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Howdy,
So, happy as I am with my PT20P, I'm having serious problem's in my right wrist and might be changing horns. I have a VMI rotary horn that's much easier on my hand's that has become my main horn, but it's led me to wonder......What has been the horn with the easiest right hand action? I've been assuming it's a rotor horn but maybe not. As tuba generates 8-10% of my income in a year, I can't keep pushing those "Big Valves" and hope to have anything left in my hands for the bass (the other 90-92% a year), so any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks. Peace. Arnold S. Gottlieb

My PT6 has perfect action for my taste because I have done some minor modifications... lighter springs and raised the paddles by changing the linkages. But on a stock set-up, I really like mirafone rotor valves.

Big Piston valves are preferred by many, but not me. My smaller hands are just more comfortable with rotors.

I am of the opinion that 6/4 giganto-phones with widely-spaced front-pistons are the least hand-friendly tubas, that top-pistons make the most ergonomic sense generally, and good rotors after that.

This is a very personal matter, where experimentation is the only way to find what works best for you. And, bear in mind that valve action can vary considerably between different models within a brand, and even between specimens of the same model. The cleanliness, mechanical condition of the parts, alignment, lubrication and spring tension all make a tremendous difference in valve action.

That said, the smoothest rotors I've ever played were on a Rudolf Meinl 5/4 CC, a surprise to me because of their massive size. The smoothest pistons I've ever encountered were on a Yamaha sousaphone (really!)

My really old king sousaphone the weighs a ton has about the easiest pistons to play, too bad it's not half of it's own weight.

My Miraphone 186 BBb (2003), has nice rotors, but if the 191 has a shorter throw; I would really like to try it.