Posted by Art H on December 25, 2003 at 00:11:37:
In Reply to: Old Vs. New? posted by Trade-offs? on December 24, 2003 at 10:13:37:
I have grafted new piston valve sections and leadpipes onto three old tubas, and I love each of them. The operations had remarkably little effect on the intonation quirks of the instruments, in spite of significant changes in bore. I suspect that I could obtain similar results with a new instrument if I could afford one, but the terror of that first dent or scratch is more than I can deal with. (I would love to put a Mirafone 1271 valve section onto a new king.) With an old tuba if it gets a dent you just hammer it out and if something comes loose you just solder it back together. And whenever I am asked if I would like a tuning note I just say that my instrument was tuned at the factory.