Acousticoil

[ThomasP]

In my defense I wasn't looking for the magical fix all end all. I was just simply looking for some assistance. The same reason you play certain mouthpieces, and I'm sure most people on this board have spent more than $35 on at least one mouthpiece.

Yes I am aware in the changes caused by extra tubing added onto the open horn, which brings me to my next point. You are able to know from my profile on here that I reside in Hattiesburg, MS and that I'm a student here. Nothing in the profile that I view saying anything about my playing ability. I think a common problem on this board is to offer assistance, as you have james, without knowing the level of the player. You don't know if I'm in 6th grade(eventhough I don't know of a 6th grader playing a 3050) or if I am a first call player in the area, and I'm going to keep that to myself for now, it's simply not applicable. Yes I might be playing improperly, I might not have the mastery of air that I need to, but you haven't heard me play. Also take note that the BBS's "veterans" have for the most part stayed on topic and haven't addressed me as a player.

Bloke, when you speak three loops in the bugle you're speaking of no diffference in the length but simply how many times the manufacturer looped the tubing around? It is my understanding that Willson tubas are of an "open wrap" design which perhaps might explain the reasoning in one less loop in the bugle. I have previously noticed this and just thought of it as Kurath's Variation on the Theme of York. Some of my information on the lineage of the Willson has come from my time spent at Lee Stofer's shop, I don't know if he frequents this board enough to comment on this or not.

Rick Denney, I like to think of the Willson in an entirely different class as well. I haven't played a tuba that got as dark a sound as the 3050. When I first played a 3050 I didn't like it, but I gave it another shot and I'm an owner of one now. Your view of the Willson sounds like my view of a 2165. I often wonder if some things would be helped from a thinner bell, but then I would think that would eliminate the dark sound that the horn has.

[james]

Actually I assumed you were at the University of Southern Mississippi and not a sixth grader. I did not mean to attack your playing and if you feel that way I apologize.

[Tom Gregory]

I have had some positve experiences with the acousticoil on my 3050. I have a very early 3050 and the biggest positves are in the low register centering and intonation.

Last year, one of my students was preparing to perform the VW with his orchestra and was having difficulties on his MW 45. I should mention he is a very good player. To experiment, I took the acousticoil out of my CC and put in his F. The effect was positve and instantaneous. He found centering easier and less fatigue in his high register. The performance was excellent.

Another college student of mine has an Alex 163, late '70s vintage. This is a very typical Alex. Good sound, questionable intonation. This student already plays this horn pretty well and has figued out its quirks. When he tried the acousticoil he felt he had to do less compensating.

I use them on my 3050, Mirafone euphonium (5RV), and MW35CC. My PT10 works better without it.

If it works for you great. If not great. The goal is to make the best music we can.

TG

[ThomasP]

There was no damage done james. I was simply stating that all to often members of this board offer "lessons" although ill informed. I believe I've passed the search of the "quick" fix. But I see no problem in abiding by Aristole's words. "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it"

[MaryAnn]

If the marketers of the acousticoil could have told me WHERE to put it in my F tuba to make that low C easier to play.....maybe I wouldn't have had to send it back. If someone would just tell me WHERE to put a dent in my leadpipe, or in my bell, for the same problem, by golly I just might stick a wad of chewing gum in there and see what happens. Where ARE the damn nodes, anyway?
MA, who is not an acoustical engineer