Posted by Joe B.S.-ing S. on February 09, 2001 at 08:44:46:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Re: 5th valve options & benefits? posted by Jay Bertolet on February 09, 2001 at 08:21:37:
I'm going to stick my face w-a-a-a-y out where it doesn't belong (far, far, far past the "known") and make a wild hypothesis that tubas with wider bell flairs also have wider pitch centers (more flexible).
I've observed this phenomenon when playing flugel horns vs. trumpets and baritones vs. trombones... The bigger bells seemed to allow a much wider range of pitch "center" without the tone production of the instrument suffering when "moving" the pitches.
Many EEb's have wider bell flairs than many of the F's...(?????????)