TubeNet

Any news about MW Kronos F Tuba ?

As played in the Kronos Quartet?`

I got sent this link today
http://www.schagerl.at/new_pages/Kronos_A5_Web.pdf" target="_blank

Looks like having 5 valves plus triggers on the two first valves. The fifth doesn’t look like a very long whole step, but rather close to the first. The bore looks rather large for an F.

Klaus

which raises the question, bloke, what effect does valve bore have on playing characteristics?

bloke wrote:

eupher61 wrote:which raises the question, bloke, what effect does valve bore have on playing characteristics?

What ever it does, it does not (at least not based on pictures) appear to repair pitch problems. Unless I need reading glasses, I believe I saw triggers galore in Klaus's pic

bloke "If triggering is installed, why not one up *and* down self-centering *main* slide trigger?"

Can’t see any lever or trigger for the right thumb, so I assume the 5th valve is operated by one of the 3 left hand levers.

I don’t disagree very much with bloke about the idea of a +/- main tuning slide trigger, only that such device would need two fairly long cylindrical portions of the main bugle.

What I really wonder about is the triggers being placed only on the two first valves. bloke’s idea of a long throw trigger on the 5th valve allows for some serious adjustments in the range often critical on rotary F tubas.

Klaus

It matters not, but the triggers are on valves 2 & 4.

I've seen and heard this tuba up-close and (rather obviously) Mr. Brandstötter sounds GREAT on it...

If rotary F's were my bag and I had a stack of £££ to spend I'd take a look at one.
Neither of those factors apply to me though.

Peach wrote:It matters not, but the triggers are on valves 2 & 4.

Better observation than mine, thank you. And I actually find that it matters, as a trigger on the 4th slide gives the same or better flexibility than if on the 5th. My only reservation would be about how long the throw is.

And that 4th slide trigger makes me better accept the shorty-ish 5th loop.

Not that this tuba ever will become with in my reach, but I like to trace the way designers think.

Klaus

What I do not like the look of with the Kronos is that with that configuration water will undoubtedly collect in the 2nd, 4th and 5th valve slides. One of the great things about most rotary tubas is that all the water goes down to the main tuning slide making emptying easy, so this seems a backward step - fancy design over practicality

Peach wrote:It matters not, but the triggers are on valves 2 & 4.

I've seen and heard this tuba up-close and (rather obviously) Mr. Brandstötter sounds GREAT on it...

If rotary F's were my bag and I had a stack of £££ to spend I'd take a look at one.
Neither of those factors apply to me though.

He does sound quite "good" on the Kronos, but IMHO, he sounded "better" on his previous tuba.