Tuba Bores

[tubatom91]

I think that the bore size of a horn is just one component in a mixture of variables that all influence the overall sound of the horn. I think if you made 2 horns exactly identical but one with .810 bore and one with .770 some people might not be able to tell the difference but others would notice. I think it's kind of like chocolate chip cookies made with splenda Vs. real sugar. Alot of people might be happy either way but some people want it different. If this doesn't make sense sorry .

[Donn]

Bore size apparently is of more value in cylindrical bore instruments than conical. Is this true?

Well, to go out on a limb here - yes.

Now, I'm assuming that your cylindrical bore instrument really is cylindrical, to at least this extent: the valve section is located in a lengthy stretch of the main tubing of the same bore dimension. Since the bore size here describes not just the valves but most of the instrument, it naturally has more predictive value. That's why there can't be any such thing as a bass trombone with a peashooter bore, for example.

[MartyNeilan]

Now, I'm assuming that your cylindrical bore instrument really is cylindrical, to at least this extent: the valve section is located in a lengthy stretch of the main tubing of the same bore dimension. Since the bore size here describes not just the valves but most of the instrument, it naturally has more predictive value. That's why there can't be any such thing as a bass trombone with a peashooter bore, for example.

Really?

[windshieldbug]

Bore size apparently is of more value in cylindrical bore instruments than conical. Is this true?

Since the bore size here describes not just the valves but most of the instrument, it naturally has more predictive value. That's why there can't be any such thing as a bass trombone with a peashooter bore, for example.

Really?

[Donn]

Really?

Sure! What am I looking at here? A bunch of antiques for sure, and I recognize at least the lever operated one was the bass trombone of its day, but ... would they be bass trombones today?

I mean, outside of a brief experiment with a Conn 1-valve from a pawnshop in the '80s, I know nothing about the bass trombone, not even what they're good for, but I assume bass trombonists have a very specific idea about that, and there's a reason why modern bass trombones tend to be ca. .560 in. And any such trombone is a bass trombone, including the instrument I had back then even though it had only 1 valve. And whatever the number of valves, you know a trombone with a significantly smaller bore will not be a (modern) bass trombone - it's not just one parameter of an equation with multiple poorly understood variables, as it is with the tuba. A .485 trombone is simply a small trombone, where a .685 tuba is less unambiguously determined by its bore size.

[windshieldbug]

would they be bass trombones today?

They wouldn't even be alto trombone bores today!
(but this is TubeNet, and you made a blanket statement )