Yamaha YBB-631 BBb Compensating Tuba?

[Rebel]

Howdy,
I am new here, and have just purchased my first tuba since I quit playing tuba and went to bass guitar over 30 years ago. Anyway, the horn is a 4/4 Yamaha YBB-631 compensating tuba. All in all I am pleased with the horn and feel I got it for a decent price. My major issue is playing a C with the 1 & 3 valve. The horn seems to wander its pitch on this particular note. It is almost like an air leak or a bad spit valve cork. I cannot find any air leaks with the horn, so I am perplexed by this. I am wondering if it is just "me", but tuba players are few and far between in my area, so I have not been able to have anyone else "play" the horn to verify the issue. Any takers or comments? Thanks!!

[NCSUSousa]

Congrats on your new axe.

If I remember correctly, that type of tuba was built with the use of the 4th valve for 'C' rather than 1+3. You would need to seriously pull some slides to make the pitch stable with 1+3. Time to get used to 4th valve for C and B-natural.

[Rebel]

Congrats on your new axe.

If I remember correctly, that type of tuba was built with the use of the 4th valve for 'C' rather than 1+3. You would need to seriously pull some slides to make the pitch stable with 1+3. Time to get used to 4th valve for C and B-natural.

Thanks!!! This is my first time playing a "compensating" tuba, so I appreciate the tips. Since I haven't played horn in quite some time, I thought it was more "me" than the horn. I will need to set down with one of my tuners and check the tuning of the horn on all notes, the tuning slide position could be part of my issue with the horn not being resonant.

[Rebel]

I will have the horn with me at the Tuba Workshop at Ft. Meade Sat. Feb 6th if any members would like to check it out. Thanks, I will be wearing Minnesota Vikings PURPLE!!

[Rebel]

After attending the Tuba/Euphonium workshop, I found out the problem was me and not the horn. Others played the horn, and it is a very "open" playing horn, so my slotting for notes was less than optimal. I have since been working with other methods of playing (dropped jaw) and have had great success. The horn really does have a nice tone, and I am glad to have the "issues" resolved.

[Three Valves]

I hope you saw this;

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=70360" target="_blank

Lots of good info in there...

[Rebel]

I hope you saw this;

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=70360" target="_blank" target="_blank

Lots of good info in there...

Great information!!
Thanks!!