Posted by Frederick J. Young on October 12, 2002 at 10:00:03:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: 4V Eb vs. 5V F posted by Rick Denney on October 10, 2002 at 11:18:54:
Although it does have 7 rotors two of the rotors are ganged together to make a switch valve between BBb and EEE natural. The other independant double rotors make lowerings of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 semitones on either side of the instrument. Over the years Gronitz has been making double tubas in different keys but in addition to the switch valve the usually have only 3 or 4 double valves.
I am somewhat puzzle, however, as to why no one have made a true double euphonium. It seems odd knowing that almost every euph virtuoso uses a compensating double. With a compensating double you have a small uncompensated F tuba whenever you depress the 4th valve. Hence the Db, C and especially B are too sharp!