Kodiak F

[Todd S. Malicoate]

Pedals? Did you mean paddles?

The Kodiak is a 6-valve F (5+1). You are mostly likely mistaking the 2nd valve slide trigger for another valve.

"Nothing in the world sounds bigger than this horn."

That's good enough for me.

[Todd S. Malicoate]

The trigger (right hand thumb) is the 5th valve (long whole step)...the 6th valve (long half step) is operated with the left index finger...the 2nd valve slide kicker (will go out about a half step) is operated with the left middle finger.

There's plenty of sites with more info on the Kodiak...just put "Kodiak F tuba" into a search engine.

Why are you drooling over a $11K+ tuba, anyway?

[Biggs]

I don't own one, but I did play on one (according to Roger Lewis, it was "Alan Baer's personal instrument"). It is neat. I would describe the sound as very 'live' meaning that projection and response seem to come naturally.

[Jay Young]

Seems like the setup on the MW Titan 46-SLP

[Badgley]

for when i outgrow my 180

Please elaborate.

[Roger Lewis]

Actually. the 46SLP is a piston horn and one of the things that makes the Kodiak different is the order of the valves. They run 1,2,3,4,6,5 with the 6th following the 4th and the 5th below that at the bottom.

All 6 rotary valves are vented to improve the smoothness between notes and I believe all 6 valves turn into the air stream. The :7th: paddle is the 2nd valve slide trigger and there is also a "stop" on the 1st valve slide so that you don't yank it completely out of the horn.

It is a great instrument with excellent intonation and a solid low register. Plenty of sound if you need it and yet still quite versatile for solo and quintet work. The character of the sound is pure and clean with projection to beat the band - literally.

Just my observations.
Roger

[Jay Young]

Actually. the 46SLP is a piston horn ... All 6 rotary valves...

I suppose it would have been helpful for me to ACTUALLY do research and not show my @$$, huh?

[KevinMadden]

for when i outgrow my 180

Please elaborate.

I dont think I will be winning any orchestral gigs/solo jobs/professorships with a stuffy low range

but if you can learn sing in the low range on a stuffy horn, imagine what'll be like when you move to a big horn (i.e. when you already have the job to warrant the big expensive horn. Sounds like catch-22 I know, need the big horn for the job, need the job for the big horn. )

[TUBAD83]

I have one question: Why would anyone need a F tuba this f%#@in' big?? Considering what F tubas are usually used for, this contraption kinda defeats the purpose. If you want a BAT, wouldn't a BBb or CC be better suited? Lets not forget the adage "Bigger is not always better. I suspect another BIG marketing gimmick to separate unsuspecting (and unthinking) tubists from their euros errr, dollars.