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I was attempting to play on a friend's F horn, recently. I do not play an F, but was considering trying to learn. Using a tuner to verify notes, I could not come within 20 cents of ANY pitch in the F major scale (the only thing I was attempting). Does intonation improve with practice on an F? When I learned BBb and CC, there was never an intonation problem of any consequence.

Opinions, please?

Sad to say, but Joe is probably right. However, many of the better F's can be manipulated into tune if you know how to treat them. Approach it as a different animal from the big horn; it will take some getting used to (unless it is a Yamaha piston, they do play more CCish). Afterall, you wouldn't blow a euph or a bass trombone exactly the same as a tuba, would you? Also, make sure you are using an appropriate mouthpiece; the ultra large shank super deep Wagner earth mover probably won't cut the mustard on a horn that needs more finesse. FWIW, I can play every note on my Cerveny F on or very close to in tune, BUT (a) it has taken some work to get there (b) I have to use alternate fingerings on some notes (c) I don't even bother with the 5th partial - I just valve down from the 6th and (d) spend a LOT more time practicing in the low register than in the upper. On the good side, with six valves I don't have to pull any valve slides like I have had to on most CC's I have owned.
Figure - different types of women respond to a different approach, why not different tubas?
Marty "who has to keep remembering to treat his Southern wife much differently than a Yankee" Neilan

[quote="bloke"] There are only one or two makes/models of F tubas that (in some cases) play anywhere close to in tune. Am I going to name those models? quote]

Come on Joe, tell us what they are

cambrook wrote:

bloke wrote: There are only one or two makes/models of F tubas that (in some cases) play anywhere close to in tune. Am I going to name those models?

Come on Joe, tell us what they are

Hmm. I don't know what he'd say....but my f tuba plays in tune ok for me; of course I'm a horn player, very accustomed to what I have to do to get that overtone series to behave. I have a MW 182.

MA

PS: Both my tubas were pre-owned by "famous" players, who of course picked them out from the factory. Both of them have good scales, it seems! I figure that very high-level players are a whole lot better at picking out tubas than I am, and I'll continue my practice of buying used instruments that were culled by the great, if I can.

My yamaha 621 plays in tune. Plain and simple.

It really is the ear more than the horn. Once a player can hear it, then it is all a matter of how much effort a particular horn takes to play in tune. I think almost anything can be modified to play in tune if a player is willing to work out additional muscles and techniques to accomplish it.

I have learned to appreciate a horn that is easy to play in tune. I can play scales while I do dishes on this Yamaha.