Compensated vs. fully compensated

[hup_d_dup]

There is currently a classified ad that describes a certain tuba as being "fully compensated." Is there a difference between a compensated tuba and a fully compensated tuba?

Hup

[b.williams]

No,

[bloke]

The use of the word, “fully“ means nothing technically - that I know of.

Someone could make up or invent a technical use of that word, such as “compensating loops vs. - simply - four valves“ or “four valve compensating vs. three valve compensating“ but neither of those definitions are currently down in the books.

When I sell compensating instruments, I enjoy being fully compensated.

[Three Valves]

In the 80s everything was, like, "totally" compensated.

[cjk]

When I sell compensating instruments, I enjoy being fully compensated.

[donn]

No, in fact the Blaikley compensating systems are only partial. The 3 valve system compensates only for combinations with the 3rd valve, the 4 valve system compensates only for combinations with the 4th valve. So on a compensating Eb tuba, F# and B - 2nd and 3rd valves - would benefit from compensation on a 3 valve system, but not on a 4 valve.

[bloke]

No, in fact the Blaikley compensating systems are only partial. The 3 valve system compensates only for combinations with the 3rd valve, the 4 valve system compensates only for combinations with the 4th valve. So on a compensating Eb tuba, F# and B - 2nd and 3rd valves - would benefit from compensation on a 3 valve system, but not on a 4 valve.

Yes. This has occurred to me as well.

My own 3+1 compensating instruments feature longer-than-o.e.m. compensating #3 slides, to partially smooth over this shortcoming in that version of the Blaikley system.

[windshieldbug]

Even if a system WERE "fully compensating", would that be in Pure, Just or Well-Tempered intonation?

[bloke]

Even if a system WERE "fully compensating", would that be in Pure, Just or Well-Tempered intonation?

I only own extra-loud and brash-sounding tubas, because I prefer to emit mean tones.

[Three Valves]

What do we want??

Full compensation!!

When do we want it??

NOW!!

[Dubby]

If you were only half compensated, perhaps you should call your local police department (assuming they haven’t been burned down).

[bloke]

I demand recompensations !

[GC]

Even if a system WERE "fully compensating", would that be in Pure, Just or Well-Tempered intonation?

Some of us play with Impure, Unjustifiable, and Ill-Tempered intonation.

[windshieldbug]

Some of us play with Impure, Unjustifiable, and Ill-Tempered intonation.

[tubanews]

I would reply to this thread, but I think I would just be "compensating"

[bloke]

I would reply to this thread, but I think I would just be "compensating"

Thank you for resisting the temptation to reply.

[iiipopes]

I read that in the same sense as "pregnant" as opposed to "sorta pregnant."

[tubaing]

Reminds me of French Horn land. There are Full Double Horns and Compensating Double Horns. I wonder if some of that language bled over.

[bloke]

Full double horns keep the B-flat and F horns’ valve circuits completely separate.
Compensating double horns feature all the same fingerings, but add enough to the B-flat horns’ circuits to accomplish the F horn circuits...
...so, when playing F horn pitches with valves depressed, a player is blowing through both circuits activated by any of those valves.
Compensating double horns tend to weigh less, because they feature a bit less tubing, but they also have a (general...and I’m sure this varies by make) reputation for playing stuffy on the F side, as well as out-of-tune on the F side.
I’m not-at-all attempting to educate/school/inform the person who posted before me, but there might be a few people who have never heard about “compensating double“ French horns (as they have become more and more uncommon, over the years)…thus the explanation.

As a comparison, I am fairly certain that I remember that Tommy Johnson’s Yamaha tuba - which was converted from an F tuba to a double F/C tuba – used a “compensating double“ system, and not a “full double“ system...

...and - though they are almost never thought of in this way (nor all-that-much used in this way, with the F “side“ nearly completely reserved for low pitches) - four valve compensating euphoniums are actually “compensating double“ B-flat/F euphoniums.

[iiipopes]

Hmmm. In the french horn context, I always thought a "compensating" french horn was a single horn with a 4th valve to help the low range, much as a 5-valve tuba has either the 2+3 or long-whole-tone 5th valve setup to help with the low range. Hmmm.