TubeNet

I have mentioned that I owna Conn 1926 eb. I can play about a mf from open Eb to pedal Eb via false tones. Above Eb below the staff i can get very loud. My question is if I put a fourth valve on it will that help with power and projection.

No. By adding a valve, you may actually impede the nodes and antinodes at the valve block and make it more stuffy. The reason for a 4th valve is so a player does not have to constantly pull 1 or 3 to be in tune when playing (on an Eb) bottom staff F or bottom Bb below the open Eb, which is especially problematic on any tuba, Eb or BBb, with upright valves. Remember the arithmetic: 1+3=4.

The only thing a 4th valve has a chance of being good for is to replace the 1 & 3 combination with 4 and the 1, 2, & 3 combination with 2 & 4.

I generally think in terms of 'less valves used for a note are better'.

Contrary to what high school and kollage kids have been led to believe... a 4th valve won't be of much use for playing low.

I have a three-valve Martin BBb that I would never "add" a fourth valve to - it plays just fine in the lower register without a 4th valve, and projects wonderfully with either upright or bell front. Years ago I had Ray Noguera lap the first valve slide (this is a top action horn, too) so I could lock in the low F when I need to. Other than that I just play the horn....

My King 2341 plays - after some modifications - quite well as a three-valve tuba, even though it has a fourth valve. On my King the fourth valve functions as a kind of "octave key"; I use it for low F, etc. Dave Gannett used to say the same thing about his Conn 2J CC.

If your able to control your EEb's "privileged tones" without a fourth valve - I suggest leaving well enough alone. The added impedance may cut out a lot of what you already like about this axe.

The fewer valves, triggers, push rods the better. That goes for saxophones too.

Besides EEb tubas are generally a pain in the butt below Bb below the staff.

Mark Heter

So, now the Tubenet conventional wisdom is that all tubas have excellent false notes?

Indeed. I played a small Eb Martin once a few years ago, and everything below 1+3 Bb below open Eb was pretty much valves optional.

I also once played an old Conn 38K that the false tones were so good a person could not tell they weren't a "valve" note, and resonated pedal Bb better as a note instead of just chainsaw noise than any other instrument I have ever played before or since.