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Does anyone sell these things in this country?

Try Tony at Low Brass Werks...hmmm, Tony's site seems to be gone. Any Ideas?

Keep checking the music shops that have used instruments (like Baltimore Brass Company and Dillon's). Used Alexander tubas come up for sale now and then and (in my opinion) are worth the wait.

good luck,
Mark

Is there anyone out there that has a "new" Alexander tuba?

If so, how is the pitch compared to the older Alexander tubas known for their wonderful sound and "unique" pitch?

Not looking to buy one, just curious and I've not had much opportunity to try them.

I have owned two of them. The first I bought in 1976. It was a huge instrument that had conversion pipes to BBb(tuning slide and 4th valve slide). Glorious sound, goofy pitch. The second I bought in 1988, which I consider a "new" version". Straight 4 valve CC that was absolutely perfect. I sold because I didn't know any better. Lee Stofer added a 5th valve to it and supposedly it played even better. The new ones retain their sensational sound but are not the pitch nightmares they used to be. If I were to play again on a professional level (no chance of that at 45) I would search out the 5 valve model with the short stroke rotary valves. As the arms race continues to the "bigger is better" attitude, it is a shame that these horns are out of the picture. I remember hearing Don Harry when I was in high school and being blow away at the sheer amount of sound he got on his. Astounding. All things change, maybe they will become popular again.

Chuck"who still has a skeletonized mouthpiece, a can of Zip Strip, and some 0000 steel wool hanging around from the last round of fads and probably won't get rid of the heavyweight valve caps and heavy mouthpieces from the current one either"Jackson