TubeNet

For those that have them.

I don't have a 6 valve F, nor have I ever had the opportunity to play one. I do OK with my 5'er alternates and slide pulls. Maybe 6 is nice, I may never know

What, no 3+3 Vienna-style option?

I've only tried 4+2 in an elephant room, and thought it made sense. Though I wouldn't necessarily call 5+1 "goofy", to me it seems that if you're gonna commit to using your Left Hand for valves, you might as well go all in.

Besides, 4+2 looks cooler anyway.

I actually prefer the 5+1 config on my 181. By default my left hand is up on top to get over to the first valve slide which gets used fairly often. I can just reach down with my fourth finger and pinky to hit the 6th valve if I need to. From what I have been told, Alan Baer did the same on his 181. I use my F in quintet a lot so I am often in the lower register and using the 5th valve, so basically the split occurs with the valves I use often and the valves I don't.

I prefer 4+2 and, more specifically, 5 above 6.

Every 6 valve F I had ever played was 4+2 (except for the 3+3's I have). Suddenly horns started coming in 5+1. NO way can this old dog learn the new trick. Please 6 on top!

I've only played on 5+1, but it makes sense to me - the 5th is used much more than the 6th, so it frees up the left hand for other things...

TubaSailor wrote:I've only played on 5+1, but it makes sense to me - the 5th is used much more than the 6th, so it frees up the left hand for other things...

The 6th SHOULD be used more- 24 alternate, slurs, instead of 1 on flat partials,...

Bob Kolada wrote:I prefer 4+2 and, more specifically, 5 above 6.

Me, too. Unless I need to play standing without a harness.

Rick "who also owns a 4+1 5-valve F" Denney

4+2 with 6 on top please the 6th valve makes the run up from low F in the 1st mvt of the Vaughan Williams much easier. I agree with Bloke, and I have actually put an adjustable thumb ring on my first valve slide.

bloke wrote:If "X" player with "X" 6-valve F tuba REALLY thinks they need to mess with slides, the 4+2 configuration is STILL best, because it FREES up BOTH thumbs: The RIGHT thumb COULD operate an aftermarket #1 slide spring trigger and the LEFT thumb COULD operate an aftermarket #5 slide spring trigger.

Or, the right thumb could operate an aftermarket main slide spring trigger.

I like the 4+2 setup on my JBL and my good old Knoth with 5th valve on top as a long whole-step. I have to mention that I am used to a two hand operation from my 5 valve CC Conn 99J (aka Cerveny 681-5) which has a 4+1 setup and was my first tuba. The Miraphone 289b which I used to have had a 5+0 set up which didn't feel as nice as the 4+2.
My main instruments are clarinet and saxophone so I am used to fingerings involving both hands. Oh, and the 0+1 on my Conn 88H is very nice, too.

Regards,

Uwe

Bob Kolada wrote:I prefer 4+2 and, more specifically, 5 above 6.

Agree. The B&S 4+2 6 valve layout makes the best sense to me. The first two fingers on the left hand operate the same intervals as the first two fingers on the right hand. It's fairly easy to wrap one's brain around.

The only factory 5+1 F tubas I've seen have been the new style Miraphone 181s and the Miraphone Firebirds. The Miraphone 181 needs some fooling with the first valve to be played in tune, lots more than a B&S. While I'm not a fan of the sound, I think the Miraphone Firebird is much better than the 181.

I always thought the 5+1 F tubas were for those who were used to a 5 valve tuba, but wanted a big shiny hood ornament.

How was Roland Szentpali's 45SLPthing set up?

Bob Kolada wrote:How was Roland Szentpali's 45SLPthing set up?

The 46SLP thing was 4+2 with a B&S format 5th and 6th (5th flat whole step on left hand top, 6th flat half step on left hand bottom). It is the only 6v Meinl-Weston tuba done like that.

Maybe there will be a 6 valve 2250 someday ???

.

cjk wrote:

Bob Kolada wrote:How was Roland Szentpali's 45SLPthing set up?

The 46SLP thing was 4+2 with a B&S format 5th and 6th (5th flat whole step on left hand top, 6th flat half step on left hand bottom). It is the only 6v Meinl-Weston tuba done like that.

Maybe there will be a 6 valve 2250 someday ???

Didn't it have a quint valve somewhere? In his youtube videos it looks kinda like a garden hose wrapped up back there. I also remember seeing something on the right thumb, perhaps a 2nd valve slide kicker.


Bob"likes the idea of 4 piston valve+2 rotary valve tubas"Kolada

regarding the 5+1 or 4+2.

For a new tuba that I'm purchasing, I'm thinking:

4+1 plus triggers for 2nd and 5th slides (tri-tone 5th slide, I'm sold on the tri-tone now)

Versus

5+0 plus hand pushing/pulling of first, fourth, and fifth (tri-tone 5th slide)

Left hand 5th valve allows right hand agility since the right hand wouldn't have to do thumb squeezes in the low register, and triggers eliminate all pushing and pulling except the first slide (first slide is the problem with the left hand setup).

Versus

Right hand valve allows for pushing and pulling of the first slide at any time, and without triggers, 4th and 5th may need occasional yanking. I'm having a hard time deciding.

Boils down to agility vs g and eb being flat without the first valve slide push.