Posted by Mark F. on April 20, 2001 at 13:20:29:
In Reply to: Re: why compensating, really? posted by Joe Baker on April 20, 2001 at 11:16:12:
thanks for the compliment about my horn joe, I appreciate it.
The Joe(s) are right. I have owned 2 4 valve compensators, and sold them both to go back to my 3 valve. I never liked the extra weight of the 4 valve, (being very tall, I hold the instrument about 6 inches off my lap) and being a tuba player, always found the valve on the side as more than a little bothersome.
Yes, I miss the extra notes sometimes, but I more so I like the fingering patters that a 3 valve horn give you. 1-2-3 is almost always more comfortable than 2-4 for me, and there has been only on time that I felt I needed a 4th valve. that was a all-region piece I was helping a student with, and it went QUICKLY back and forth between a low A to a low C. missed the 4th valve there.