Posted by Art H on December 22, 2001 at 00:12:31:
In Reply to: A better tuba? posted by Question on December 21, 2001 at 16:52:03:
1. Make the bell and bottom bow out of carbon fiber for durability and to reduce weight.
2. Make the valve tuning slides as long as possible and easily accessible.
3. Find a way to make the leadpipe height and angle and thumb ring position all correct for the owner of the instrument without messing up the finish of a new instrument.
4. Arrange the valve positions to match a human hand.
5. Route the valve tubing in such a way that water collects in fewer places.
6. Make similar models in two or three different sizes (all in the same key) in such a way that the valve section can be removed from one and put onto another easily.
7. Make a 5th and 6th valve unit that can be slipped into one of the 4th valve tuning slides when needed.