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http://www.lowbrassmusic.com/blog/traveltuba/

I saw this posted on Oystein's Facebook page this morning so thought I'd share. Hopefully Miraphone will put this into full production soon with minimal added cost. I don't fly much but I would be interested if the price were right.

Pretty slick! The finger paddles are especially interesting how they fold into the inside of the instrument to protect them and to make the body thinner.

The mechanics look pretty expensive. If they put it into production, I bet it will be pretty expensive.

Is the bell in the suitcase too?

No, it goes in you carry on luggage,much like a casefor a two-piece French horn.

Ah! Well, it still seems like a hassle, but at least *less* of a hassle than usual. Neat idea!

While I feel that the market for people to whom this is a necessary edition to their arsenal is quite small, it is very neat, and doubtless will sell(if/when it comes to market) to many as the next cool doodad.

Nice concept. I wonder how long it will take for $1,500 'clones' to hit the market.

I don't know, Dan... copy the concept? Maybe. Copy the precision? No way. They're having enough trouble with the normal fit/finish stuff right now.

Though I get Dan's larger point, I doubt there will ever be a clone of this. This configuration solves a problem Oystein Baadsvik has that a vanishingly small number of tuba players — and an even smaller number of possible clone customers — will ever have. I'll be surprised if Miraphone ever puts it into production, let alone Jinbao.

Personally I think that the foldable valve section will help any tubist that ships his tuba. Even occasionally.
It is a very sensitive spot, even when carrying a gig bag around.
And the good part is that I think that the foldable valves will add that much to the cost.
After all, it is just adding two hinges to the bridge, and to think about the space for this when laying out the entire tuba. And yes, it must be made with precision!
We don't want the valves to start wobbling during the concert...

Oystein Baadsvik wrote:Personally I think that the foldable valve section will help any tubist that ships his tuba. Even occasionally.
It is a very sensitive spot, even when carrying a gig bag around.
And the good part is that I think that the foldable valves will add that much to the cost.
After all, it is just adding two hinges to the bridge, and to think about the space for this when laying out the entire tuba. And yes, it must be made with precision!
We don't want the valves to start wobbling during the concert...

Reminds me of the time when I yelled something at a Jimmy Buffett concert, and Buffett responded to me from the stage...

But back to the topic, I was thinking more about the bell than the valves.

Regardless, though, even though I may be projecting my own life onto the marketplace as a whole, I just can't imagine that there are that many players who will benefit so much from this that they will buy a new tuba or send the old one back to Germany in order to have this arrangement. But it certainly is a cool idea, and maybe I'm wrong about the market.

KiltieTuba wrote:Is anyone honestly going to have the vintage bell cut in two spots for a little extra shipping ease? What about piston valves? What about anything larger - like a 6/4 BBb or CC?

Um... I don't think anyone was suggesting that. Besides, who would choose a vintage or 6/4 tuba as a "travel tuba" anyway?

And regarding piston valves... who would want to do something silly like have piston valves? But really, this is Miraphone, and it's Germany. Piston valves exist, but are the overwhelming minority.

I am not sure the intention of the folding valveset is meant to be universal, just as an application to this particular need: A very compact instrument that travels well and mitigates any scenario where it can take a hit as safely as possible.

In general, the less moving and articulating parts, the better. If it were my drawing board to go back to, I might approach this with a similar concept to how the valves on the Alex 173 are set up.

Get on it.

I know some people here don't like it but I love it! I would get a Nor Star done up like that in a heartbeat. I think these tiny travel tubas are terrible and one could just buzz their mouthpiece with better results but to take a real tuba in a case that size oh hell yeah. I don't see why this concept could not be used on a piston valve horn either. Altieri gigbags already have a little strap on pad that holds the piston valves down during travel. Hell tubas used to have removable bells and this variation just works better. Any ideas on when one could order this and how much more it would be?

LJV wrote:Slick as snail snot! I want one! Don't need none, but I want one!

And that there ladies and gentlemen sums this up for me too

Seems like a brilliant idea really. I would love that kind of valve hinges on my Norwegian Star. If they start producing them I will consider adding them to my tuba.

Chadtuba wrote:

LJV wrote:Slick as snail snot! I want one! Don't need none, but I want one!

And that there ladies and gentlemen sums this up for me too

I think it's a GREAT idea and wish I had thought of it! I think they could take the bell idea a little farther and make it telescopic... sort of like those collapsible drinking cups of about fifty years ago.

And... this kind of excitement is exactly what drives me to think this type of stuff will be 'cloned' rather quickly. Too bad the 'cloners' can't think for themselves!

This solution was special designed for my needs and the Miraphone guys did not really see a market at all for such adaptations. Still some european tuba players had heard about this valve solution (maybe through a worker at the factory) and immediately had Miraphone adapt their instruments too. Personally I have not told anyone until yesterday:)

Mr. Baadsvik,

Do you have a photo of the fully assembled horn?

J.c.S.