Tuning slides

[Mark]

I've recently run into some zealous arguments for both legitimate choices. What say you?

[SplatterTone]

Pull out. But no soaking. But had to pick "the choice which best answers the question". I hang the slides on the tuba stand while the tuba hangs from a String Swing guitar hanger.

[kegmcnabb]

I hang the slides on the tuba stand while the tuba hangs from a String Swing guitar hanger.

OK, I have seen this posted before by someone...maybe you, Mr. SplatterTone. Could you post a pic? I just cannot imagine a tuba hanging from one of these.

Thanks!

[SplatterTone]

[iiipopes]

OK, I just had to pick "What's a tuning slide?" just for fun. I leave them where they are. With one exception: on my 186, with the retrofit upright bell being shorter than the original recording bell, necessitating a longer main tuning slide, I have to shove the main slide in so it will fit in its gig bag.

Why should I have to "reinvent the wheel" every time I take one of my instruments out to play? I'll be adjusting them again anyway, depending on how the oboe player is doing that day, what key the piece is in, how my embouchure is doing, emptying water, reapplying grease on a periodic basis, etc.

[bort]

What, your tuba wasn't tuned at the factory?

[dmmorris]

I voted "leave the tuning slides where they are".

But what I really do is leave the tuning slides where they are and then adjust as needed the next day

[J.c. Sherman]

I'll spend a lifetime tuning. So I leave them where they are to keep alowing me to get closer every day!

J.c.S.

[Chadtuba]

I push mine in but only to avoid getting slide grease on myself or the gig bag as I slide it in. If not for that I'd probably leave them where they are.

[Dan Schultz]

I leave my slides alone between gigs and make adjustments as necessary. However, a fellow in one of the community bands plays a Yamaha YBB-641 and he claims he has to shove his slides in so it will fit into the case.

[bort]

Really, I've never given any thought to this... what is the argument for taking the slides out? That it allows the inside of the tuba to dry out? That it forces you to re-tune the next day?

I've seen way too many players (young and old) who just "set it and forget it." I prefer to "set it and adjust it." (Hrmm...I can see why Ron Popeil didn't use that as his catch phrase. )

[Mark]

Really, I've never given any thought to this... what is the argument for taking the slides out? That it allows the inside of the tuba to dry out? That it forces you to re-tune the next day?

I put the choice of taking the slides out in the survey as a joke. I have no idea why anyone would do that. The argument for pushing them in is:

• 1) keeps the slides cleaner, better lubricated and protected;
  2) forces you to retune each day.

[SplatterTone]

what is the argument for taking the slides out? That it allows the inside of the tuba to dry out? That it forces you to re-tune the next day?

I take the slides out to blow the stuff out of the horn with an electric blower after practice. I might as well leave them out to let things dry. The horn has never been chem clean. It doesn't need to be. I pop the rotors out every 4 to 6 months and wipe them and the sockets, and do a quick snake job. Only a tiny but of stuff is present. No bunch of green crud. No stink.

I know about where the slides need to be. I spray oil in them before putting them back in. Nothing forces me to re-tune. It isn't a piano. I match pitch with the band, not by watching an electronic tuner. The climate of the rooms in which I play is rather variable. My face is variable. The slides are going to have to move.

If it's just me playing alone, then I don't suppose anyone is going to care.

[iiipopes]

• 1) keeps the slides cleaner, better lubricated and protected;
  2) forces you to retune each day.

Re #1 -- we're talking about at the least @ 1/8 to 1/2 inch of tubing exposed per leg of slide, and at the most (conventionally on most well-regulated tubas), around 2 inches on a long, long slide, like setting #3 or #4 for the common valve combinations, with more than enough leg still in the outer slide to hold grease or whatever your preferred lubricant is. I just don't see it.

Re #2 -- "forces"? It should be a discipline from within to tune, not something forced upon a player. No, I'm not the best when it comes to tone, technique or intonation. But it borders on being downright physically uncomfortable when I'm not in tune, either with the group or with the rest of the section, and so adjustment is automatic. The goal of the tubist is to think pitch, play pitch, and then do what you need to in order to make the horn resonate accordingly for best results -- you play the tuba; don't let the tuba play you.

[J.c. Sherman]

I leave my slides alone between gigs and make adjustments as necessary. However, a fellow in one of the community bands plays a Yamaha YBB-641 and he claims he has to shove his slides in so it will fit into the case.

Actually, I have to push in my main and 5th slides on my YFB-621 to fit it in the case. It's a dumb thing to have to do, if you ask me.

J.c.S.

[windshieldbug]

I push the main in before I put it in the case/or/gigbag to avoid any extended-and-then-pushed-in-but-you-don't-see-it-issues, BUT, you should know where A440 (or wherever your orchestra/band tunes) is, and your chops should be able to do the rest. You should be pulling for tone, not for pitch.

[jonesbrass]

Really, I've never given any thought to this... what is the argument for taking the slides out? That it allows the inside of the tuba to dry out? That it forces you to re-tune the next day?

I put the choice of taking the slides out in the survey as a joke. I have no idea why anyone would do that. The argument for pushing them in is:

• 1) keeps the slides cleaner, better lubricated and protected;

I push them in when I put the horn away. I don't want extra grit and crap building up on my slides, and I believe the regular movement keeps the slides free. As far as "retuning every day," I don't believe that. I KNOW where my slides are set to start with, and any adjustment is made from that starting point. ie. not pushed in all the way when I'm playing. I usually use a pencil mark on the slides to indicate the last starting point as I'm getting to know a new horn. After that, I pretty much know where they should be.

[sungfw]

I usually use a pencil mark on the slides to indicate the last starting point as I'm getting to know a new horn.

I thought that's what O-rings were for.

[jonesbrass]

I usually use a pencil mark on the slides to indicate the last starting point as I'm getting to know a new horn.

I thought that's what O-rings were for.

I remember what happened to the space shuttle with the O-rings, I don't want that happening with my HORNS!!!!!

[PWtuba]

I push mine in every day so that they stay lubricated and don't get stuck.