How much beer fits in a tuba?

[John Whitener]

Hello tubenetters,

This might sound like a strange question, but has anyone ever worked out how much beer will actually fit in a tuba? I know it would vary depending on the pitch and size of the instrument, but for now let's just say your run of the mill CC. I would think there's probably a range with a common median somewhere in the middle.

I'm considering making a proposal to a brewery to sponsor the tuba chair in our orchestra and thought it would be a really interesting factoid to give.

I've had a cursory search online, and even took some measurements of my own instrument and tried to find the volume of the various "cones", but because of the irregular shape it's turning out to be beyond my math skills.

Normally I would say it's too much hassle to continue and give up at this point, but I've piqued my curiosity and can't let it go!

Thanks in advance for your help.

John

[sousaphone68]

Give your tuba a bath and measure the volume of water required to fill it would seem to be easiest way of calculating it's volume

[John Whitener]

I thought about that, but getting all of the tubes full with minimal air pockets seems impractical. Also, my bath is too small. Thanks for the suggestion, though.

[MikeMason]

I love this idea! We have a brewery 3 blocks from our hall! I'm on it tomorrow morning !

[Rick F]

Your query reminds me of one of my favorite tuba pictures. A clear plastic (or glass) bell is important.

[iiipopes]

Aw, beat me to it.

Mike -- make sure you fill it up holding the valves down; after all, we wouldn't want to inadvertently miss that gulp or two that fit the tuning slides.

[Ace]

Hello tubenetters,

I'm considering making a proposal to a brewery to sponsor the tuba chair in our orchestra and thought it would be a really interesting factoid to give.

Thanks in advance for your help.

John

I can see it now-------"Principal tuba chair sponsored by Angus' BLASTO Brewery". That will reinforce the dignity of the typical symphony orchestra program notes.

Ace who has a pint or two now and then

[John Whitener]

@ Rick, That's exactly the pic that gave me the idea

@Ace, I can see your point, but as we already have a whiskey distillery sponsoring three of our chairs, a brewery is not a big leap.

[Rick Denney]

I know it would vary depending on the pitch and size of the instrument, but for now let's just say your run of the mill CC.

I can't speak for a run-of-the-mill CC, but for a Bb Miraphone 186, it is 8.8 gallons, assuming you don't waste any by making foam.

http://www.rickdenney.com/york_vs_miraphone.htm

Rick "now, prove me wrong" Denney

[Dan Schultz]

I thought about that, but getting all of the tubes full with minimal air pockets seems impractical. Also, my bath is too small. Thanks for the suggestion, though.

Just take the horn outside along with a bathroom scale. Weight the horn empty and then fill it with water with a garden hose. The difference in weight divided by about 8.35 will equal gallons (US).

It's been discussed that this might be a way to determine the difference between what's thought of as a 3/4, 4/4, or 5/4 horn.

This is also a good way to find leaks!

[bort]

How much beer? Somewhere between "not enough" (there's never enough beer!) and "too much" (good lord, don't ruin that much beer with all that tuba gunk!)

[Kevin Hendrick]

I thought about that, but getting all of the tubes full with minimal air pockets seems impractical. Also, my bath is too small. Thanks for the suggestion, though.

Just take the horn outside along with a bathroom scale. Weight the horn empty and then fill it with water with a garden hose. The difference in weight divided by about 8.35 will equal gallons (US).

It's been discussed that this might be a way to determine the difference between what's thought of as a 3/4, 4/4, or 5/4 horn.

This is also a good way to find leaks!

In the horn and the player!

[Tuba Guy]

Just take the horn outside along with a bathroom scale. Weight the horn empty and then fill it with water with a garden hose. The difference in weight divided by about 8.35 will equal gallons (US).

I just wonder if beer has the same density as water (or if its close enough to not matter).
This is a great idea...I might have to get my local brewery to cater my next recital reception this way, lol

[Dan Schultz]

Just take the horn outside along with a bathroom scale. Weight the horn empty and then fill it with water with a garden hose. The difference in weight divided by about 8.35 will equal gallons (US).

I just wonder if beer has the same density as water (or if its close enough to not matter).
This is a great idea...I might have to get my local brewery to cater my next recital reception this way, lol

Your local brewmaster can probably tell you exactly. But... beer is mostly water and the alcohol content is not really high enough for the lighter alcohol to make that much difference. I'll bet it would be within a couple of ounces.

Your choices here would be to fill the entire horn including the tuning circuits... or to just fill the open bugle. In the later case, you would have to have very tight valves and be pretty quick to read the scale once the water came over the top of the bell!

Also... if you have vented valves (either piston or rotary) it might be wise to NOT choose the 'fill entire horn' option!

[iiipopes]

OK. On one particular occasion that I forgot to clean my tuba after a recreational gig: the next gig my valves were stuck from the maltose in the beer clinging to the valve & the casing. Enough valve oil & water and continuing to work the valve finally dissolved it out. Just something to be careful of.

[Brown Mule]

I love this idea! We have a brewery 3 blocks from our hall! I'm on it tomorrow morning !

Worked for Brewery 40 years------------------be sure you fill it up downstream of the ATF Govt. Tax meters or "Community organizer Obama" will be knocking at your door for taxes.

[The Big Ben]

The Glenlivet Chair (not beer, but would get my vote)

Ah, yes...

AND I wouldn't waste it by pouring it into the tuba. I would pour it into the tubist (me).

[Dan Schultz]

I believe I'll have a long-overdue "pouring" session tonight. Haven't imbibed in 2-3 months.

I had a nice glass of merlot with chicken teriyaki for supper tonight!

[bearphonium]

What about a sousaphone...getting some sponsorship ideas here!