Why?

[Uncle Buck]

1. Why aren't vented valves a "standard feature" on all tubas? It seems to me that the additional manufacturing cost would be minimal. Are there any disadvantages?

2. Why don't more manufacturers offer a factory installed mechanism to adjust the main tuning slide?

[Dan Schultz]

Prices multiply dramatically after the original manufacturing costs. I agree with you that these sorts of options could (and probably should) be made available on high-end horns but it's not likely they will ever appear on mainstream instruments. In mass production, every additional operation is just another opportunity to generate scrap and rework. Warrantly issues would multiply and the middle and high schoolers would tear 'em up at an even faster pace. In the case of valve venting and extra linkages, I think it should be left up to the individual owner.

[Bob Mosso]

Great questions, these are two mods I'd love to have on my euph.

1. I don't see any disadvantages and insignificant cost impact.

2. How about a knob for normal tuning (setting the centered position), plus an ergonomicly positioned lever with spring return that would allow about +/- 0.5 inches for euph (+/- 1 inch for tuba), also, a quick disconnect of the linkage so the main slide can be removed reasonably quickly. Even a simpler version would impact the cost, I'd be willing to pay extra for the option.

[Rick Denney]

1. Why aren't vented valves a "standard feature" on all tubas? It seems to me that the additional manufacturing cost would be minimal. Are there any disadvantages?

2. Why don't more manufacturers offer a factory installed mechanism to adjust the main tuning slide?

Not everybody wants vented valves and it's a lot harder to under than it is to do. I don't know why they don't want to do it, but there it is.

Putting a tuning stick on the main slide is admitting that the tuba needs it. Besson put one on the Prestige, and it really does need it. The one I saw had come apart, though. A tuning stick on the main slide also can make it harder to remove for cleaning and dumping, and again it's a matter of what people want.

Rick "who has built a couple of tuning sticks in the past, but who now doesn't really see the need on his current instruments" Denney

[Steve Inman]

Great questions, these are two mods I'd love to have on my euph.

IIRC, the old Conn "Connstellation" (I assume that's the way they spell it, being "Conn") has a tuning doo-hickey on it. I was bidding on one last year but didn't get it. Looked very interesting.

Cheers,

[Paul S]

Let's all think about marketing, risk and profit and it is VERY simple to understand the answer.

Why don't all pick-up trucks have running boards as standard? It would not cost that much more for something that is needed, right?

A. Some people hate running boards.. oops lost that sale to a competitor or at least slowed down sales.

B. Some people want flat, some round some made from aluminium, some steel, some want painted colour matched and formed... Make a wrong build choice and you lose a sale to a competitor.

C. see a trend?

I think we are VERY lucky that several tuba manufacturers still exist to make such a variety of good horns. We are a MUCH smaller market and MUCH smaller profit center that we really think we are.

Research how many student trombones can be made in the same man-hours of a single tuba and then look at the profit differences. $8-9,000 seems like a lot for a horn until you see that the profit could be many times higher putting your labour to manufacturing a smaller instrument.

Better for us to get to know one of the superb "after-market" tuba upgraders with a huge smile on our faces for having a choice of original equipment to start from. I agree with Barry that our horns and the way we want them set up are personal things. Deep down I think we all like to have unique horns or we would play something oridinary like a ________. (left blank so as not to hurt the feelings of non-tubists)