FWIW, I think it's the increased "spread" of my fingers that gets me. Also, I've experimented a bit with the thumb ring, and don't think that's the cause of the strain. On my old rotary horn, I found the most comfortable placement of my hand was to not use the thumb ring at all. Go figure.
I will certainly try the Yamaha Euph springs though.
Getting used to piston valves...
-
Ed Jones
- pro musician
- Posts: 280
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 1:14 pm
- Location: Arlington, TX
Don't use Yamaha euphonium springs, use Yamaha TUBA springs. The springs for all Yamaha piston valve tubas are the same. If there is too much bounce, then stretch them a little.
Clean and oil your valves well when you replace the springs. Valves that are dirty or unoiled will be more prone to sticking with lighter springs.
Clean and oil your valves well when you replace the springs. Valves that are dirty or unoiled will be more prone to sticking with lighter springs.
-
Norm in Bellevue
- bugler
- Posts: 176
- Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2004 11:55 pm
- Location: now in Helena, MT
Roger Lewis has told me at least twice that he uses euphonium springs on his personal 1291. He did not specify the brand of spring. 1-800-348-5003, ext. 2266Ed Jones wrote:Don't use Yamaha euphonium springs, use Yamaha TUBA springs. The springs for all Yamaha piston valve tubas are the same. If there is too much bounce, then stretch them a little.
Miraphone 188
Parke Ofenloch
Continental Divide Tuba Society
Parke Ofenloch
Continental Divide Tuba Society
-
tubatooter1940
- 6 valves
- Posts: 2530
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 11:09 pm
- Location: alabama gulf coast
Poor Lindsay looks cold. It was very nippeley out that night.
I play a three piston, top action King.I have no plans to add a forth, fifth, or sixth valve. Around or about the third set, my right hand cramps up for awhile. I switch to left hand on the valves and shake the right hand down low until the kinks come out.
Top action pistons-not for sissies.
Dennis Gray
tubatooter1940
www.johnreno.com/
I play a three piston, top action King.I have no plans to add a forth, fifth, or sixth valve. Around or about the third set, my right hand cramps up for awhile. I switch to left hand on the valves and shake the right hand down low until the kinks come out.
Top action pistons-not for sissies.
Dennis Gray
tubatooter1940
www.johnreno.com/
We pronounce it Guf Coast
-
Quicksilvertuba
- bugler
- Posts: 76
- Joined: Tue Sep 27, 2005 5:06 pm
- Location: Texas
Re: Getting used to piston valves...
As someone pointed out to me about this horn: "You have to remember that it was made with Alan Baer's specifications in mind..."bort wrote:I recently bought a Miraphone 1291 CC, because I love the way it plays and the way it sounds. It felt "pretty comfortable," in the sense that it was 1) bigger than my old horn and 2) a piston-valve horn (I've only played rotary for the past 8 years or so). I knew it would take some adjusting, and I'd need to develop some new muscles to really feel comfortable...
Since I'm nowhere near the size of Mr. Baer, (5' 8" 160lbs) it took me a little while to adjust, too. Not to mention I gotta maneuver around that dang top bow...but to me it was well worth it.
Just my two cents.