones. For a while in the 90s UMI sold the King 2350 sousaphone with both the King and Conn name.
The only Conn sousaphones sold today are the 20Ks. They are definitely heavier than the new Kings and have a bigger bore. I sold my King 1250 sousaphone and kept my Conn 20K because I could only afford to keep one. I liked the way the King played and the sound I could get from it, but the Conn just plays so easily I had to keep it. I march with it once a year with my college alumni band, and my shoulder can really feel it afterwards. Even so, I always get complimented on the sound whenever I play it, and that makes it worth it. If I were marching a lot I would have kept the King because it is lighter weight and it does have a sweet sound.