Bell material poll

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All else being equal (cost/condition/availability), which do you choose?

Standard Yellow Brass
11
38%
“Special Alloy” Bronze/Gold Brass/Rose Brass
18
62%
 
Total votes: 29

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T. J. Ricer
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Bell material poll

Post by T. J. Ricer »

All else being equal (cost/condition/availability), which do you choose without being able to play it first? Why?
Thomas J. Ricer, DMA
Royal Hawaiian Band - University of Hawaii at Manoa - Yamaha Performing Artist

http://www.TJRicer.com

"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." -John Lennon
toobagrowl
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Re: Bell material poll

Post by toobagrowl »

Standard Yellow Brass bell for me. Vast majority of tubas/sousas have a standard yellow brass bell. The 'special alloy' bells are more a gimmick, imo. Those are mostly used in trombones. The bronze/gold brass/rose brass alloys are better used in leadpipes and main tuning slides, where more water collects.

Perfect tuba or sousa to me (material-wise) would be: standard yellow brass bell and bugle, gold brass slides and nickel-silver leadpipe (neck/bits for sousa) 8)
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Art Hovey
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Re: Bell material poll

Post by Art Hovey »

I would choose carbon fiber.
brendanige
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Re: Bell material poll

Post by brendanige »

I like those old monster York bells and old Holton Bells.
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Paul Scott
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Re: Bell material poll

Post by Paul Scott »

If we're talking metal, my opinion matches "Tubagrowls" 100%. Gold brass always feels dead to me.

But I'd prefer carbon fiber. Lightweight and very effective.
Adjunct Tuba Professor
William Paterson University
Wayne, NJ
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