Stainless Steel Tuba?

[J.c. Sherman]

Ewww!!

1) You couldn't beg me or pay me enough to work that hard to make one. Steel, by it's very nature, is not very maleable... You'd have to cast the damn thing and it'd weigh a ton! Remember, brass is soft... that's why they make brass instruments out of it

2) Schilke tried a steel trumpet bell. Notice how many you see in production.

Steel is - to me - a "dead" metal. While more live than plastic, it's lifeless and flat to me. Mouthpieces too, for me. But in general, I wouldn't even want to know what one would sound like.

You can't really solder steel. It's welded, or uses adhesive. You can silver solder it, but it's problematic to work consistently with 900 degree solder.

Again... Ewwwww!

J.c.S.

[Dan Schultz]

.... What is the likelihood of a tuba being made out of stainless steel? It seems, to me at least, to be a smart choice because it is much harder and vibrates less. Opinions? Thanks

From a fabrication point of view a stainless steel tuba is not very practical.... at least not with the material that we commonly know as stainless steel.... nickel and iron. However... another form of what can be considered stainless steel is what is referred to as German silver or nickel steel. Many of the outer tubes on tubas and other brass instruments are make out of this stuff. It's difficult to work but take a look at the Conn 8D F horns. I don't regard the Conn 8D horns as being outstanding but I would like to play a tuba made of this stuff.... just for the heck of it.

[J.c. Sherman]

I don't regard the Conn 8D horns as being outstanding but I would like to play a tuba made of this stuff.... just for the heck of it.

There are several 19th century tubas I've played in all "German Silver". The good ones (and there are good ones...) have much more power and color than their meager size would indicate! I'd love to try a modern F in that material. I'll bet Alex tried it...

J.c.S.

[tubaguy9]

That much stainless steel could be a problem. The mouthpiece works because it helps focus the sound with the density of the metal. The problem with a horn made of this, is the fact that it wouldn't be as live as a lot of other brass horns...
Just my $.02 worth...

[rocksanddirt]

no idea about the sound, but stainless is difficult to work with.

[windshieldbug]

"German silver" horns from the 19th century rock!