Posted by Rick Denney on November 20, 2000 at 15:56:14:
In Reply to: 5th Rotor????? posted by Ryan on November 19, 2000 at 20:24:06:
The extra valve allows more combinations for notes in the low register than cannot be played in tune with four valves.
As James said, the value in a fifth valve for a BBb horn is somewhat limited, although it is nice to be able to play a solidly in-tune low Eb, which is a bit harder without the fifth valve. That's probably the only note that comes up with any frequency where the extra valve would help. How often you do you have problems because a particular low note is not in tune? If you don't, or if you don't know if you do, then you don't need the modification.
For CC tubas, the fifth valve makes many needed notes available, and is far more useful, especially for players who can make good use of it.
In any case, I would probably not have the modification made to a Yamaha 641. Some folks like these horns and others don't, but I think most would agree that the cost and difficulty of adding the valve would not be reflected in the value of the horn.
Rick "Can't play a really good low Eb with any number of valves" Denney