Posted by Consider a Reynolds! on December 31, 2003 at 20:55:21:
In Reply to: Conn - vs. Besson- sousaphone posted by Ulrich Meierhofer on December 31, 2003 at 11:15:34:
Some of the Reynolds sousaphones look a whole lot like a King, and, from my experience a long time ago (1960's) sounded a lot like a King. They weren't typically as sturdy, or as expensive. I think H.N. White Co.(maker of Kings)either made the Reynolds, or sold them mandrels, just as some of the Martins look to have been made by Conn, but some say they were just made with old Conn mandrels.
If you are comfortable on an Eb sousaphone, your most economical and possibly best, choice for Dixie work would be a 4 valve Eb sousaphone, a Conn 28K or something similar from King, Buescher, York, Martin or Holton. Klaus (who posts as K) plays a Conn Eb sousaphone and likes it. A fair number of players in the US use Eb sousa's for Dixie work, both for lightness and their dexterity.