Posted by Steve Inman on February 08, 2001 at 19:07:22:
Is this in the archive somewhere? If so, does anyone know an easy way to search for it?
If not, then . . . .
I'm aware you can have a 5th valve tuned (typically) as either a long whole step (essentially a flat 1st valve) or some alteration of 2+3 (a sharp 2+3?). I'm also aware that someone makes a tri-tone 5th valve for an F tuba, but I forget who. It's one of the major manufacturers -- maybe Meinl Weston?
Sean's fingering charts all assume the long whole step. I can probably do the math and figure out multiple options for fingerings with the 2+3, IF I knew if this was a sharp/flat/in-tune 2+3. (a little help, please).
But why one verses the other? Benefits to each?
The reason I ask is that a friend used to own an F tuba with a 2+3 5th, and couldn't easily play the low BBb in tune -- he had to use 1+4 (as you'd expect) but with a 4 inch slide pull for the 1st valve slide. As this proved to be unworkable, he ended up selling the horn out of frustration.
Enlightenment, please!
Thanks,
Steve Inman
Kokomo, IN