Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 3:19 am
I have the same problems with my CC-horn. I guess the tendency to collect condensed moisture is common with all brands of instrument, so you shouldn´t blame it on the Miras in particular.
It´s a matter of the wrap the manufacturers choose for their horns, though:
My F-tuba has self-emptying valves: No valve tubing bows below the valve level, so any moisture from the tubes will be drained into the main tuning slide whenever a valve is operated.
That´s a great system, but doesn´t seem to be applicable on the long-o-phones pitched in CC or BBb. Plus, I frequently need to empty the bottom bows of the CC-tuba, leading to french-horn style tuba-juggling that truly gets the audience´s attention
.
Additional water keys would be more discrete, but then all the fun will be lost.
Seriously, manufacturers have reasons to struggle against additional keys. They will officially state that water keys will harm the horn´s intonation, but I guess it rather is a matter of cost.
At least I´ll know it´s time to quit playing tuba and start collecting stamps instead, when I´ll eventually drop the horn.
It´s a matter of the wrap the manufacturers choose for their horns, though:
My F-tuba has self-emptying valves: No valve tubing bows below the valve level, so any moisture from the tubes will be drained into the main tuning slide whenever a valve is operated.
That´s a great system, but doesn´t seem to be applicable on the long-o-phones pitched in CC or BBb. Plus, I frequently need to empty the bottom bows of the CC-tuba, leading to french-horn style tuba-juggling that truly gets the audience´s attention

Additional water keys would be more discrete, but then all the fun will be lost.
Seriously, manufacturers have reasons to struggle against additional keys. They will officially state that water keys will harm the horn´s intonation, but I guess it rather is a matter of cost.
At least I´ll know it´s time to quit playing tuba and start collecting stamps instead, when I´ll eventually drop the horn.