TubeNet

No, but i would be very interested to see if it is true. And, if so, how does it sound?

Cheers,
Matt

I played one of these new @CMC a few years ago. I thought since it had pistons, the low end might be somehow better than the rotary version.

Boy was I wrong.

It started to get nasty starting on D below the staff, and low C was the worst on any F tuba I had ever played. I went over to the PT10 (rotary), and the low C was average (good for a rotary F), then I went back to the PT10P and tried it again.

Suck city.

However, the notes in and above the staff were in tune and sounded fine (on both horns). I don't know why anyone would want to add some slides and make it an Eb, except that it might 'somehow' make the low register better; because in my opinion, it couldn't be worse. I never thought I would want to play a rotary F, but compared to the PT10P, the rotary version (PT10) was MUCH better.

As I recall, I was switching back an forth between a Conn Helleburg and one of the PT 'bowl shaped' mouthpieces they had lying around for people trying horns, I don't remember which one though... But the mouthpiece didn't have that much effect on the notes below the staff for either of the horns

You might want to look into the St. Pete Eb, I think they're around $2,300 new. I haven't had a chance to play one, but it looks like a good deal for a 5 valve Eb.

I'm an Eb player, so take it for what it's worth.

Now this is really interesting. The ja-musik web site doesn't list a 5 valve EE flat tuba at all, but the custom music web site has the PT-22p:

http://www.custommusiccorp.com/tubas/pt22P.html

But the PT-10p F tuba on the B&S web site is available with EE flat slides, as you say. Still, if the numbers are right, this wouldn't make it a PT-22p since the bell sizes are different. After Jon's glowing recommendation to avoid this puppy, maybe it doesn't matter anyway. Jon- did you play something labeled as a PT-22p? If so, the absence on of a PT-22p on the ja-musik web site may not be an oversight.

Bill Anderson

I have played the PT-22p Eb, and I thought it was a very good horn, but I still liked my 983 Eb better. For what it's worth, the valves on my 983Eb are the best valves I've ever played on.

However, I still think the PT-10p is still a great horn if you don't plan on playing below the staff.

My guess is that the "Eb-slides available" is much like the BBb slide for the Neptune. It enables making the 5th valve loop a tone (rather than flat tone) and the tuba is set up so that by switching the side of the rotor attachment the air goes through the 5th valve by default. By adjusting the other slides you in theory have a tuba in the lower pitch.

This works surprisingly well on the Neptune (I have used mine a few times with brass band as a BBb), but I suspect would not be so successful changing an F into an Eb.

PS Just noticed this is my 1000th post