Thanks for the information. Not to sound like the village idiot, but I've never heard of a reed contrabass. Who was the modest inventor that didn't include his own name in the name of the instrument? If it uses a double reed and has the basic shape of a sarrusophone, is the only differences the ones you mentioned and does this make a difference in the sound? If they do sound they same what was the reason for the instruments invention? 

Inquisitively yours,

Maurice