Posted by Rick Denney on May 07, 2003 at 12:38:50:
In Reply to: Re: YCB 621 5 valves? posted by David on May 06, 2003 at 23:42:29:
My understanding is that it wasn't added at the factory because Daellenbach wanted to keep the instrument as light as possible.
If you add the F tuba fifth valve, it will be too short. But it already includes an extension to make it convertible from a flat half-step to a flat whole-step. Two of those extensions might be about right to make a flat whole step on a C. But it will interfere with the bell if you do it. A technician can make a folded-over tuning slide using the fifth valve from the F as a starting point, though. Valve tubing parts for other valves might be available already bent so that it would only be a matter of assembly.
Rick "who suspects that most applications for a C tuba this small give you octave flexibility on notes needing the fifth valve" Denney