Posted by Rob Perelli-Minetti on May 31, 2000 at 08:01:19:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Conn's 14K and 20K: Why so great?? posted by Steve Marcus on May 31, 2000 at 00:51:37:
Steve:
My knowledge of Bueschers is limited, as I have seen few and played less. As I understand it, at least since the '50s, perhaps since WWII, Buescher was a lower quality line, but before WWII they made high quality instruments. I have a professional sax player friend (plays with the Goldman Band) who owns several Bueschers, from bass sax through soprano, and likes them very much.
As you know, a 31" bell on a sousaphone would be quite rare. If the Buescher is a 30's or older instrument, it could be very good.
If someone put a gun to my head and asked me to rank American brass sousaphone brands , I would do it something like this:
1.Conn; 2. King, 3. Holton (but some people like them better than Kings and Conns), 4. York (but their Ebs are often better than anything), 5. old Bueschers & Keefers, 6. Olds,7. Reynolds. The would come some of the 2nd lines horns like Pan American (Conn), Cleveland (King), American Standard (King), Grand Rapids (York?), Holton Collegiate. After that all of the stencil brands.