Posted by Fletcher Clear-Up on February 24, 2004 at 19:04:53:
In Reply to: Re: Re: 5th valve on BBb. Good Idea? posted by Rick Denney on February 24, 2004 at 18:42:04:
I think I have my facts straight here so here's a quick clarification:
Yes, Fletch did remove the 5th from a Holton of his. However, this was apparently AFTER he got it installed in the leadpipe to try it with 5 valves. It was a factory 4 valve model. He preferred the response of that tuba without the leadpipe 5th. Fletch also made some statements about Kaiser rotary Bb's (Rudolf Meinl's specifically) only working with 4 valves.
His BAT of choice 'Vesuvius' (the one bought from Bob Tucci) is a factory 5-valver and remains so to this day I believe.
I can't say whether it was the particular instruments or the 5th valve placements but it is clear Fletch liked some contrabass instruments very well with 5 valves whilst others he felt played better as 4-twiddlers.