Looking for a 6 valve French tuba?

Lew · Post by **Lew** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 10:23 pm

Here's something you don't see every day:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 55373&rd=1

Do they even make these any more? Are these legitimately called tubas, or if it really just a big euphonium? Wichita Band Instrument avoids the issue by calling it a Saxhorn, but they do say that it is really like a 6 valve euphonium.

Kevin Hendrick · Post by **Kevin Hendrick** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 11:24 pm

Lew wrote:Do they even make these any more? Are these legitimately called tubas, or if it really just a big euphonium? Wichita Band Instrument avoids the issue by calling it a Saxhorn, but they do say that it is really like a 6 valve euphonium.

Given that what we usually call a euphonium is the tenor member of the tuba family, I'd say calling it a tuba is legitimate. Looks to be in good shape. That'd be a great horn for Bydlo! If only I had the money ...

PS: I remember reading somewhere that French tubas haven't been made since the 1930s ... that may or may not be accurate ... FWIW

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 11:47 pm

According to my 1908 French tuba method book the fingering's pretty far from what you're used to. The 3rd valve drops the pitch by 2 whole tones; the 5th and the 2nd valve are both semitone valves.

I wonder if a modern large-bore euphonium might have a similar sound--and be a whole lot easier to play.

Kevin Hendrick · Post by **Kevin Hendrick** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 12:07 am

It probably would (on both counts). Still, the thought of having (and being able to play) an unusual instrument of that type is appealing ... and learning new fingerings is something we do occasionally!

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 12:10 am

Kevin Hendrick wrote:It probably would (on both counts). Still, the thought of having (and being able to play) an unusual instrument of that type is appealing ... and learning new fingerings is something we do occasionally!

Well, maybe--but I figure that if I wanted to learn lots of new and interesting fingerings, I'd take up bassoon...

Kevin Hendrick · Post by **Kevin Hendrick** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 12:21 am

Chuck(G) wrote:... I figure that if I wanted to learn lots of new and interesting fingerings, I'd take up bassoon...

Good point!

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:04 am

bloke wrote:
Chuck(G) wrote:Well, maybe--but I figure that if I wanted to learn lots of new and interesting fingerings, I'd take up bassoon...

...or the ophicliede

bloke "who doesn't shy away from buying/building instruments of some expense, but the blokian requirement is that they must be something that will be played"

Actually, ophicleide fingerings make a lot more intuitive sense!

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 3:56 pm

bloke wrote:
Actually, ophicleide fingerings make a lot more intuitive sense!

Fingers are generally lifted "backwards" on the ophicliede...in some ways similar to the bassoon...backwards from flutes, saxophones, oboes, etc.

Only some keys, but that was my point... still more intuitive than a 6 valve French C...

Rick Denney · Post by **Rick Denney** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 5:36 pm

windshieldbug wrote:Only some keys, but that was my point... still more intuitive than a 6 valve French C...

Not a problem. Just figure out and write in the fingerings on the Bydlo part. When it's done, but the instrument back in its case for the next time, heh, heh.

(But this ad did answer one question of mine--it has a tenor trombone mouthpiece in it, and therefore a tenor trombone shank. So it really is just a large-bore euphonium with lots of extra valves. I don't see any part of the taper that seems fatter than any modern euphonium. Thus, I cannot imagine that it sounds like anything but a euphonium with a really stuffy low register.)

Rick "recalling that Oscar Lagasse never did figure out his preferred fingerings on his 'French teakettle'" Denney

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 6:09 pm

This is about when I figure that there's a pretty good reason that they don't build these things anymore.

Bandmaster · Post by **Bandmaster** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 7:29 pm

Lew wrote:Here's something you don't see every day:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 55373&rd=1

Do they even make these any more? Are these legitimately called tubas, or if it really just a big euphonium? Wichita Band Instrument avoids the issue by calling it a Saxhorn, but they do say that it is really like a 6 valve euphonium.

Back in 1975 my college band went on a trip to Europe. We spent a free day in Paris so a friend and I went wandering around Paris and stumbled across a musical instrument factory. We went inside and since my friend spoke a little French he made them understand we were band musicians from the U.S. visiting. Well, they were as smiles and invitied us in and brought out a brand new french horn for my friend to try and they brought out a brand new 6 valve french tuba, just like the one in the eBay ad only in silver, for me to try. It weighed a ton for a smallish horn. It was definately bigger than a euphonium, but very small for a tuba. I can't remember what key it was in but it did play nice. Not a big deep tuba sound, but more of a euphoium on steriods sound. So at least in 1975 they were still making these horns.

Kevin Hendrick · Post by **Kevin Hendrick** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 1:03 pm

harold wrote:
bloke "who doesn't shy away from buying/building instruments of some expense, but the blokian requirement is that they must be something that will be played"
CC helicon meets this criteria?

I take it you haven't seen bloke's "in performance" pics yet:

viewtopic.php?t=4669

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Looking for a 6 valve French tuba?

Looking for a 6 valve French tuba?

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Re: Looking for a 6 valve French tuba?