Tom Izzo's tubas

[gregsundt]

Bb/A/F tenor tuba: A 5-valve Alex. The "F" is the 4th valve, as usual. The "A" is a long half-step 5th valve; not out of the ordinary. This is how tbone-ists indicate the valve configuration on their horns (Am I preaching to the choir?), so you can't fault him for the odd nomencalture.

BBb/FF bass tuba: An F/CC double tuba, like those exotics we keep seeing being sold by Czechs on EBay? I would guess the "FF" is a misnomer for tubing that puts it in F. The 4th valve would be a change valve, like on a double horn.

My best guesses. I don't know the man. But I like his stable.

[bort]

Hrmm...



...I didn't know he had such a collection.

[gregsundt]

But it says that his tenor tuba has piston valves
does Alex make piston tenor tubas?

I missed that detail. I have never seen a piston Alex, either. Let's hope it's not something he had built. That would be obsessive, wouldn't it?

My only other guess would be an old French-style "tuba" with the 3-and-2 configuration. Never played one, never seen one, 'cept in pitchers. They look scary.