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Being a Brit - I just don't underatnd the 4/4, 6/4 descriptions for foreign instruments. I assume it is a size/bore descripter, but am waiting to be suitably enlightened.

HeliconMan wrote:Rudy Meinel seems to have the best defined standard for what an x/4 tuba is.

The only reason Rudolf Meinl can be so consistent is that their instrument vary in size proportionally. A bigger bell is accompanied by a bigger body and a bigger bore. But their designations aren't that consistent with other manufacturers. A 5/4 Rudy is a 6/4 anything else, and a 4/4 Rudy is a much bigger than, say, a King 2341, which is also considered a 4/4.

Many old American tubas (and new tubas inspired by them) have a bigger bell and fatter bows in relation to their bore, when compared with instruments like the Meinl. That's one reason why there is no standard: Nobody would be able to identify which dimension is the important one.

I still like volume as a description, but it would not be easy to measure or evaluate by looking.

Of course, none of it is closely related to sound or volume or any other specific playing characteristic. There are exceptions in every class.

I think it was Tony Clements who once posted a taxonomy that ranged from 3/4="Is that a euphonium" to 6/4="Big-*** Tuba".

A Miraphone is a 4/4 tuba. If it's noticeably bigger, it's a 5/4. If it vastly bigger, it's a 6/4. If it's noticeably smaller, it's a 3/4. That's about as specific as it gets.

Rick "http://www.rickdenney.com/tubas_compared.htm" Denney

Rick Denney wrote:...

I still like volume as a description, but it would not be easy to measure or evaluate by looking...

Rick "http://www.rickdenney.com/tubas_compared.htm" Denney

"There is no replacement for displacement."

Y'know... it might be easier understand size if it was indicated by liters of beer!

Still my favorite version of the joke --

When a flutist says, "My, what a cute tuba," it's a euphonium.

When a trumpet player says, "That's a nice tuba," it's a 3/4 tuba.

When a conductor says, "That's a good-sounding tuba," it's a 4/4.

When another tubist says, "Wow, what a sweet tuba," it's a 5/4.

When the bass trombone player goes, "That's frickin' awesome!" it's a 6/4.

Leland wrote:Still my favorite version of the joke --

When a flutist says, "My, what a cute tuba," it's a euphonium.

When a trumpet player says, "That's a nice tuba," it's a 3/4 tuba.

When a conductor says, "That's a good-sounding tuba," it's a 4/4.

When another tubist says, "Wow, what a sweet tuba," it's a 5/4.

When the bass trombone player goes, "That's frickin' awesome!" it's a 6/4.

I agree.

schlepporello wrote:

TubaTinker wrote:Y'know... it might be easier understand size if it was indicated by liters of beer!

Do you mean as in how many liters one will hold?

Interesting question! What I meant was how many liters of beer the tuba will hold.... NOT how many liters of beer the horns operator will hold. But... on the other hand, it makes for an insteresting issue! Have you ever noticed that the size of the horn reflects the size of the operator?