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Is there such a thing as an F tuba that converts to Eb on the fly by plugging in a longer tuning slide and pulling the individual valve slides? If I remember right Getzen made CC's that convert to BBb, right?.

I believe there are. I can think of two, the G60 which is the same concept as the G50 I believe. And the B&S pt10p has a set of optional Eb slides. http://www.palaciodatuba.com/English/Tubas_Fa_B&S.htm" target="_blank

I think there are some old German F tubas that came with slide extenders to put them in Eb? I think Kalison made a cimbasso in F that had slides that put it in Eb.

The Getzen CB-50 (like you mentioned) and VMI Neptune CC tubas had it so you could set the 5th valve and pull the slides to play them as BBb tubas.

I wish there were more tubas that did this. More "double tubas" would be cool, especially if there was enough research into making good bass/contrabass double tubas ex: CC/F, BBb/Eb, CC/Eb. I mean, french horn players commonly have double and triple horns; why can't tuba players have more double tubas? We certainly have music that calls for having an extended range and color; having a true double tuba would be ideal for some of that music. Having a triple tuba might be pushing it acoustically, but I think good double tubas is do-able if enough testing/research is done

Horns have a much larger portion of cylindrical tubing, which makes it easier to make doubles and triples. And especially the triples are clearly compromises. The parameters that are experimented with are dual bores, maybe even triple bores, and ways to have different lengths of leadpipes for the highest side and for the two lower sides. One maker, Paxman, has a rotor sitting in the bell tail. Another, Finke, has a variant of the Stölzel valve sitting very early in the leadpipe. Alexander has coupled rotors. These features get even more problematic when transferred to the tuba.

Klaus

How about get a 6 valve f tuba and lock the first valve in depressed position to play in Eb. Then pull the other slides *a bit*. Use 5 and 6 instead of 1 and 2 when in Eb mode.

In a similar vein I am going to get my pt 6 'Neptuned' (have 5th valve modified but make it tool free to switch) by my repairer, as I play the Bb part in a brass band but also play in an orchestra in the same concerts. Will mean I only need to bring one tuba. ( I should sell my c tuba and buy a Bb and learn fingerings but would probably regret selling it)

I still think a good double tuba can be done; something along the lines of Tommy Johnson's old Yamaha CC/F double, but also done in different keys, different styles, etc.

Curmudgeon wrote: Kalison never did, but Matt Walters and I came up with a kit that would convert the Kalison / G&P F Cimbasso to Eb. It worked surprisingly well.

I just remember it was a Kalison F cimbasso that could also be played as an Eb instrument. Pretty cool that you and Matt came up with that!

I was not aware the PT-10P could be turned into an Eb. How does it play? And where could one get these slides?