Posted by Dale Phelps on July 18, 2001 at 17:05:24:
In Reply to: Damping posted by Philip Moore on July 18, 2001 at 10:52:26:
Used to be (a long time ago like 15 years) that the only time folks would consider lifting the leadpipe from the bell of their tuba would be to BRIGHTEN the sound somewhat.
The decision was never a general one, it was ALWAYS related to the playing characteristics of that specific individual horn. If it was a VERY dark horn, and you wanted a scootch more projection, then lift it. I did this on a huge .890-bore rotary BBflat and the thing became a joy to play!
In the same way, damping on valve caps is something that is NOT universally a good thing. If you put these caps on a kaiserbass with a glorious dark sound, the extra damping may make it more like mud. BUT if you use these weights on a light, bright little rotary horn to darken the sound some, you'll see some positive effect (assuming that your goal of darkening is a positive goal!)
So you see, these things ARE done with different goals in mind,
and they are done because "different tubas haved different needs."
IMO most of our readers would get more out of spending their money on a lesson.