Re: 4V Eb vs. 5V F


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Posted by Rick Denney on October 09, 2002 at 15:40:01:

In Reply to: 4V Eb vs. 5V F posted by Tom C. on October 09, 2002 at 15:18:12:

F tubas are almost never built with compensating valves, while many Eb tubas are. The idea is that compensated Eb (or F) tubas are able to play chromatically down to the first partial, and thus don't need the extra valve. The truth of this supposition is the subject of another debate, but it's probably safe to say that four compensated valves have the potential to provide an in-tune chromatic scale at least as well as five uncompensated valves, all else being equal (which it never is).

Compensation aside, many Eb tubas were made in the old days, when they were used on band literature designed around their useful range. And the old, fat Eb Monster Basses could play preferred tones well, and many can be played down to the first partial with only three valves using preferred tones.

The newest uncompensated Eb tubas, however, have five valves. The Willson is an example. And many F tubas, designed for general-purpose orchestral use in Europe, have six valves.

My chopped-up Eb-cum-F tuba needs that fifth valve--it's too small to get good preferred tones, and the four-valve combination in the low register are horribly out of tune. It needed that fifth valve just as much when it was an Eb.

Rick "not thinking that there's anything intrinsic to the F bugle that would need more correction" Denney




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