An Interesting 5 Valve Tuba

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imperialbari
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Post by imperialbari »

Is it this one?:

http://tinyurl.com/2qf2x2

If so it is a Saxhorn basse in Bb with 3+2 non-compensating pistons.

Left hand pistons placed perpendicularly to the front plane are not too uncommon in France.

Courtois had a large BBb bass with the 4th piston placed that way.

Klaus Smedegaard Bjerre
Last edited by imperialbari on Sun Mar 16, 2008 2:09 am, edited 1 time in total.
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imperialbari
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Post by imperialbari »

While changing the very long original link I noted, that this Saxhorn basse has a 3rd valve tubing lowering the instrument 2 full steps like normal 2+3. Again a tuning not too uncommon in France for the large Saxhorns.

Bloke's notion of the similarity with the British 3+1 set-up makes me say, that I believe that the British instruments are very much designed for marching and for general military band usage including the often somewhat cramped circumstances in busses.

The British placement of the 4th valve between the 3rd valve tubing and the 1st branch makes the valve stem less vulnerable. The tubas in Eb and BBb even can avoid the 4th piston swiveling stop plate known from 3+1 euphs.

Why do the French and the British make these tall tubas even if neither bore nor bell always have been especially large?

The only reason I can see is, that they save on the number of large bows. And the bows, which still are there, are placed where the bore is narrower as in the comparable bows of more compact tubas.

Klaus Smedegaard Bjerre

PS for bloke: Could you make that school send me a good photo documentation of the Leblanc tuba?
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J.c. Sherman
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Post by J.c. Sherman »

It is not a saxhorn basse - the ad clearly states it's an Eb tuba.

Courtois made a 5 valve BBb tuba with a similar valve placement as late as 1989 (tried one then - liked it).

It also has a french feature of a 2-step third valve.

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Alex C
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Post by Alex C »

It reminds of of a Mahillion-DuPrins F tuba. It had six valves, though.

It also reminds me of French cars which are functional, quirky with an artistic flair and have a lack of engineering.
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Post by brianggilbert »

Alex C wrote:It reminds of of a Mahillion-DuPrins F tuba. It had six valves, though.

It also reminds me of French cars which are functional, quirky with an artistic flair and have a lack of engineering.
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Post by windshieldbug »

Alex C wrote:It reminds of of a Mahillion-DuPrins F tuba. It had six valves, though.

It also reminds me of French cars which are functional, quirky with an artistic flair and have a lack of engineering.
And pronunciation:

Reh noh' :shock:
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Post by iiipopes »

Yeah, and it gets even better for this particular model, which had a short market life:
Ray? No, sank!
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Post by Donn »

brianggilbert wrote:
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Post by windshieldbug »

From the same people that brought you the 2CV:

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Post by davidgilbreath »

brianggilbert wrote:
Alex C wrote:It reminds of of a Mahillion-DuPrins F tuba. It had six valves, though.

It also reminds me of French cars which are functional, quirky with an artistic flair and have a lack of engineering.
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Post by OldsRecording »

windshieldbug wrote:From the same people that brought you the 2CV:

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