How to tell what key a horn is in?

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 4:38 pm

Justin.... email me a picture of your horn. danschultz@wowway.com

eupher61 · Post by **eupher61** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:32 pm

if that's not a BBb I'm a bassoon player.

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:47 pm

BBb.... without question.

imperialbari · Post by **imperialbari** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:56 pm

Given the photos, the brand, and the number of TOP action valves your instrument without any doubt is pitched in BBb.

The length of the 3rd valve loop is very close to a fifth of the theoretical length of any given tuba. By your measurement your tuba would have been in a flattish CC. But then the measurement shall be quite exact also including the bows and the extra tubing added by the extra passage through the piston.

Anyway your instrument is in BBb. Your choice of mouthpiece is clearly relevant.

The lacking downward range may be a matter of embouchure stiffness combined with a lack of optimal air support. That explanation would be consistent with your long hiatus from playing.

However I would check the passage through the tuba. If you have a bathtub, cover the bottom with a towel for protection of tuba AND tub. Place tuba with the leadpipe pointing up. By means of the hose for the showerhead direct warm, but not very hot, water through the leadpipe. When water starts coming out of the bell use your free hand to work the valves. Some burbling sounds will occur. No problem.

I often put my mouth to the leadpipe and blow out water while working the valves, and then fill the tuba once more for a repeat of the process.

When most water has been blown out, spin the tuba very cautiously to empty the bows and branches. Empty the slides and open the water keys. Water will continue to collect through the first period of playing. That's normal.

Congratulations and welcome back to the tuba!

Klaus Smedegaard Bjerre

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 6:51 pm

justinbowser wrote:Thanks, all. Now I gotta pick up some brass to build a couple of braces with and get to soldering... Or, don't exile me for suggesting this, what would be wrong with attaching/reattaching braces with a metal filled epoxy compound like JB-Weld?

The JB-Weld has it's place... but, it should not be used to attach braces. It's just too easy to go ahead and solder them as they should be. Reserve the JB-Weld for fixing plastic sousaphones.

imperialbari · Post by **imperialbari** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 7:05 pm

justinbowser wrote:....

I do have much practice to go to get the lip back into shape and then maybe I'll look into mouthpieces. From what littl reading I've done it seems a #18 mouthpiece as fairly popular but I don't know exactly what the numbering scheme means so I guess I have a lot of research to do. When I was in school I used a Bach and have no idea what number it was...

I think the #18 is fine, if the size follows the Bach scheme, which I'm fairly sure it does. Personally I am into larger mouthpieces, but I don't think that overly large would be of any help in your current situation.

Klaus Smedegaard Bjerre

imperialbari · Post by **imperialbari** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 7:59 pm

At least with Bach (+their several clones) and with Denis Wick the cup diameter increases with decreasing model ##. â€œAâ€

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 9:36 pm

justinbowser wrote:Geeze, sounds harder than deciphering different manufacturer spark-plug numbers...

Go here for mouthpiece comparisons:
http://www.militarymusician.com/xcart/p ... ?pageid=12