I have always been inclined to look for simple solutions... In my very short career as an E flat tubist, I have attained no ambitions for playing anything lower than an A flat (1+4 on a compensated horn), but simultaneously I am not too keen on the stuffy feeling of a compensated horn. That made me wonder: is top action C tubas a thing?
To my surprise, the answer is "yes, actually". Turns out Weril in Brasil has made this, in various sizes:
https://www.camarainstrumentos.com.br/ ... C%7CWERIL (at the time of writing this search returns 3 top action tubas in C)
So, why on earth would I be interested in a contraption like this, you wonder?
Pros:
I can read C tuba in bass clef easily. B flat tuba in bass clef not so much...
It gives me access to register as low as I can go.
Would not be too heavy, which is important (the tuba would mainly be used for marching).
Top action gives familiarity with what I am used to.
No stuffiness from compensation.
On the other hand, I would suspect severe intonation struggles (again, they are non-compensated 3-valve instruments), especially as most music would end up in keys with lots of flats.
Has any other makers manufactured anything similar?
Oddities: Top action tuba in C
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UncleBeer
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Re: Oddities: Top action tuba in C
Wessex makes pretty much identical 3-valve tubas in CC (not on their site), cuz students in Spain apparently start on CC.
Three guesses how I know Wessex makes these.
Three guesses how I know Wessex makes these.
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ThirdHorn
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Re: Oddities: Top action tuba in C
1. You own one?
2. You are Spanish?
3. None of the above?
What did I win?
After more googling I've also read that there exists a small number of custom-made Besson 3-valve compensating C-tubas, but so far I have not come over any photographic evidence. But I would certainly liked to try one!
2. You are Spanish?
3. None of the above?
What did I win?
After more googling I've also read that there exists a small number of custom-made Besson 3-valve compensating C-tubas, but so far I have not come over any photographic evidence. But I would certainly liked to try one!
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cjk
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Re: Oddities: Top action tuba in C
Besson made a handful of Besson 3+1 CC tubas. I'd guess less than 10?
At one time, I knew of two upright Besson 3 valve compensating CC tubas.
One of the 3+1 ones is briefly covered in either 'The The Tuba Family' by Clifford Bevan or 'A Treatise on the TUBA' by Donald Stauffer. I don't remember which off the top of my head.
At one time, I knew of two upright Besson 3 valve compensating CC tubas.
One of the 3+1 ones is briefly covered in either 'The The Tuba Family' by Clifford Bevan or 'A Treatise on the TUBA' by Donald Stauffer. I don't remember which off the top of my head.