Posted by Chris on December 18, 2003 at 11:10:47:
As I am in the market for a tuba again, I have questions about bore size. I read a couple of posts in the archives related to bore size in tubas. There were some very good explanations of how bore size (as well as bell size/shape) affects sound. For example, one poster said the following:
in roughly similar instruments, smaller bore size makes it easier to "center" notes. The challenge there, though, is that it is harder to "lip" the sound up or down for intonation purposes. On the other hand, larger bore instruments tend to be harder to center notes.
At what point does a large bore become too large? I really want a full sound with a lot of core. I don't want to easily break the sound. At the same time I don't want to have to work so hard at those things that I can't be musical.
Any suggestions or advice? What tubas do you think bridge the gap most successfully?
Thank you in advance.
Chris in STL.