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OK I'm sure I'm going to stir up a bees nest here but here goes
Do you prefer piston valves or rotor valves and why?
Have you had any problems with rotors over pistons?

Thanks

Tuba Charlie

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=site%3Achisha ... 6__&ia=web" target="_blank

I prefer pistons because that is my preference.

Never really had a problem with either. I would say rotors probably require less oiling when I had one. I also thought the low range on piston horns was better, BUT, that is likely because of the piston and rotor horns I used. Not necessarily a blanket statement on all horns.

Bottom line, choose whatever you like better because it doesn't matter.

The difference is perfectly illustrated by this informative video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuLbi5Qi1Dc" target="_blank

Last i paid attention, the RX-7 has the only commercially available rotary... (Good ol' Wankel!)

Admittedly i am not the most attentive spark plug, but i'm pretty sure pistons are ubiquitous...

Oh... Right. A tuba forum.

Yes, i'll take either. I ain't picky. I don't think i am refined enough to do something with one valve type i couldn't do with the other. Well, muscally speaking.

Hindsight being what it is, I should have bought a PT-20P when I had the chance. Aside from that, I have owned only rotary tubas.

I prefer the ergonomics of a rotary valve tuba, as well as how easy they make it to play slurred or legato. All of the valves in a line makes spit removal a breeze. Rotors are also a lot less maintenance if they are working properly, but significantly more difficult to actually take apart. Alignment can also be a bit of a pain with the little rubber bumpers.

I basically only have a piston CC because they did not make yorkbrunners with rotary valves, though so far my only nitpicks are water removal and the 5th valve rotor having a shorter throw than the pistons.

Lacquer tubas should have rotary valves and silver-plate tubas should have piston valves.