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The Wagner tuba is a narrow-bore tuba with a French-horn mouthpiece. Tubas appeared first in Berlin in the 1820s, soon after the invention of the valve. They were soon accepted into the band and orchestra, displacing the serpent, ophicleide, and other such instruments of poorer tone quality and intonation.
Piece making. 1  1 The main body, valves, bell, and mouthpiece are produced separately during manufacture. 2  In some cases, these different parts may be made by various contractors who ship them to the tuba manufacturer for assembly. 3  The main body is made by first putting a tube of brass on a pole-shaped mandrel.n 1835, the first bass tuba was patented by Johann Gottfried Moritz (an instrument maker) and Wilheim Wieprecht (a bandmaster) It was completely distinct from the keyed ophicleide in that it was equipped with a new type of short piston valve called the Berliner-Pumpe.