Adding a 6th valve

[tclements]

If you like the way this instrument plays, before I disturbed the vibration flow through the valve cluster, I'd add the 6th valve into the 4th valve tubing. It'd be easy to make and additional 4th valve tuning slide with a valve in it. This should be pretty inexpensive, and if it sucks, you can just pull it out and put the original 4th slide back in. If the instrument is not a 4+1, it shoud be easy to put the 6th valve lever wherever you want it.

Let us know how it is going. I LOVE projects like this!!

[bort]

Parts and labor, probably over $1000. You'll have to decide if that's worth it to you, or if you'd rather put that $1,000 towards another tuba with more workable intonation.

I'd say pass, but also agree with Tony that cool projects are fun to look at. Maybe talk to bloke too, since he added that 6th valve "thingy" to his 2165.

[sloan]

Parts and labor, probably over $1000. You'll have to decide if that's worth it to you, or if you'd rather put that $1,000 towards another tuba with more workable intonation.

I'd say pass, but also agree with Tony that cool projects are fun to look at. Maybe talk to bloke too, since he added that 6th valve "thingy" to his 2165.

Send the guy to me that will do one (with parts, custom linkage, and a top-drawer job) for $1000. I believe I have some work for him.

I believe there are many, many repairmen who will do this (with parts, custom linkage, and a top-drwer job) for "over $1000".

Even *I* will do the job for "over $1000". Of course, I'll probably sub-contract the actual work to someone else... I'll let you know later HOW MUCH "over $1000" the actual bill will be.

[bort]

Meh, I'm just repeating what I've been told before when I've asked that question. I don't know what the actual cost is, and there are a lot of variables (new vs. used parts) that affect that.

Point is, it ain't cheap. If you've got some money to play with, it might be a fun project. But don't look at it as an investment that you could tack onto your resale price later on. You might get a little more for it, but custom work like this has a low return a lot of times. But then again, that only matters if you think you're going to sell it eventually!

[SousaSaver]

Parts and labor, probably over $1000. You'll have to decide if that's worth it to you, or if you'd rather put that $1,000 towards another tuba with more workable intonation.

I'd say pass, but also agree with Tony that cool projects are fun to look at. Maybe talk to bloke too, since he added that 6th valve "thingy" to his 2165.

Send the guy to me that will do one (with parts, custom linkage, and a top-drawer job) for $1000. I believe I have some work for him.

HA! This almost made me spit diet coke all over my monitor. Bravo Joe!

[SousaSaver]

Meh, I'm just repeating what I've been told before when I've asked that question. I don't know what the actual cost is, and there are a lot of variables (new vs. used parts) that affect that.

Point is, it ain't cheap. If you've got some money to play with, it might be a fun project. But don't look at it as an investment that you could tack onto your resale price later on. You might get a little more for it, but custom work like this has a low return a lot of times. But then again, that only matters if you think you're going to sell it eventually!

By the time I've bought a rotor (from Meinlschmidt or B&S), all of the needed tubing (often at least two hours drawing stuff out on paper, labeling those drawings, scanning them, and highly organizing the order into an email so that Europeans who have English-as-a-third-language can't possibly misinterpret anything in the order), and (if I can even buy what I need...?) the linkage parts, a a good bit of that $1000 is already eaten up... (They all seem to enjoy charging $60 - $70 shipping, btw) Then there is the hours (usually) of head-scratching, trying to figure out what design is the best. Then there's building it, making everything work as it should, and (usually) changing a couple of things. Finally, most people want it to look good. Unpacking/repacking the tuba and arranging for shipping back to the customer burns hours as well.

It's generally best (when self-employed, and intending on remaining self-employed) to try to make more than $10/hr.

Verily. GOOD custom work costs money.