Posted by David on March 05, 2001 at 15:16:12:
In Reply to: "Bows" vs "Branches" posted by Mark in Ohio on March 04, 2001 at 17:48:41:
Players and repair technicians seem to use different terminology so as both a player and a technician, here goes. For purposes of repair, the bell is simply referred to as "the bell". When repairing it, repairs are done to the bell (flare) or stem (the rest of the bell). Branches are numbered for the sake of finding repair parts from suppliers. The "bottom bow" is branch #1. The simple part is all you have to do then is be able to count back to the valve cluster to find out which branch you are talking about. Repair techs simply ask for the 1st branch, 2nd branch, 3rd branch, and so on when ordering parts. In order for players and band directors to understand what a repairman is doing when removing dents from the instrument, we usually call the 1st branch the bottom bow and then the 2nd branch becomes the upper bow.
If it helps any, I wish we would all use the same terminology and call them all branches starting with the bell and bell stem, then "the bottom bow" as the 1st branch and so on.
I believe there would be less confusion and then all tubas and sousaphones would utilize the same terms.