School breathes new life into aging sousaphones

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- If the sousaphones in the Champaign Central High School marching band are looking brighter and sounding sharper it's because a custom car shop, instrument repairman, tent and awning company, saddle maker and a Boy Scout are to thank.

They refurbished many of the band's 13 aging tuba-like instruments over the summer, plus made them more comfortable to carry and built carts to store them.

The sousaphones had to be pressed back into service because the marching band has grown in size over the last few years, Jerry Loyet, assistant to the band director, said.

For Ultimate Street Machines, restoring nine sousaphones wasn't the typical hot-rod job for the custom car business owned by William Rumsey, a Central alumnus, and Mark Anderson.

He estimates each of the instruments took about 20 hours worth of work and would have cost $1,500 each if the shop had been charging.

The sousaphone resuscitation effort didn't stop there.

Loyet said Twin City Tent and Awning made pads that the sousaphones rest on for a minimal charge and a local saddle maker made shoulder pads for them.

Getting the old sousaphones in shape was cheaper than replacing them all with new ones. Loyet said a new instrument can run anywhere from $3,000 to $8,000.