4 or 5?

[cjk]

A 1+2+4 + push in F is decent enough if the first valve slide is short enough. So personally, I find the lack of a good C# and F# without a pull to be a bit more annoying than the "low F problem".

[Tom Mason]

I got the horn out today for the first time.

As per my normal day, I play along with my beginners and junior high players. At the current time, the beginners are playing out of the middle of their first year book, and my junor high players are alternatiung between scale studies, book two and three, and concert music possibilities for the spring concerts.

1. The sound I am getting on the Cerveny ACB 601 is like chocolate fudge choclate cake with chocolate icing and ice cream. YUMMMMMMMMMM!

2. I've been shooting BB's at the far wall with whatever I've played so far. Now I am chunking major portions of the wall through the next building.

3. I have a fake F through Db that is almost to die for. The work I will have to do is getting Ab, G and F# to speak as well as the rest of the horn (2-3, 4, 2-4). Fake notes were well within a moderate lipping, and none of them were flat.

Thanks for those who actually thought and responded appropriately.

[Roger Fjeldet]

5 valves - no doubt!!
I have a lot of tubas in all sizes and all tunings, with 3,4,5 (or 6) valves.
If possible I would have chosen 5 valves on every instrument
My Holton 345 Bb allows easily slidepulling on the 1st valve, and the false note (23) on low B works well, but a 5th valve would make it so much easier
But hey - just my opinion.
Roger

[Tom Mason]

Ok, lets deepen the discussion a little.

5th valve as a flat whole step, or a 2+3 combination?

If its just whatever you want, then I would match my 2nd valve on my bass trombone setup. Would entertain educated opinions.

[Tom Mason]

By the way, just because I am asking opinions doesn't mean I am about to butcher a horn just to add a valve.

[Ben]

As a guy who has 3 5v C tubas, all with differing lengths of fifth valve tubing, I have two favorites.

I like half step (2) valves. My 163 allows for 5th partial D to be played 5, C#, 52. There are many other handy combinations, but I use these bay far the most. The only issue is the way I have the horn setup, C# above pedal is sharp 12345. The use of most combinations requires some pulling or pushing of 1 along the way.

On my 184, the M3 (23) setup is becoming my favorite. I have found that I do not need to move any slides. 5th partial D is usually 13, but can be usable as 1 as a first inversion major chord. Other than that, all combis are well enough in tune, no pulling is necessary. Ditto on what Tuben said also.

[Kevin Hendrick]

I got the horn out today for the first time.

As per my normal day, I play along with my beginners and junior high players. At the current time, the beginners are playing out of the middle of their first year book, and my junor high players are alternatiung between scale studies, book two and three, and concert music possibilities for the spring concerts.

1. The sound I am getting on the Cerveny ACB 601 is like chocolate fudge choclate cake with chocolate icing and ice cream. YUMMMMMMMMMM!

2. I've been shooting BB's at the far wall with whatever I've played so far. Now I am chunking major portions of the wall through the next building.

3. I have a fake F through Db that is almost to die for. The work I will have to do is getting Ab, G and F# to speak as well as the rest of the horn (2-3, 4, 2-4). Fake notes were well within a moderate lipping, and none of them were flat.

And that's why I'm still playing my Walter Sear Cerveny after 37 years! I'm hoping it will outlive me (and it very well might) ...

By the way, just because I am asking opinions doesn't mean I am about to butcher a horn just to add a valve.

Very glad to hear that! "If it ain't broke, don't break it just to have something to fix ..."

[Kevin Hendrick]

I believe the Brazilians and the Chinese offer 3-valve CC tubas. According to observations offered forth, these should play best of all.

Hmmm ... how about a 16-foot alphorn? Might want to email Stocker and/or Rocky Mountain about that ...