Common Tuba modifications

[Matt Walters]

I found the one magic spot that needed just a little brass de-burred to fix all the intonation issues. Horn no longer "Plays Stuffy", has no more "Wonky" notes, no "Questionable Intonation Issues", and now plays "Balanced".

[tclements]

Spring loaded tuning jiggers. I have them on 8 of my horns.

[ken k]

I like to occasionally blow spit into my tubas. This seems make it produce fewer ugly sounds. Not sure how it works though...

salivary glands.

i always thought it was condensation...

[ken k]

acousticoil....

[arpthark]

I prefer the Aerophor:

Cerveny with Aerophor 1913 copy.jpg

[iiipopes]

Sousaphones. This should be a common modification: on a Conn or similar valve block, convert the upper loop of the 1st valve circuit to a moveable slide. It sits right at the left hand when a souzy is worn correctly, and on the souzys I've played the last few years, it really helped intonation to be able to ride the slide, and eliminated the need for a 4th valve.

[ken k]

I many have heard that someone is currently readying a YCB-826S for the Young-Gronitz conversion.

What is that?? I am in love....

[Rick Denney]

I (er--either Matt, Joe, or myself) have vented the valves on my tubas. I don't consider proper slide alignment and lapping a modification--I consider that a repair of a factory mistake. I've generally gone to nylon valve guides, and synthetic washers instead of corks and felts on the valves.

I (er--Joe) shortened the first slide on my Holton to give me a way to sharpen the 5th-partial C, and I have removed the Besson Unmanning Device from at least two instruments. I've built a couple of tuning triggers in my day, too.

Rick "thinking vented valves should be a standard feature" Denney

[pjv]

Interesting how one of the most prominent modifications I've read about is for tuning. Yet building tubas with a tunable main slide (or 2 tuning slides) seems all to often to be met with skepticism by tubists.

A note is either in tune or it ain't. You'd think having the "hardware" part of tuning in one place (one slide) should've been standard issue on all tubas years ago. Considering that even big name manufacturers produce grossly out of tune tubas (year after year), the least they could do is make them easily tunable.

And for the record, I've had my share of slide cuts, tuning levers installed an flipped slides.

-Pat