52J 5th valve removal trial

[Bill Troiano]

I didn't really expect a response from my last statement, but I should have known I'd get one, and that's cool! Yeah, 2 tubas of similar size, but for what I play these days, I guess I really have no reason to need something else. Now, wanting something else-that's a different story. I could see playing all of my gigs on the 52J, where I can't see playing large ensemble gigs on the 621CC. No orchestra gigs these days.

Last night, I played a concert band gig with my son sitting next to me playing tuba (he has a 56J). So, I went to hit a (ff) low Db, which I sometimes play 235. Of course, I removed 5 (pushed the trigger with nothing attached to it), but forgot and a nice big, unfocused Eb came out. It sounded more like gas! I was embarrassed, but my son thought it was hilarious. Then, the set drummer next to me was scratching from mosquito bites. I went to my bag behind my seat and got him some OFF. A few minutes later, I smelled something burning, turned around and saw my bag smoking. I had dropped the bag on a light in the cement floor of the outdoor stage. Now, I have a 4 in. hole in the top of my bag. Then, I got back to my car (with son and daughter, both who played with me) to find out the Yanks lost in 13. What a night! But, I still prefer the 52J without the 5th valve.

Dixie trio gig this afternoon. I'll use the Yammy!

[iiipopes]

Yanking perfectly good 5th rotors off of tubas and reporting amazing improvements has become old hat...particularly for this one model (that just happens to have a valveset that unbolts from the instrument.

Reminds me of the old joke:
Setup: "Do you believe in ______________(fill in the blank)?"
Punch: "Believe in it? Hell, I've SEEN IT!"

Yes, for these tubas, Conn took a great idea, and a great prototype, and absolutely trashed it with their tinkering with the original 5th valve spec. The tuba overall is a fine tuba, and the guy I sat next to was a 20 year Navy band vet who knew his stuff. It really did make that much difference, both up close and across the performance hall.

Some of you guys need to start hanksawing away your 4th pistons and reporting back...

If I had my 'druthers, I'd still be playing my Besson as my main tuba, but the director likes the tone of my Miraphone better, so that I play for community band. But everywhere else I can I still prefer and do play the 3-valve comp, and probably will have its leaks fixed next season. Outdoors, I do play my souzy with the one modification I've posted elsewhere: convert the top loop of the 1st valve tubing into a slide to be worked by the left hand to help intonation for the usual culprits. So I do play with three valves as much as possible. I'm sure there are others are the same way.