Posted by Bill B on August 13, 2001 at 20:13:17:
In Reply to: Valve tubing Lengths posted by Benjamin Ishabashi on August 13, 2001 at 19:28:38:
This was tried in the 19th century. I have played on a 3 valve F tuba from around the 1850's with this configuration. I think that there is some virtue to this system on a 3 valve instrument, in that it would give you more notes closer in tune. On a modern 5 valve instrument, I don't see what you would really gain, especially since you would be losing the use of the third valve as an alternate fingering for E below the staff. If you were going to switch back and forth between this and conventional instruments, it could really mess with your mind.