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- bisontuba
- 6 valves

- Posts: 4323
- Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2004 8:55 am
- Location: Bottom of Lake Erie
Re: Grontiz PCK Mods
Contact Alan and ask...
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Lukowicz
- pro musician

- Posts: 238
- Joined: Thu Feb 03, 2005 12:19 pm
- Location: Florence, AL
Re: Grontiz PCK Mods
Here's what I've done with my PCK.
- Extended valve slides on 3,4,5 - this way there is less of a bore gap when they are pulled.
- Reversed 3rd slide coming out of valve - 3rd usually needs to be pretty far out, and E-flats and A-flats tended to pop too much. Reversing the slide made the front of the notes respond with the same ease as the rest of the notes around them.
- Added Saturn water key to mainslide
- unsoldered 1/3 of the leadpipe from the bell, just to quicken up the response.
Regarding the 4th valve that Bloke mentioned...my slides didn't have slide sleeves, so I bought them, and it did help out. Most PCKs have a return slide that has 2, 90 degrees bends directly before it reenters the 4th valves, and then another 90 bend in the valve itself. All those turns happen within about 3-4 inches. The PCKs without the bends have an amazing 4th valve slotting and an even better low register. Same with some of the 5th valves.
The G at the top of the staff. I currently use a custom GW and have no issues with that pitch, but it took some time to find a mouthpiece. The other mouthpiece that worked well was a modified 30H copy from Kanstul that also did not have the pitch issues on that G. Neither mouthpiece messed with other notes that much.
- Extended valve slides on 3,4,5 - this way there is less of a bore gap when they are pulled.
- Reversed 3rd slide coming out of valve - 3rd usually needs to be pretty far out, and E-flats and A-flats tended to pop too much. Reversing the slide made the front of the notes respond with the same ease as the rest of the notes around them.
- Added Saturn water key to mainslide
- unsoldered 1/3 of the leadpipe from the bell, just to quicken up the response.
Regarding the 4th valve that Bloke mentioned...my slides didn't have slide sleeves, so I bought them, and it did help out. Most PCKs have a return slide that has 2, 90 degrees bends directly before it reenters the 4th valves, and then another 90 bend in the valve itself. All those turns happen within about 3-4 inches. The PCKs without the bends have an amazing 4th valve slotting and an even better low register. Same with some of the 5th valves.
The G at the top of the staff. I currently use a custom GW and have no issues with that pitch, but it took some time to find a mouthpiece. The other mouthpiece that worked well was a modified 30H copy from Kanstul that also did not have the pitch issues on that G. Neither mouthpiece messed with other notes that much.
Tom Lukowicz
Principal Tuba, Canton Symphony Orchestra
Associate Professor of Low Brass, University of North Alabama
http://www.tomtubas.com
Principal Tuba, Canton Symphony Orchestra
Associate Professor of Low Brass, University of North Alabama
http://www.tomtubas.com
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toobagrowl
- 5 valves

- Posts: 1525
- Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2010 3:12 pm
- Location: USA
Re: Grontiz PCK Mods
JP (HB-21 copy): viewtopic.php?f=4&t=73960bloke wrote:
I've very open about listing the intonation quirks of tubas that I'm selling to other people - particularly when it involves shipping - because I don't like to sell people 'surprises'. Perhaps the most 'political' thing that occurs on TubeNet is when specific intonation characteristics of specific models of tubas are listed, but - tuba intonation quirks are just like belly buttons: Every one's got 'em.
So I guess you will mention the flat 5th partial (2nd valve - Eb) on the JP CC
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arpthark
- 5 valves

- Posts: 1203
- Joined: Thu Feb 28, 2008 4:14 pm
Re: Grontiz PCK Mods
toobagrowl wrote:JP (HB-21 copy): viewtopic.php?f=4&t=73960bloke wrote:
I've very open about listing the intonation quirks of tubas that I'm selling to other people - particularly when it involves shipping - because I don't like to sell people 'surprises'. Perhaps the most 'political' thing that occurs on TubeNet is when specific intonation characteristics of specific models of tubas are listed, but - tuba intonation quirks are just like belly buttons: Every one's got 'em.
So I guess you will mention the flat 5th partial (2nd valve - Eb) on the JP CC
bloke wrote:If you like tubas that play completely like Hb/Adams 4/4 CC tubas...
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toakstertuba
- bugler

- Posts: 118
- Joined: Tue Mar 19, 2013 1:20 pm
- Location: Portland, OR
Re: Grontiz PCK Mods
'Tis true. When I spoke with Joe about this Packer, he spent almost an hour on the phone with me answering all my silly questions, and was very detailed about the intonation quirks... and even offered alternate fingerings that worked for him! I'm very grateful to have such honesty while dealing with a seller!toobagrowl wrote:JP (HB-21 copy): viewtopic.php?f=4&t=73960bloke wrote:
I've very open about listing the intonation quirks of tubas that I'm selling to other people - particularly when it involves shipping - because I don't like to sell people 'surprises'. Perhaps the most 'political' thing that occurs on TubeNet is when specific intonation characteristics of specific models of tubas are listed, but - tuba intonation quirks are just like belly buttons: Every one's got 'em.
So I guess you will mention the flat 5th partial (2nd valve - Eb) on the JP CC
- bisontuba
- 6 valves

- Posts: 4323
- Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2004 8:55 am
- Location: Bottom of Lake Erie
Re: Grontiz PCK Mods
New Meinl Weston tuba prices just keep going up and up...the 'Buffet' factor?bloke wrote:I wonder if a more interesting secondary topic (other than "yeah, but...") might be how the Euro has tumbled to a buck-ten, yet the prices of German-made tubas continues to rise. http://www.wwbw.com/Meinl-Weston-25-Ser ... 14026.wwbw
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Dan Tuba
- pro musician

- Posts: 385
- Joined: Tue Jan 28, 2014 8:21 pm
- Location: Cameron, NC
Re: Grontiz PCK Mods
This is why a Conn 25J is my "favorite tuba I've ever owned " 
Conn 25J
Holton 3+1 "Monster" EEb
Wessex XL
Giddings and Kelly Mouthpieces
Holton 3+1 "Monster" EEb
Wessex XL
Giddings and Kelly Mouthpieces