Posted by Rick Denney on June 18, 2003 at 10:19:59:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: F Tuba Timbre posted by Sven Bring on June 18, 2003 at 02:24:45:
Most 5-valve systems in the U.S. have a flat whole step fifth. That does leave a note or two in the near-pedal register with problems. In particular, the low G can be played 2345 on some 5-valvers and 1345 on others, with both likely to be off one way or the other, though I can usually manage a usable pitch on mine. The low F# is actually a little better on mine a 12345. I'm sure those problems multiply further down, but I can hardly play down that low on any instrument, so the lack of in-tune combinations on an F near a C tuba's pedal range is no limitation for me. There is a difference between commonly understood theory and practice--the taper design has a huge influence on the intonation of the instrument beyond just the lengths of the tubes.
Rick "whose quintet has enough intonation problems elsewhere to mask his own, heh, heh" Denney