Dents

[opus37]

Unless you are extremely careful, it is likely that a dent or two (or a bunch) will appear on your horn. Sometimes these dents are cosmetic and sometimes they affect the tone and tuning of the horn. My question is where on a tuba and a sousaphone are these dents likely to affect the tuning and tone of the horn? I know it depends on the size of the dent and design of the horn, but it general, where on the horn would their be a more likely chance of a tuning or tone effect? Secondly, what would that effect be?

[bort]

My theory:
1) Keep the cylindrical part dent-free (especially the leadpipe).
2) For the conical part, the larger the diameter, the less it matters (within reason, of course)

In general, I've learned that most problems I've had with tubas are issues between the mouthpiece and where the leadpipe enters the valve block. Get that cleared up (including the receiver, which can hide other issues) and things improve significantly.

[thevillagetuba]

I concur with Bort, the closer the mouthpiece, the worse the dent is for the horn. Once you get past the valve block, and to the cylindrical tubing, the dents don't really have much of an impact unless they are large or are at a node.

[opus37]

' curious: What are your plans?

I have an old helicon that has been arounds the block (it is 123 years old). It has has been knocked around a bit. There are some denting in the lead pipe and other places. I was trying to gage how important it is to remove some or all of the dents. It sounds like I should focus on the lead pipe area. Lee Stofer has helped me with the goose neck/tuning bits. I will have to drive down to see Lee or have a local tech do it. While visiting Lee is always entertaining (and worth the trip), it is about 8 hours one way. With travel and talk time with Lee, it is an overnight trip. I kind of think this job will be by a local tech..... Then again.......

[opus37]

Sometimes, instruments that old are brittle, and pushing up (even small) dents causes cracks to form.

That having been said, owning a not-absolutely-perfectly in-tune 123-year-old helicon can sometimes be annoying, can it not?

I can't say I'd use it for a quintet gig or a concert setting, but for street marching, outdoor gigs, and the like, it does fine. That said, a little dent work may make things better. I'm a little worried about removing dents for the reason you suggest. This is also pushing me toward Lee, who will do it right or know when to not mess with it. I think I need to think about this a bit more.

[lowpitchmoravian]

Since all of my 12 Tubas are from 50 to 164 yrs old , I don't know what one's supposed to sound like without dents------but they all play well and are in tune according to the 21st century tuner----lol