"Significant" dents

[Tubajug]

Hello all,

I'm curious about how big of a dent and where it would have to be to have an effect on the sound. Obviously, something pinched shut (or almost) would be a problem. What kind of effect do dents have on sound? Tuning? Resonance?

Looking at tubas for sale one often sees something to the effect of "has dents, but none that affect the sound," so I'm just curious about what would. Do tubas with "flat" sides play any differently?

Thanks for your thoughts!

[ShoelessWes]

I had a Mirafone 186 from the early 80's. Dropped it and it got a HUGE dent in the bottom bow. After I did that, my c was significantly more in tune. Left it, because I liked the result so much.

[Tubajug]

Someone should test this in dozens of spots on their Yamaha YCB-826S and get back with us.

Agreed, I literally laughed out loud reading this.

[emcallaway]

...so how long until this turns into a "post a picture of your favorite dents" thread? I give it 24 hours tops.

[SousaSaver]

Someone should test this in dozens of spots on their Yamaha YCB-826S and get back with us.

+1

The real answer? I guess it really depends on who you ask...and it also depends on context. I would say that a thumb nail sized dent in a brand new 8,000 dollar Tuba would be significant, but on the other hand a thumb nail sized dent in a beat up old 14K you might not even notice. Context...

In my humble opinion, THIS is a significant dent. (both pics are of the same Tuba)

[Tubajug]

I'm mostly curious about what dents do to the sound and how big and where in order to change the sound.

[peter birch]

I'm curious about how big of a dent and where it would have to be to have an effect on the sound.

Are you talking dents in the players or dents in the tubas...?

+2

[Dan Schultz]

I'm mostly curious about what dents do to the sound and how big and where in order to change the sound.

Anything you do to a sound path will change the timber of a horn.

Dents or other obstructions inside horns can cause problems ranging from none to lots... depending on the size of the obstruction and whether it's located at an important node or not. Even little things like the location of braces or waterkeys can cause problems if in the wrong location. To determine if the location is 'right' or 'wrong' is one of those things that's difficult to quantify. I have a friend who worked as an acoustical engineer for The Navy for many years and he contends that, although much information and scientific equipment is available, the only real way is determine how a horn will perform is through much prototyping.

Generally... a round shape with a uniform taper seems to work best.

To me... a significant dent is one that is in MY horn. I'll feel differently about dents in your horn.

Buy a Yamaha YBB-201 (cheap and plentiful) off Ebay and put a 'significant' dent in it. Blow it. Then.... do it again and again. If you want real answers, that's about the only way to do it.

[Tubajug]

Buy a Yamaha YBB-201 (cheap and plentiful) off Ebay and put a 'significant' dent in it. Blow it. Then.... do it again and again. If you want real answers, that's about the only way to do it.

I have always had that little urge to do that to a tuba....or a french horn....

[Dan Schultz]

Buy a Yamaha YBB-201 (cheap and plentiful) off Ebay and put a 'significant' dent in it. Blow it. Then.... do it again and again. If you want real answers, that's about the only way to do it.

I have always had that little urge to do that to a tuba....or a french horn....

Yeah. I try to confine my dentwork to taking dents out! Never quite figured out why a Z60 is called a 'dent machine' instead of a 'dent removal machine!

[Donn]

Buy a Yamaha YBB-201 (cheap and plentiful) off Ebay and put a 'significant' dent in it. Blow it. Then.... do it again and again. If you want real answers, that's about the only way to do it.

Note that the answers will be relative to that YBB-201 only - expect an owner of the YCB-826S to be reluctant to let you apply that knowledge to his tuba.

[windshieldbug]