Posted by Leland on May 19, 1999 at 09:14:55:
In Reply to: 5 valve help posted by Todd on May 17, 1999 at 20:13:33:
I have a VMI 3302 -- pretty similar to your PT-4P, except in BBb. I believe mine came with a flat whole step 5th, but I use it pulled out to a minor 3rd (roughly the same as 1-2 valves together). I tune it to play Eb (your F) in tune on a 4-5 fingering.
What notes I use it for (your equivalent on the CC):
middle C# (on top of low C) -- 2-3-5
low F -- 4-5
low Eb -- 3-4-5
low D -- 2-3-4-5
low Db (above pedal C) -- 1-2-3-4-5
The 2-3-5 on my B nat., your C#, is very much in tune, but whenever I'm in a section and other tubists have the same pitch and play it 2-4, I sound flat relative to them, so I end up using the 2-4 fingering for a better section sound. The barely sharp tuba pitch is more easily tolerated by the usual audience than an out-of-tune rumble. :)
It's also my understanding that B&S/VMI makes other differently-pitched slides for the 5th, so the options can be pretty wide open.
Seeya,
Leland