which is the fastest?

[WoodSheddin]

Pat Sheridan plays faster

[Dan Schultz]

Pat Sheridan plays faster

Saw him play "Flight of the Bumblee". Heck... he doesn't need valves!

[Rick Denney]

I heard somebody say that rotor valvues is faster to play with than pistons. Is that true?
Could it really make a difference?

Not in my case.

Rick "equally slow on both" Denney

[Tabor]

Yes, rotor valves are faster to play with, but not nessicarily when playing music.

-T

[Lew]

The total distance that the valve paddle has to travel on most rotary valves is less than the travel distance of most piston valves. In theory therefore, it would take a shorter amount of time to engage a rotary valve than a piston valve.

In practice the difference is so negligible as to be undiscernable in playing. Would Pat Sheridan be able to play even faster on a rotary valve horn than on a piston valve horn? Maybe, but you would never be able to hear the difference.

[GC]

Some rotaries are faster than some pistons, and vice versa.

[Dylan King]

Pistons all the way!

[bigboom]

I have't played too many rotary valved tubas so I might not have a very wide base on them but I think it all depends upon the lubrication, springs, fit, and mostly the player. I recently replaced the springs in my piston valves with some stronger ones and now my valves are faster than most of the trumpet's valves in my band. The rotary valves I have played had a much shorter move than any tuba piston but I didn't really think they were any faster, just less movement for the fingers.

Ben

[Anterux]

Piston valves and rotary valves are different. they feel different.
In theory, rotary should be faster then Piston. but just a tiny little bit faster.
If I like more the feeling of pistons (and I do) I should be faster in pistons (and I think I am).

Someone very wisely, said earier in this forum:

Valves good, holes bad.

[Davidrn1]

I prefer pistons. get much better articulation with them. Not so "thumpy" of a tone.

Pistons seem much faster to me. Conn short action are the quickest I have played I think.

[Davidrn1]

PISTON DISTON MOISTON BANANAFANA FO FISTION FEE FI FO RISTON.............PISTON!

Couldn't resist the urge.

David "Feelling as if I need to go swing from a tree tire" Zychowski


SEE WHAT YOU DID RICK! I couldn't resist doing that either.

[Kevin Hendrick]

I prefer pistons. get much better articulation with them. Not so "thumpy" of a tone. Pistons seem much faster to me.

I feel the same way about rotor valves. I think that after all of these responses, we can agree that my original answer of "bananas" is correct.

Indeed, I can find no flaw in your reasoning ... eminently logical ...

Piston valves and rotary valves are different. they feel different.
In theory, rotary should be faster then Piston. but just a tiny little bit faster.
If I like more the feeling of pistons (and I do) I should be faster in pistons (and I think I am).

Someone very wisely, said earier in this forum:

Valves good, holes bad.

I'm not convinced about the "holes bad" part. If you're really looking for speed, I suspect that keys (ophicleide) would be faster than either pistons or rotors, and open holes (serpent) would be faster yet ...

[Rick Denney]

SEE WHAT YOU DID RICK! I couldn't resist doing that either.

What in the world are you talking about?

Rick "bananas go here" Denney

[Davidrn1]

The quote between my names. That's all.

No blame Rick. Just having some fun.

[Rick Denney]

The quote between my names.

Beware, it's addictive, and then you have to live up to it.

Rick "whose quotient for witty internyms is far below a reasonable standard" Denney

[jaredsan]

Ive always liked rotors. The problem with valves is if you don't depress them completely they give you a wimpy sound. With rotors, the "throw?" is shorter so there is less chance of the occasional burp in sound.

[tubafour]

Hey, mandrake, now there's another one. "Roters." I think everyone who spells it differently than you is correct.

Josh "Rotars, Roters, or Roturs, it all translates the same" Stanley

[Dan Schultz]

I don't worry much about how fast my valves (pistons OR rotors) are as I usually find that my chops set my limits!