Editing Sousaphone (section)

===Fiberglass===
[[File:Street performers on Carrefour de l'Europe, Brussels, BE (DSCF6730).jpg|thumb|Street performer playing the sousaphone]]
Since 1961, sousaphones have been available made of fiberglass reinforced plastics instead of brass; RMC-Reynolds announced their new 18-pound instrument that year (branded as "Reynolds" or "Martin")<ref>"An RMC First" (advertisement). Music Educators Journal 48:2 (November-December 1961), 8.</ref> and Conn's 16-3/4-pound 36K debuted soon thereafter.<ref>"Another Contribution in Sound...Conn's New Fiberglass Sousaphone" (advertisement). Music Educators Journal 48:3 (January 1962).</ref> King first advertised its new 18-1/2 pound "1280" model in 1964,<ref>"The King Fiberglas Sousaphone is Here" (advertisement). Music Educators Journal 50:3 (January 1964).</ref> as did Holton with its FG-122<ref>"Light-Might-Bright-Right" (advertisement). Music Educators Journal 50:30 (January 1964).</ref> and Selmer with its Buescher-division instrument.<ref>"Music Industry: New Buescher Instruments." Music Educators Journal 51:1 (September-October 1964), 143.</ref><ref>"New Buescher BBb Sousaphone" (advertisement). Music Educators Journal 51:2 (November-December 1964).</ref> Olds first advertised its fiberglass instrument in 1966.<ref> "Look Who's Playing Sousaphone Now" (advertisement). Music Educators Journal 52:5 (April-May 1966).</ref> The fiberglass versions are used mainly for marching, with brass instruments being used for all other situations. Fiberglass sousaphones can be found commonly in younger marching bands, such as middle schools, due to their lighter weight. Depending on the model, the fiberglass version does not have as dark and rich a tone as the brass (King fiberglass sousaphones tended to have smooth fiberglass and a tone somewhat more like a brass sousaphone; Conn fiberglass sousaphones often had rough fiberglass exteriors and a thinner sound; the Conn is also lighter).{{citation needed|reason=this is relatively controversial opinion and needs citation to be included|date=March 2019}}