Straightest sousa bit?

[Dan Schultz]

The Conn and King bits are 15% while some of the Yamaha bits are 30%.

I have one of those 'S' bits where the in and out are in line.

[Dan Schultz]

.... Thanks, Dan. I'd like to lay my mitts on one of those "S" bits...

Here's a picture of the one I have. I think it was with an old Conn helicon.

If all you are looking for is an extension... you could put together a shank from a 'beater' mp and a generic receiver. Add a short section of tubing to make it any length you want.

[iiipopes]

What exactly are you desiring to extend?

[Dan Schultz]

What exactly are you desiring to extend?

[iiipopes]

What exactly are you desiring to extend?

Oh, come on, Dan! You know what I mean. If there isn't a straight souzy bit, and he can't get the parts you suggest, maybe there is another solution, but we have to know what the OP is trying to accomplish....

[Dan Schultz]

What exactly are you desiring to extend?

Oh, come on, Dan! You know what I mean. If there isn't a straight souzy bit, and he can't get the parts you suggest, maybe there is another solution, but we have to know what the OP is trying to accomplish....

I just couldn't resist that one! I've communicated with LV he's considering buying a horn that may be a little on the sharp side.

[Dan Schultz]

record high temps...

Yup. Even my Selmer commode-O-phone was waaaay sharp yesterday!

[iiipopes]

record high temps...

Yup. Even my Selmer commode-O-phone was waaaay sharp yesterday!

Just offer to make him a longer main tuning slide like you did for me.

We punted. For yesterday's parade, at 98-99 F, we tuned to A=445.

[sloan]

Yesterday, the F at the bottom of the staff on my Conn 36J was spot on.

The rest of the horn (and the ensemble) was 25 cents sharp...

[Dan Schultz]

record high temps...

Yup. Even my Selmer commode-O-phone was waaaay sharp yesterday!

Just offer to make him a longer main tuning slide like you did for me....

Funny... right before LV posted this... a fellow contacted me about an identical horn that played a bit sharp. I suggested that longer ferrules be made for the main tuning slide. Although... a tuning bit would probably fix the problem without altering the horn.

[iiipopes]

My concern is that when we pull a main tuning slide, say, the "nominal" 5/8 to 3/4 inch to tune normally on an otherwise in-tune tuba for a conventional indoor rehearsal or concert, that amounts to actually a double length, 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches of straight line tuning extension. By the time the bit and the mouthpiece are inserted and seated respectively, the effective extension is only about 1/2 to 1 inch, depending on the geometry and how far everything seats together. Is that actually enough?

[Dan Schultz]

My concern is that when we pull a main tuning slide, say, the "nominal" 5/8 to 3/4 inch to tune normally on an otherwise in-tune tuba for a conventional indoor rehearsal or concert, that amounts to actually a double length, 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches of straight line tuning extension. By the time the bit and the mouthpiece are inserted and seated respectively, the effective extension is only about 1/2 to 1 inch, depending on the geometry and how far everything seats together. Is that actually enough?

Actually.... it takes a little LESS distance BEFORE the valve cluster to influence pitch as opposed to extending the main slide. Not sure why. It's just a physics thing that Rick Denny or Sloan might explain. It has something to do with the larger tapers having less influence. Example... a couple of inches off the bell won't have near the impact as a couple of inches off the leadpipe.

[iiipopes]

My concern is that when we pull a main tuning slide, say, the "nominal" 5/8 to 3/4 inch to tune normally on an otherwise in-tune tuba for a conventional indoor rehearsal or concert, that amounts to actually a double length, 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches of straight line tuning extension. By the time the bit and the mouthpiece are inserted and seated respectively, the effective extension is only about 1/2 to 1 inch, depending on the geometry and how far everything seats together. Is that actually enough?

Actually.... it takes a little LESS distance BEFORE the valve cluster to influence pitch as opposed to extending the main slide. Not sure why. It's just a physics thing that Rick Denny or Sloan might explain. It has something to do with the larger tapers having less influence. Example... a couple of inches off the bell won't have near the impact as a couple of inches off the leadpipe.

Thanks. I know sometimes a different mouthpiece architecture can, without really being in or out any significant amount, can raise or lower relative pitch as much as 20 cents or so, but I didn't know it would take less adjustment at that close a distance after the throat and backbore open their taper into the receiver and upper leadpipe.

[Dan Schultz]

As a follow up, I recently bought an instrument that came with a little baggie of misc parts. Inside was, among other things, a "STRAIGHT SOUSA BIT!" Never seen one quite like it. Perfectly straight with American shank in and American shank out. Exactly what I was looking for! It looks old, but cleaned up perfect. Now lives in my "bag o' tricks!"

Congrats!

[Michael Bush]

As a follow up, I recently bought an instrument that came with a little baggie of misc parts. Inside was, among other things, a "STRAIGHT SOUSA BIT!" Never seen one quite like it. Perfectly straight with American shank in and American shank out. Exactly what I was looking for! It looks old, but cleaned up perfect. Now lives in my "bag o' tricks!"

I was sure I had seen one in a group of bits on eBay a couple of years ago. Glad to know they really exist and it wasn't just my imagination.

[iiipopes]

As a follow up, I recently bought an instrument that came with a little baggie of misc parts. Inside was, among other things, a "STRAIGHT SOUSA BIT!" Never seen one quite like it. Perfectly straight with American shank in and American shank out. Exactly what I was looking for! It looks old, but cleaned up perfect. Now lives in my "bag o' tricks!"

PIX!!! WE WANT PIX!