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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.
Though the tuba has a conical bore, its profile is not that of the bass Saxhorns, which are members of the cornet  pistons (cornopean) or valved bugle family. The tuba has a wider conical bore profile and deeper cup mouthpiece.