TubeNet

Just saw this beauty on Miraphone's Web site.

http://www.miraphone.de/images/produkte ... 81B/3D.htm

I always thought that if I were to buy a 6 valve tuba (with 6 regular valves), I would prefer the upper left hand valve to be the flat one step and the lower left hand to be the flat half step.....
It look like MW F tubas are that way. Any thoughts on the matter?

Here at my university, the school owns an old (1960s?) M-W F tuba that is the starter horn for everyone switching to F. It has a 4+2 setup with the lower left hand with the flat whole step and the upper left with the flat half step, like the Firebird here. (But... the 6th rotor snapped off, so it now basically functions as a 4+1 F). I agree with Bob though - having those switched feels more natural and mirrors what your right hand does to lower the pitch a half step.

Miraphone will be happy to build you a Firebird with the 5th and 6th valves reversed if you order it that way.

I asked why they made their 6 valve F tubas in that configuration and they told me they'd be happy to make one with them reversed if that's what the customer wanted.

I believe this is a very popular set-up in Japan and that's why they build them either way.

Just my $0.02.

Roger