Alan Baer PVAK Question

[Tubamax7]

I might be buying my college horn soon and I heard about this kit. The horn I'm looking into is a Kalison DS. I noticed Kalison wasn't listed so I was wondering if anyone has tried one of the others on it with any success. And also, what is the difference between a horn with the kit versus without, playingwise. Thanks guys

[Tubamax7]

Someone told me over pm that I should take it to Baer and have him do it. But if the the Gronitz is the same can I just order it and do it myself?

[imperialbari]

I don't have my notes here by the computer, but I'm pretty sure that those Kalison valvesets are the same as the Gronitz valvesets.

Does this say that Gronitz uses American valves or that Kanstul uses German valves.

Wasn’t one source telling that Gronitz sub-contracted parts of their production to Meinl-Weston, who have their piston valves made in Markneukirchen? Does that imply MW valves on Gronitz as well as on Kanstul tubas?

Klaus

[Dan Schultz]

Someone told me over pm that I should take it to Baer and have him do it. But if the the Gronitz is the same can I just order it and do it myself?

I don't care if a tuba is brand-new right out of the box. I would NOT have someone just send me alignment parts. Regardless of how many horns a company has produced... there can always be anomalies. It would be just my luck that on the day my horn was made... they ran out of the 'regular' valve stems and subbed some that were 1/32" longer or shorter!

[wrobotuba]

And also, what is the difference between a horn with the kit versus without, playingwise

I can only attest to my own experiences with the PVAK. In a word- AMAZING.

I play on a Nirschl and it plays completely differently now. I have had this instrument for around 7 or 8 years. I've never changed anything (except for felts and corks supplied by Walter). When I made the switch, it was like having a new horn. I don't mean that at all in a bad way. Quite the contrary, actually. The aircraft grade rubber Al uses may not deaden the sound as much as felt, but I have yet to encounter any issue with this, and with the amount of studio time that this horn gets, were it to be an issue, it would have come up immediately.

I would agree with this:

....if a tuba is brand-new right out of the box. I would NOT have someone just send me alignment parts. Regardless of how many horns a company has produced... there can always be anomalies

However, I should also mention that Al addressed, very specifically, what to do (concerning changes in design on this particular model) when installing the parts of his PVAK. He also addresses this issue very clearly on his website, as I recall.

If he doesn't have a PVAK for your particular instrument, I would say contact Al Baer directly and ask him if he would have the time to do a measurement for your Kalison. Not every instrument will react the same to the change, I am sure. I am only speaking from personal experience, Baer knows tubas.