1/2 Size Tuba

[J.c. Sherman]

I wonder why so many of these horns lack a 4th valve.
The short answer is not valid, I believe. Money can´t be the real reason. If You plan to introduce kids (EAGER and MUSICALLY TALENTED kids, that is) to serious tuba playing, why punish them with a horn that´ll be disappointing as soon as you get to the fun notes ?
The least I´d expect would be a convenient possibility to trigger up to 8 inches, so said kid will have a "workaround" solution to use until someone finds out they´re serious about playing.

A forth valve on a tuba is no more necessary on a BBb tuba than a fourth valve on a Bb trumpet. I've played and recorded professionally on 3 valve BBbs (mostly Kings, but also Buescher). It was just fine, with a little slide pulling, just like a trumpet.

A fourth valve (or fifth of sixth) simpy offers options, though on a CC, it’s necessary to cover even the basic range required of a highschool student. Other tubas have “enough” valves for their purposes, or to provided intonation options.

Regrettably what has been mentioned is true – the average highschooler who has a 4th valve available either doesn’t use it or has no idea why they’re using it.

J.c.S.

[GC]

I occasionally use a ca. 1905 Fillmore brothers Eb that I'd call half size. It's 29" tall and has a 14" bell.

[Bob Kolada]

I just found a 4 valve Conn Eb that I'm looking into. My almost identical 3 valver was quite nice. I think my current King plays a bit better, but my old Conn was also pretty beat up.

[GC]

Bass tuba is generally regarded to be Eb and F tubas, while BBb and CC tubas are considered to be contrabass. You can have small, medium, and large horns within each family.

With obsolete instruments, it can get more confusing. I play an Eb contrabass Saxhorn in a 19th-century band (mostly Civil War era, but some other stuff, too). It's pitched the same as an Eb bass tuba.