When I got hitched a friend brought a serpent and played along with the Ceilidh band we had, and provided a sort of bass continuo to the music that was really nice, and it is LARGE sounds like a euphonium , but they were wood and leather,(modern replicas are glass fibre, I believe) Lovely sound, bass and mellow.Played with a tuba mouth piece..
You definately do not want to get too close to bombards!!!!!! they are LOUD.... they use them in processions in Catalonia, and with 12 playing in a band, in the open 50 feet away, I shouted as loud as I could in my friends ear and couldnt make myself understood.. and dont even THINK of playing one indoors, Manitas has one he got in Catalonia..I understand he is porbidden to play it indoors!!