Posted by Frederick J. Young on April 05, 2001 at 07:11:14:
In Reply to: Re: E - flat tubas posted by Jay Bertolet on March 30, 2001 at 00:17:20:
As I have proved so many times a simple 5 valve tuba can never be as well in tune as a 4 valve compensating tuba without pulling slides. See the spreadsheets where mathematical calculations show this at
http://plantrol/com/youngfj/tuba.html
and measurements also verify this.
Doesn't it seem strange that no great euphonium players at present use anything but compensating instruments? Also, French horns are made in compensating varieties but no professionals use them. Instead they use full double horns because compensating doubles are a bit stuffy on some notes. To me this indicates that tubists should reconsider the use of obsolete instruments and investigate the use of double tubas. These are available from the Herbert Gronitz Co. in Hamburg, DE. They have been making them for a long time.
In addition, hornists use triple horns. E. G. , Engelbert Schmid makes one in F, Bb and high Eb. The famous Phil Myers of the NY Phil uses one of Schmids horns. A triple tuba in those keys would have much to offer. If you think it would be too heavy, remember that harps are also to heavy!