Leadpipe angle into valve block

[Walter Webb]

What is your reason for not liking the 90 degree model? Is it stuffier, or something? Is one better looking?

[Walter Webb]

I find the first one, with the straight thru pipe to be more visually appealing.

[SousaSaver]

Close your eyes, don't let your brain interfere and play them. Our preconceptions powerfully influence our brain to work in certain ways.

If you don't like the 90 degree pipe before you try it, you probably wont like it after you try it? Why? Preconceptions. The power of suggestion is incredible.

[tubaguy9]

Maybe...some of it may be the angle that the tube makes, which adds some resistance due to the change in bore size...

[bort]

So... do you like most piston valve tubas then?

[cjk]

The obvious differences to me are:

(1) The 90 degree leadpipe will be shorter.

(2) If the bore of the fifth valve is the same between two tubas, but one has a 90 degree leadpipe, the taper of the 90 degree leadpipe is *likely* to be more drastic due to the fact that it has less length to flare to the same size.

Or, maybe you just don't like B&S tubas? The vast majority of 90 degree leadpipes I've seen have been B&S-made instruments.

--Christian

[Lars Trawen]

The vast majority of 90 degree leadpipes I've seen have been B&S-made instruments.

Yes, that seems correct. And under the name of Symfony. And mostly F-tubas.
These are widely reputated as very good and professional instruments.
Lars

[cjk]

The vast majority of 90 degree leadpipes I've seen have been B&S-made instruments.

Yes, that seems correct. And under the name of Symfony. And mostly F-tubas.
These are widely reputated as very good and professional instruments.
Lars

Every rotary B&S CC has this configuration as well, with the exception of the 4098 Neptune.

[bort]

That's kind of funny too, since every single other routing of tubing on a rotary tuba is a 90 degree angle out of the rotor.

[Wyvern]

I realized the tubas I've played and not personally liked (ala PT rotary series), have lead pipes that make the 90, and my personal tubas (MW & Alex) don't. So no visual, preconceived notions here.

So Robert, Do you like the B&S Neptune CC and Apollo F which both have the leadpipe as you like - might confirm, or not if it is just the sound of B&S tubas you don't like?

[Wyvern]

Very interesting comparison LJV! I at one time had a rotary PT-6 and the Neptune without doubt blows that out of the water in every respect! As Bort observes there are 90 degree angles at every valve which the air will have to pass through - so I wonder if the shorter length of leadpipe on the PT-6 against Neptune may have more to do with the differences in response?

I also do not like the double loop on the 5th valve slide with PT rotary CC tubas - the elegant straight up loop on the Neptune may also help to make it more open in the low register? A nice feature I am pleased is also used for the PT F tubas.