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V-Man wrote:I've been wondering if there was a specific place where one learns the art of tuba building/repair

There's a huge difference between repairing and building tubas. Putting a tuba together with existing parts is a challenge for an experience technician but building one from scratch is a job for a master craftsman. There are a couple of NAPBIRT technicians in Cincinnati, but it's not likely they would build a horn from scratch. To find techs in your area and information on repair schools you can go to the NAPBIRT web site.

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Interesting topic. I understand Conn used to hire acousticians in the 20's and 30's.

I've met instrument designers for three of the manufacturers in the US (over the last 20 years). None were engineers, much less acoustic engineers.

Their background came from working as repair technicians or working in the factory and apprenticing (more or less). A student I know was hired by one of the oldest companies and his background was as a freelance repairman and a grad student in performance. He did a great job by all reports.

If you want to design, go get hired by companies who manufacture instruments and work your way up. I'd think about eventually working in Europe, if I had that interest.

BTW, a repairman I know built a true Frankenstein tuba and it works really well. When he talked to an instrument designer about it they agreed: just about anything works when you make a tuba. Other brass were harder. I don't know if the statement is true but it makes a good story.

Here's an example.

get the basics of repair. Soldering, dent removal, and buffing first. Then building and bending tubing.

After that is's trial and (lots of) error.

Making your own valve sets is a while nuther thing though.

Any one ever see a tuba using Thayer valves?

Alex C wrote:When he talked to an instrument designer about it they agreed: just about anything works when you make a tuba. Other brass were harder. I don't know if the statement is true but it makes a good story.

If that really is their philosophy, perhaps that is why there are so few tubas with truly even response and intonation.

ThomasDodd wrote:Any one ever see a tuba using Thayer valves?

No tuba, but a converted YEP-321 euphonium. You wouldn't like it-very very heavy; it was impossible to get the 2nd valve slide short enough to play in tune and the whole affair felt "windy" (i.e. leaky).

It might be more interesting to build a horn using some of those Yamaha "rotary piston" valves.

AFAIK, no one in the USA, except for a few manufacturers, has the ability to spin tuba bells. At one time I think Nate Griffith had a mandrel that was basically an Alex 163 bell that tapered to a Miraphone 186 bottom, but that was years ago. I don't know if he still has it or not.

You might try and send your resume to Kanstul in Anaheim Ca. Check their web page,brass instruments from Trumpet down to Tuba, I think all done in house.
Good Luck
Dave Hayami