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No advantage, but prior to the early 1970s most fifth valves were arranged that way.

Bob1062 wrote:What is the benefit of having a fifth valve operated by the left hand?

Because it's next to my sixth valve and I only have five fingers on my right hand.

Bob1062 wrote:You guys that have kickers and what not, are they operated by your left hand?

I try to avoid owning instruments that require "kickers".

Bob1062 wrote:How many people use the right hand SOLELY for pushing valves, and the left hand for everything else (mute, slides, music,...)?

Everybody else not covered by your first question.

I assume some 5 valve horns have the 5th valve operated by the left hand because it is easier or cheaper to configure/assemble the tuba that way.

The reason why compensating euphoniums are 3+1, I believe, because of the instrument configuration, there wouldn't be enough room for 4 inline top action compensating valves.

There really is no benefit. It's just the older design. Remember that the original Wieprecht/Moritz tubas had three valves for each hand, rather than 4+2 or 5+1, probably designed that way on purpose so an ophicliede player would have less trouble adjusting to a new instrument.

If I remember correctly, Rudy Meinl was the first to have a right thumb linkage for the fifth valve. Some of the companies were embarrassed by this in that the reason to have it was to correct intonation problems by moving the slides while playing. Some companies wanted you to think that their instrument was in tune perfectly, in every octave on every note!