Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 9:12 pm
But, but--the slides are all too short when I switch it into Bb! 
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DOUBLE TUBA...!!! CHEEEP !!!! ...Eb/Bb... (wow!)
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Double Tuba
Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 12:40 am
Is this really a double tuba, or simply an Eb tuba with 4 valves?
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 9:07 am
It's not a true double tuba.
I miss double doubles.
I miss double doubles.
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 11:37 am
http://www.dillonmusic.com/HeleoCart/Pr ... xzwN2sU%3dBurpinjello wrote:where would be a pic of a double tuba? This sounds neat.
Dillon Music has had this one for sale for a long time - should tell you something about how it plays.
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 12:22 pm
Gronitz and Alexander both offer "double" tubas with double rotors like a french horn. At least in the Alex case (I don't recall the Gronitz airpath), the switch valve sends the airstream for a second pass through the valves; the second set of slides simply extend the F slides.
Consider that if you have a 4+switch valve tuba, that means that the airstream goes through no fewer than 9 valves on the lower pitch on its way to the bell.
Now you know at least one reason that they're not popular.
Besson made some "enharmonic" tubas early in the 20th century--mostly 3-valve models. The third valve would switch the airstream to use a second set of ports and slides on the first two valves. So you had a double set of tuning slides and a heavy instrument.
Consider that if you have a 4+switch valve tuba, that means that the airstream goes through no fewer than 9 valves on the lower pitch on its way to the bell.
Now you know at least one reason that they're not popular.
Besson made some "enharmonic" tubas early in the 20th century--mostly 3-valve models. The third valve would switch the airstream to use a second set of ports and slides on the first two valves. So you had a double set of tuning slides and a heavy instrument.