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Several top action Eb tubas have 3 top action valves and 1 valve lower and normally activated with the left hand. This lower valve adds about 5 feet of tubing (same as 1 and 3 valves together) and is typically used to add a few extra notes on the low register. My question is, does this valve actually change the Eb tuba to a Bb tuba? (Similar to the F key on a bass trombone). Thus if engaged throughout the entire range, you would use Bb fingerings. Just curious to see what the experts say about this.......

It depends. If it's a compensating horn---yes. If it's a non-comp---no. The 4th will give you an in-tune 1-3.

It does, but is very stuffy. More of a novelty thing. Kind-of like saying, "Look at what I can do!" But I only have experienced with the compensating version.

Then, there was the young lad auditioning for Curtis who taped the fourth valve down, pulled the slides on 1,2&3 on an Eb and played Carnival of Venice and got in. Used to sometimes refer to himself as "just the dumb old tuba player" in an orchestra at the bottom of Lake Michigan. Andy Johnson, or something like that wasn't it?

Ken Herrick wrote:Then, there was the young lad auditioning for Curtis who taped the fourth valve down, pulled the slides on 1,2&3 on an Eb and played Carnival of Venice and got in. Used to sometimes refer to himself as "just the dumb old tuba player" in an orchestra at the bottom of Lake Michigan. Andy Johnson, or something like that wasn't it?

Who?

opus37 wrote:.....My question is, does this valve actually change the Eb tuba to a Bb tuba? (Similar to the F key on a bass trombone). Thus if engaged throughout the entire range, you would use Bb fingerings. ....

Nope. If you're thinking about tying down the 4th valve and using only Bb fingerings.... you're gonna have to pull all the other slides out accordingly.... and then, I'll bet you won't like the results relative to response, etc. (I won't use the word 'stuffiness' to describe how a tuba plays because what you're really talking about is efficiency.)

LJV wrote:He also had "one lung."

Helleberg?

Who? [/quote]

He also had "one lung."[/quote]

, six fingers, and a stubby tail.[/quote]

An the tuba he played most of his life was so lousy that Mork only made two of em and gave the idea up.

And it's a shame he didn't have any better friends than "Bud" and the guys to hang out with a few chairs down.

Here's a similar thread except using the concept to convert a CC tuba to BBb...
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=43182