Posted by Lew on January 02, 2001 at 15:06:04:
In Reply to: number of valves on BB's and CC's. posted by Duke on January 02, 2001 at 13:59:30:
The basic answer that I have heard is that the range of a BBb can handle most playing situations with reasonable intonation with 4 valves, while a 5th valve helps the CC with some of these notes. I have a 5 valve BBb, a 4 valve, and several 3 valve BBb horns and I have found the 5th valve to be almost totally superfluous. The 5th valve on my horn (a flat whole step) does help with the low Ab and Eb and to get the pedal Bb easier, but I find the same notes are just as in tune on my 4 valve, as long as I play the Eb 1,2,4. With the 5th valve I can play the Eb 4,5.