Valve Conversion on Comp. Euph: Possible?

[Levaix]

Here's one I've been wondering about. It seems to be popular to take a lot of old top-valved tubas and convert them to front valves. Would it be possible (or feasible rather) for a skilled technician to do the same with a compensating euphonium without drastically altering the sound and intonation? Or is this the kind of thing that should never be asked due to cost and social stigma?

[SousaSaver]

It's very possible...for an obscene amount of money.

[Bob Kolada]

You would probably run into length issues.

[cjk]

Is your intent to have a front action compensating euphonium or a front action non-compensating euphonium?

[Dan Schultz]

Here's one I've been wondering about. It seems to be popular to take a lot of old top-valved tubas and convert them to front valves. Would it be possible (or feasible rather) for a skilled technician to do the same with a compensating euphonium without drastically altering the sound and intonation? Or is this the kind of thing that should never be asked due to cost and social stigma?

It's not practical to convert top-action valves to front-action valves. However... it is highly possible to put a DIFFERENT front-action valve section on a euphonium but there are darned few front-action compensating euphoniums to use as donors for such a project.

[Levaix]

cjk: Definitely compensating.

Tinker: The only compensating front-action euphonium I can think of is the Willson 2975 (which I used to own)/Canadian Brass/Marzan. And if you already had one of those I can't imagine ripping it apart for this purpose (for a number of reasons).

Thanks!

[J.c. Sherman]

It's very possible...for an obscene amount of money.

For enough money, ANYthing is possible!

J.c.S.

[TheHatTuba]

It's very possible...for an obscene amount of money.

For enough money, ANYthing is possible!

J.c.S.

Then i want a door to door salesman eating dragon

[Dan Schultz]

cjk: Definitely compensating.

Tinker: The only compensating front-action euphonium I can think of is the Willson 2975 (which I used to own)/Canadian Brass/Marzan. And if you already had one of those I can't imagine ripping it apart for this purpose (for a number of reasons).

Thanks!

Yup. That's EXACTLY what I was trying to imply.

[windshieldbug]

Another thing to consider is the compensation type itself... on three valve horns, it works when you add any two valves together; on most four valve horns, it only works if you use the fourth valve. That's the way, I believe, the front action Willson works. Might be more practical to use a 4 front-action non-comp valve block and a Marzan tuba-like top main slide for adjustments.

[J.c. Sherman]

It's very possible...for an obscene amount of money.

For enough money, ANYthing is possible!

J.c.S.

Then i want a door to door salesman eating dragon

That'll be $90 billion. R&D, you know. For smart dragons. Still might eat you.

J.c.S.

[tokuno]

BC086A.jpg

[Bob Kolada]

Brilliant!