In general, it is best to purchase a tuba that is plated in a Clear Lacquer . This finish is more durable and longer lasting than others and is a brilliant gold in appearance. To be sure, it is certainly acceptable to buy a tuba plated in Sliver Plate, Gold Plate or juts a raw Polished Brass . However, it must be remembered that when any finish is polished a certain amount of plating is removed and that eventually this loss of finish will require the replating of the instrument. This loss of plating is more pronounced in the silver and gold plated instruments.
Brass instruments have two types of valves available.
Piston valves operate just as one would expect. They go down and up by means of a spring. Rotary valves rotate from left to right and are now the most popular valve type found on tubas. Neither type has advantages or disadvantages over the other. It is a personal choice to be made by the player.