Posted by Frank on February 12, 2003 at 10:41:33:
In Reply to: Re: New Old Man's Tuba posted by Mary Ann on February 12, 2003 at 10:05:25:
If you have a sight problem in your right eye, then you must use your left one. A front action valve tuba places your head on the right side of the bell, and the bell tends to block the vision of your left (usable) eye. Especially if it is a large horn. I had a Mirafone 191 5 valve, but just couldn't use it. And a bell front horn would probably be worse.
An upright valve tuba places your head on the left side of the horn, which tends to block the right eye, but keeps your left eye out in the open so you can see.
Folks with a left eye problem (Rick Denney mentioned this in one of his posts) have to use a front action horn to see properly.
Its only us old, feeble, or otherwise encumbered folks that have to be concerned about the position of the bell vs. our heads. Maybe the real solution is a modern serpent or ophiclide (sp) with wheels to haul it around!!!
Makes for interesting discussion anyway.