Tone
The EE♭ sarrusophone has the tone of a reedy contrabass saxophone, while the CC sarrusophone sounds much like the contrabassoon. The BB♭ contrabass sarrusophone is the lowest of the sarrusophones, and was the lowest-pitched wind instrument until the invention of the EEE♭ octocontra-alto and the BBB♭ octocontrabass clarinets, and the BB♭ subcontrabass tubax. Contrabass sarrusophones come in two bore widths: big pipes, which sound mellower and softer, but are still reedy; and small pipes, which are extremely reedy.
All contrabass sarrusophones, except for the CC contrabass, are transposing instruments.
The contrabass sarrusophone is sometimes confused with the reed contrabass, to which it bears a superficial resemblance.
Read more about this topic: Contrabass Sarrusophone
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