the advantages to this theoretical precision build:

[Bob Kolada]

The slide setup on my Eb cimbasso-thing is really very ergonomic. Short main slide in the leadpipe to set overall length (per the builder, this was to get correct length during building it), long Marzan style reversed slide behind the top bow, usable top slides for all the valves. I can sit my wrist on the top bow, have my thumb on the big main slide, and have all 3 top valve slides right at my fingertips. The big main slide isn't trombone quick but it's good enough for quick touchups. I want to get the 1st valve tubing (has upper and lower slides) redone so I can push in for F and E and pull out for 123 combos. As it is, 1st and 2nd are all the way in to be in tune for D/Db/A/Ab.

[UncleBeer]

If I ever decide to install a tune any note device on a main tuning slide of one of my instruments - and I manage to install a re-centering device that returns to -precisely- the same spot every single time (and without making the main slide fit so loosely that it leaks air - as with so many of those euphonium triggers...yet they don't even feature centering devices) I'd let everyone know... I'd be pretty proud of such an accomplishment.

Agree wholeheartedly re: design. No reason for these not to be self-centering! And if well made, no reason for them to be leaky.

[bloke]

If I ever decide to install a tune any note device on a main tuning slide of one of my instruments - and I manage to install a re-centering device that returns to -precisely- the same spot every single time (and without making the main slide fit so loosely that it leaks air - as with so many of those euphonium triggers...yet they don't even feature centering devices) I'd let everyone know... I'd be pretty proud of such an accomplishment.

Agree wholeheartedly re: design. No reason for these not to be self-centering! And if well made, no reason for them to be leaky.

I understand your view on this, and I've already admitted that my theoretical design (original Post in the thread) is probably not practical, and you and I are different in that I'm just not going to embrace any tuba that features a tune any note slide, for the reasons I've already explained, whether valid or not. When I see aftermarket or factory devices on tubas that allow every single note to be tuned, an alarm goes off in my head which tells me that (whether or not it's actually the case) some of the open overtones are so far off that there's just no way to play the instrument in tune without such a device. (As I've said before, I've gone through tubas like that in my so-called career, and all the tubas that I currently own can be played using - and it might be a 5 valve, 6 valve, or compensating valve version, where about theoretical - the fingering chart found in the front of beginner band method books, ie. the lowest partials where any and all pitches first are found on the instrument.)
Also, without a device that re-centers a tune any note slide, I could easily imagine myself getting caught with my pants down and leaving (even with my hand on it) that slide two inches off-center during some really busy passages.

[UncleBeer]

When I see aftermarket or factory devices on tubas that allow every single note to be tuned, an alarm goes off in my head which tells me that (whether or not it's actually the case) some of the open overtones are so far off that there's just no way to play the instrument in tune without such a device.

I'm definitely suspicious about horns equipped with a 2nd valve kicker. That bad, eh?

[bloke]

When I see aftermarket or factory devices on tubas that allow every single note to be tuned, an alarm goes off in my head which tells me that (whether or not it's actually the case) some of the open overtones are so far off that there's just no way to play the instrument in tune without such a device.

I'm definitely suspicious about horns equipped with a 2nd valve kicker. That bad, eh?

Those don't actually bother me at all, because they solve the mathematical anomaly (too short vs. too long encountered with instruments featuring only five valves) between 2-4 and 5-2-3, and they're particularly useful on an instrument that doesn't really require any first valve slide manipulation, and whereby all of the valves are depressed with the fingers of one hand.

The best tuning solutions (and which solutions are chosen) are typically geared towards specific instruments, yes?
My personal bias towards instruments with really in tune open overtones - I believe - tends to minimize how drastic the solutions must be for intonation problems which involve adding additional tubing.

[tadawson]

Seems like if someone is hell bent on tweaking the main slide to tweak pitch, that they ought to be playing contrabass trombone in the first place . . . (or perhaps @bloke could build them a "tubone" )

[bloke]

Seems like if someonenis hell bent on tweaking the main slide to tweak pitch, that they ought to be playing contrabass trombone in the first place . . . (or perhaps @bloke could build them a "tubone" )

The picture of that King recording bass with the trombone playing slide is making the rounds on social media, again this week.

[rudysan]

On his former 4 valves Rudy 5/4, my colleague did that. A repairman linked the first and third slides, so that when he was moving the first, the third was moving as well. From what I remember, the action was pretty smooth.