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There are many people in this forum with far more experience then I do. But if you want my two cents, here goes:
first of all, I think it's a personal matter.
besides that, rotary valves have more delicate parts. easy to break. piston are more robust, and if they are good they have a quite good response. however, piston valves demand daily care to mantain that response.
I prefer piston valves, for two reasons:
I prefer the type of respond of pistons, and I anderstand better how they work therefore I am not afraid of dealing with them.
As you see, these are personal reasons...
Other tubists may, and will, have different and valid opinions.
You have to try them for a while to decide...

I agree with "Brit" about it being personal preference. Lately for me and my carpal tunnel syndrome in my right wrist (from the bass and computer mouse no doubt)I have prefered to play my rotary horn and leave my awesome PT20P (P is for piston) in the closet and consider selling it. Before this happened I liked both, right now rotary's are easier on my hands, and may remain so for the forseeable future. If you don't have any problems then find a horn that you like the sound of, valves are valves. And, if you're search is financially challenged, do the opposite of everybody else. All trends go back and forth. Peace. ASG

I have been looking into this recently too and have asked around at a couple local colleges in Colorado. I have mostly gotten the same response and that is get pistons. The take a lot more time to care for and to keep them working that their peak level but the biggest thing is that slurs ar much more difficult on the rotary valves than on the piston. If you are looking into a new horn with the piston valves a Miraphone 1291 is supposed to a great horn and it is a real resonable price, I think you can get a BBb or CC models of this horn. Good luck.

cyras21 wrote:Besides personal preference is there any advantage or disadvantage to either? Which do you prefer?

nope

bigboom wrote: The take a lot more time to care for and to keep them working that their peak level but the biggest thing is that slurs are much more difficult on the rotary valves than on the piston.

Huh? Anyone buying this? "Much more difficult"?

I prefer tubas that have valves.

Well, Wayne, which is it? "Chicken, fried or bar-b-qued?"

schlepporello wrote:

Lew wrote:I prefer tubas that have valves.

Yes.
Valves gooooood.
Holes baaaaaaad.

Guess that rules out ophicleides and serpents, doesn't it?

Beef, It's What's for Dinner
sorry there was too much chicken talk for this cattleman
and the Copeland Rodeo makes it a little on topic doesn't it?

PS: I will be checking out new tubas with valves in the next few weeks and I have decided to limit my choices to either rotors and/or pistons.

Grooving for Heaven wrote:Leg vs. Breast?

Well, to be honest, I prefer a woman to have two of each.

Seriously, I started off on rotors in the 80's(186,MW25,190), went to pistons in the 90's (B&M, 1290,2145), and find myself gradually working back to rotors again - just something about the way they feel so "fluid" under the fingers. However, I think I will keep pistons in my old Martin!

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