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Hello everyone. I have a hypothetical question. The entire trombone section in my orchestra uses Thayer (axial flow) valves on their instruments. In playing some compared to my Conn 88H (which has a rotary valve), they do seem to give the instrument a more consistent timbre with the valve depressed, and I feel that there is less resistance.

Is there a reason the tuba community hasn't starting adopting these valves for our own instruments? Can the valves be made large enough for a tuba? I'm just curious. Assuming there aren't any HUGE issues, it could be fun to experiment around with them.

tylerferris1213 wrote:
Is there a reason the tuba community hasn't starting adopting these valves for our own instruments? Can the valves be made large enough for a tuba? I'm just curious. Assuming there aren't any HUGE issues, it could be fun to experiment around with them.

Well for starters the market for extra custom valves on the tuba is a bit bore limited than the trombone market give that there are less tuba players and more tuba bore sizes...

The biggest problem with the thayer is that a tuba sized thayer, would have to be considerably larger than a trombone one. As such, there would be more surface area (and heavier) so it wouldn't move as fast.

Further reading:
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They are big, slow, and leaky (as compared to other rotary-type valves).

Remember that the valve on a trombone is used a little differently than on a tuba, so there are different requirements and expectations. I'm not saying it's impossible, but the devices themselves are designed for different uses.

Not to mention, the shape of the valve is so big, I can't imagine what 4, 5, or 6 of them and the plumbing would look like, plus the linkages.

Thanks. I figured there had to be a reason.

I had correspondence with Orla Ed Thayer back in the 90s. He said there was no reason at all these couldn't be sized up for a tuba. Just a question of someone making the financial commitment.

Aside for the reasons already mentioned... I don't think the Thayer valve is robust enough to withstand the rigors of constant use as would be required on a tuba. Secondly... a little shred of sauerkraut would pretty much end the show! Consider how far away from the mouthpiece a trombone Thayer valve is located.

Very few players would want tubas with the lack of resistance potentially introduced by the Thayer valves. They would drain ones lungs for air very fast.

Klaus