How much pull do you like?

[Yorkboy]

I’m in the process of dialing in the intonation on these two tubas I’m building, and before I make the mouthpipes, I’d like to know the “consensus” on the following:

How much pull do you like to design in (3/4”, 7/8”, 1” or something else) for it to play in tune? Assuming a warmed up tuba at about 68F? One of the great sages told me once what he likes to have (I vaguely remember about 3/4”) but my memory falters.....

[LargeTuba]

I got some good advice from Matt Walers.

Try to not make the main tuning slide any shorter than a 3” slide pull with a normal ferrule length in the main tuning slide. That will let you fine tune an extra .5-.75” each side if needed at the last minute.

[bloke]

(This seems like a "duh", but...) MORE required pull for A=440 for BB-flat than for any other lengths of tubas.

With my newly-stuck-together Holton...
(If I had to begin a rehearsal WITHOUT physically warming the tuba to playing temperature) I would begin (based on how I've got it set up) with the slide about 5/8 inch out, and end up with the slide about 1-1/8 inch out.

The other 5/8 inch (to spare) might allow the instrument to play as high as A=443 - A=444 (ie. "with typical community bands'/orchestras' soprano-voiced instruments" ) at playing temperature. Were it (??) that I had to play and sharper than that, most large/small groups that are playing sharper than that (in the USA) ALSO play so badly out-of-tune (with each other) that the tuba's general pitch-level would be a moot issue.

[Yorkboy]

Thanks for the replies - I think I know what I need to do now....

Generally speaking, I find I play more frequently nowadays in situations where the pitch is actually low (cold churches and concert halls, with organs tuned to A-438, etc.), where earlier on in my playing career, I generally played in situations where the pitch was high (outdoor picnics and festivals in warm sunny weather with banjos tuned to A-442).....

[bloke]

Warmed up at home, my new little B-flat tuba’s slide is out somewhat more than an inch. (ref: 440 tuning)
In orchestra rehearsals and performances - even holding it up against my body - the slide is only about a half an inch out...
- I don’t think my body mass (during long rests) keeps the instrument as warm as continuously playing it does.
- I’m pretty sure my colleagues aren’t keeping things down in 440 territory.

...In quintet situations, the slide has been in the same position that it is when I am playing it at home.
- different first trumpet player
- no violins

————-
I guess I am reminding you of the importance of being able to play up to pitch when the instrument is not completely warm, as well as reminding you that there are people (more than a few) who seem to relish playing a good bit above ref. 440.

[Yorkboy]

Good advice, thanks.

The fly in the ointment comes when you are playing in a church that is 58F (or colder!) with an organ tuned to A=436 (or lower!)

[bloke]

For situations such as those where things are going to suck no matter what, that’s why you keep a pair of Conn or Olds sousaphone tuning bits in your glove box...
...and the decision is going to be whether to play in tune with the other brass (who simply will not adjust that much), or in tune with the out-of-tune organ.

Good advice, thanks.

The fly in the ointment comes when you are playing in a church that is 58F (or colder!) with an organ tuned to A=436 (or lower!)