French tuning

[Bob Kolada]

Does anyone use the 2 step 3rd valve tuning? It seems like it'd be a nice setup for 4 valve horns. I'm more looking for interesting stories from those who do rather than waves of protest from those who don't.

[sousaphone68]

Does anyone use the 2 step 3rd valve tuning? It seems like it'd be a nice setup for 4 valve horns. I'm more looking for interesting stories from those who do rather than waves of protest from those who don't.

could you post a brief description of the method please

[J.c. Sherman]

On a couple rare occasions, I 2-step 3rd has allowed some solid low Cs on older Euphs of mine and on a miraphone 186 BBb I used to use. It can come in handy on the rare instrument with the option.

J.c.S.

[Allen]

On an old tuba with a very long-pull third valve slide, I tried the two whole step tuning, as I had read that was the old way of doing things, even in the USA. It didn't seem to offer any advantage enough to make up for using fingerings that are different from what has become ingrained. I re-tuned it back to standard.

Allen

[Lars Trawen]

Hello all.
All newer Melton/Meinl Weston tubas do have a third slide long enough to allow two whole steps.
Sometimes I use this possibility instead of the normal 2+3, especially when having lots of flats in the tune.
It gives more accurate fingering. It's a step forward to have not more than one valve in use every time.
This tuning was formerly very used in countries like Holland, Belgium and France.
I don't know why it has been given up. I find it to be very handy.
Regards,
Lars

[imperialbari]

50 years ago this tuning was known, but still very rare, in Denmark. Mostly on the old alto and tenor valved trombones. And we called it Swedish tuning. Possibly because that long 3rd loop also was found on some 4 or 5 valve Swedish tubas or tubas contracted for Sweden.

I have two instruments with that long 3rd loop. A 3RV anonymous German, Czech, or maybe even Swedish trombone. And a de Prins Belgian Saxhorn base 3+2P. I consider the brainwork involved not being worthwhile.

One situation, where the 2 whole steps in the 3rd loop could be interesting for special excerpts is in the 3+1P BBb compensators. The Besson New Standard and B&H Imperial BBb basses have a quite long pull on their 3rd slides. By pulling the 3rd slide and the 3rd compensating slide adequately the low CC will be in tune without skewing the pitch of other notes. Only the fingering changes.

Klaus