Expert: Kenton Scott - 9/12/2011

Question
I have a Frank holton sousaphone serial number indicates that it was made it 1950 ive been trying to sell it but have not gotten a good response people have been offering me what i feel is too low for a sousaphone that is in working(not pretty) but working condition. However my question is not about price but  the question i get most is what key it is in and I'm not sure how to figure this out. Can you help me please

Answer
OK, the key is important.  Most sousaphones made were either in BBb or Eb.  But the use of Eb sousaphones has been almost eliminated, so if it is an Eb, then there will be far fewer persons interested in it.  There are a few visual indicators to tell whether it is an Eb or not, but it would be better to 1) get a musician to play it and see what key it is in or, measure the length of tubing from mouthpiece to bell.  If it is around 164 inches, it is an Eb, if it is around 221 inches, it is a BBb.