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Are the Alexzander 5 rotary F tubas good? like. Intonation, tone, low register?

I recently played an Alex F tuba which was sold on Tubenet by DP and I must say, it was an outstanding instrument and generously priced. The sound was what you would expect from Alexander but what blew me away was the intonation and response. Totally stunning.

The low C sucked. Everything above it was fine, the notes just below the C were similar to modern rotary F tubas. Pedal tones were awesome.

I have played one other good Alex F and three others that I could not understand why the owners had them.

Moral of the story, try the instrument out first. If it isn't amazing don't buy it.

Yeah, the two at Baltimore brass were the ones i was looking at. Is there any playing difference between the newer one and the older? thanks.

Where is the shop located? I'd really like to visit an actual tuba shop, but here are none around where i live.

andrew the tuba player wrote:Where is the shop located? I'd really like to visit an actual tuba shop, but here are none around where i live.

I've never been there, but my guess would be Baltimore.

Most Alexander F tubas are, in my experience, outstanding, but they are tempermental lovers. They have great high ranges, have a presence and sound which belies their stature, and don't even begin to sound as good as they are capapble until they're in a large hall. My favorite F tubas barr none.

But don't expect to grab one and walk right to a gig. You'll need some time to learn whatever quirks it has pitch wise (some worse than others, some pretty bad), and to play a low register which is almost as unfocused as free-buzzing. But once you get it, people love to hear them - and record them. And you may find yourself in a lifelong love affair!

Like a great love affair, there have to be comprimises, and a lot of love, and some tempermental moments

J.c.S.

Uncle Buck wrote:

andrew the tuba player wrote:Where is the shop located? I'd really like to visit an actual tuba shop, but here are none around where i live.

I've never been there, but my guess would be Baltimore.

Rick had better watch out. There is now someone attempting to take over the role of "Resident Genius." Who would have thought we have more than one person on TubeNet with such mental capabilities?

Let me make my personal bid, here. Would that shop also be in Maryland?

Outskirts of Baltimore, West side- in Catonsville. Home to a bunch of other non-brass-centric music stores.

my teacher at the vienna university of music and performing arts plays his Alexander tuba for more than 25 years now in the Vienna Symphonic orchestra!

Actually it's a F-C double tuba, I've never seen anything similar. But it has a great sound in the lower registers as well as in the high ones, although it is a rather small tuba. Pretty amazing instrument....

I've been playing a 2004 Alex F since....2004. When I bought it from Dillon, Matt added about 3/4 to each side of the 1rst slide. The g (top bass clef) and high d were, as a result, much easier to play.
Aside from being a great solo horn, the 155 has plenty of sound for either quintet or orchestra. The only fault being that the sound tends to blend too much with a bass trombone (unless at fortissimo), and the sound gets cancelled out.
Mine is a gold brass version, with the body and valve cluster similar to the first on listed on the BBC web site.
Beware, if you buy one you may find yourself searching for a nice 163 as well...

I studied with Mr. Schafferer at the University in Vienna (Musikhochschule) and must say that his sound on his Alexander double tuba was/is outsanding! I played one Alex F with 5 rotarys - it was the instrument of the University - and the sound was very-very nice! I only had problems with the intonation, for example I had to play the B flat on the staff with the valves 1 and 4, except with 1. But if you take the time to learn your instruments "language", it's relly worth of it ! Very nice, big, but smooth sound! I liked it. (And please listen to Michael Linds recordings: no more comments needed!! )

Cheers