How to measure Bore?

trseaman · Post by **trseaman** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 7:03 pm

Hello all,

I know, I know... This has been beaten to death before and I have searched the archives. Most everything I found says that measuring the ID of the 2nd valve tuning slide is acceptable.

I'm selling a horn on Ebay and someone emailed me about the "correct way" to measure the bore. He said he has "never in his life" heard of measuring the 2nd valve slide and that the correct way is to measure the hole of any valve. I've invited him to TubeNet so hopefully he will respond. Can we please, once again put this to rest...

What is the absolute correct way to measure the bore of a tuba? If there are different methods, let's hear about them!

Now where is that tuba manual?? Tim

Alex C · Post by **Alex C** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 9:13 pm

I would take the bore at the second valve as a good representation of the correct bore size.

I usually measure all of the valve slides, just for accuracy. Ports on valves are almost never in one plane or at least are hard to measure in one plane accurately. When I have compared valve tubing bore size with factory specs, I end up with the same numbers consistantly.

The valve block tubing represents the most tubing of one size anywhere on a tuba. Your ebay questioner was being very picky and probably isn't a serious bidder anyway.

smurphius · Post by **smurphius** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 9:56 pm

With a ruler?

trseaman · Post by **trseaman** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 1:04 am

Okay this fella just emailed me again! Here's what he had to say... I sarcastically added the bold, of course!

well as tubenet has not emailed me for the second time with the info for access, for the second time, i really dont have time for it. (He's just too busy!)

i read the replies and the threads and it was amusing. (He thinks we're funny! He should come back for more!)

it takes a real understanding of a tuba to know lip vibrations thru the horn to the bell as the bell makes the sound. (Understanding of what??? Is this guy for real?)

i guess my final utterance of this subject from me about bore is: (What exactly is an utterance?)

i would think i would reserch conn tubas, as i have many others, i do know that measuring the bore at the tuning slide tube is wrong, (We don't know squat!) and suggesting measuring at the 2nd valve implies that the 1st and 3rd are different bores, is rediculous.. (Must be a friend of blokes! What is it about that word?)

no problem, listen to them they seem to know it all... (There you TubeNet know-it-alls go again! You've pissed off another know-it-all tuba player!)

I only wish I had saved all his emails to share with everyone! He only had 2 feedbacks on Ebay so he's obviously been under a rock somewhere for quite a while!

smurphius wrote:With a ruler?

I know, I'm sorry! I don't have calipers... At least I didn't use my kids wooden ruler! And besides, those of you with calibrated eyes should be able to tell the bore just by looking!!!

Tim

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 2:14 am

Perhaps you should suggest that he measure bore at the bell...

A shotgun bore gauge is inexpensive and works well for most piston tubas (up to about 0.775").

Bandmaster · Post by **Bandmaster** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 3:46 am

trseaman wrote:Okay this fella just emailed me again! Here's what he had to say... I sarcastically added the bold, of course!

well as tubenet has not emailed me for the second time with the info for access, for the second time, i really dont have time for it. (He's just too busy!)

i read the replies and the threads and it was amusing. (He thinks we're funny! He should come back for more!)

it takes a real understanding of a tuba to know lip vibrations thru the horn to the bell as the bell makes the sound. (Understanding of what??? Is this guy for real?)

i guess my final utterance of this subject from me about bore is: (What exactly is an utterance?)

i would think i would reserch conn tubas, as i have many others, i do know that measuring the bore at the tuning slide tube is wrong, (We don't know squat!) and suggesting measuring at the 2nd valve implies that the 1st and 3rd are different bores, is rediculous.. (Must be a friend of blokes! What is it about that word?)

no problem, listen to them they seem to know it all... (There you TubeNet know-it-alls go again! You've pissed off another know-it-all tuba player!)
I only wish I had saved all his emails to share with everyone! He only had 2 feedbacks on Ebay so he's obviously been under a rock somewhere for quite a while!

Well for starters, he must register here with an email account that actually works and has not been disabled! Second, ask him for HIS credentials! Third, how does HE measure the bore size? Fourth, ask him where he will find documentation on Conn tubas, since Conn destroyed all their records 30 years ago! Fifth, tell him he is an #@&$%! He won't be bidding on your horn anyway, so no great loss!

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 11:46 am

trseaman wrote:Okay this fella just emailed me again!
suggesting measuring at the 2nd valve implies that the 1st and 3rd are different bores, is rediculous..

Actually, why does "this fella" even care which valve you use, since he seems to think they're all the same?

And to quote Miraphone's website (as one of MANY examples) in describing a horn: Bore of valve section conical 20,4 - 21,2 mm (0,803 - 0,835 inch)

And that's just ONE maker describing ONE horn...

(and no, just because we're both rediculous, don't lump me in with that person!)