A series of questions regarding building an instrument

[Wyvern]

I would think if you just lengthen to EEb, or BBBb then what you will just get is a VERY stuff Sousaphone. To increase the depth of tone, what you need is a larger bell throat. You would be much better to search out a Conn Jumbo 48K to produce the kind of sound you desire.

Good luck!

[imperialbari]

If part of the outer flare area has been dented, creased, or overly flattened, that area actually will be the one least likely to cause the ringing/afterglow.

If the bell is perfect and also is perfectly seated in the body, there is less tension, and the outer flare area is more likely to wander off on its own road causing the ringing/afterglow.

King is said to have done research telling that huge bell flare diminish the sensed playing resistance. But most often the really sought after orchestral tubas don’t exceed a bell diameter of 20".

Klaus

[Wyvern]

I'll be heading down to Okemos tomorrow to have a look at the "Majestic Monster" and I'll post some findings and pictures (!) when I get back.

That will be very interesting - look forward to seeing!

[randy westmoreland]

You are still practicing that gorgeous Holton 345 right. Just hit that Bordogni!

[Oceantuba]

Likely it's all been said but just to be sure....

In general, with brass instrument design, you need to "respect the bore". (Pretty sure this is a loose translation from French) My thinking is that this applies to almost every aspect from mouthpiece to bell.

Conical tubing has to be the right dimensions acoustically.

By the time you add the extra tubing, you would likely exceed the bore of the original instrument.

Bending tubes isn't too hard. I learned a bit about that. We used lead. (oil in bore first) But bending the branches for a Sousaphone requires some big jigs, hooks, lots of lead/pitch etc. Something I was only told about, albeit from an experienced person.

You would need hooks to work the metal when bending conical tubes. Likely the same for straight tubes.

[sloan]

BUT, a couple days ago I had an epiphany; why not just add a bunch of tubing to drop the pitch?

Please - do this with temporary tubing (the right size hose should be OK) and report back on the results.

I'm particularly interested in exactly how badly this will screw up the horn's scale.