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Obviously a Texas state quarter, a Czech koruna, a fifty pence piece and a Chinese yuan.

Golden color coin might look nicer with a lacquered horn...beautiful image too...


Sacagawea

I assume US mint coins would take solder OK. 3:1 nickel and copper, on the surface.

Keep it consistent...

Donn.
I didn't particularly like the curved paddles either.
I took them off and straightened them in a vice. They bend rather easily. But then I felt I needed to adjust the angle downward just a tad (by bending the push rods)

But before that (I have the Wessex Cimbasso) I tried 5 Italian coins on them with the image of Victor Emanuel on the head. For the cognoscenti, "Victor Emanuel Re di Italia" of course is abreviated into an anagram for VERDI.(would have been very appropriate) I felt they were a bit too clumsy so they were removed.

I often thought someone could have a neat 'after-market business' supplying upgrade parts for the Chinese imports. There is one particular machinist in my neighborhood who could make that kind of stuff and who actually does do jobbing for major American makers.

But, my vote for coins though would be "TEXAS"

When I wore through the nickel plating on the 410 I had for a few years, I first thought of getting Miraphone ones and called bloke. He said it wasn't going to work, but German marks from around the 70s are cheap on Ebay and have heavy nickel on them that won't wear through in decades. That's what I did. With the eagle side showing, it looks pretty cool. Not creatively themed like some of these suggestions, but nice looking and durable.

Michael Bush wrote:When I wore through the nickel plating on the 410 I had for a few years, I first thought of getting Miraphone ones and called bloke. He said it wasn't going to work, but German marks from around the 70s are cheap on Ebay and have heavy nickel on them that won't wear through in decades. That's what I did. With the eagle side showing, it looks pretty cool. Not creatively themed like some of these suggestions, but nice looking and durable.

My grandfather was stationed in Germany in the 60s - I have a chocolate tin full of all the old German marks from his time there. I'll probably put four on the Alex someday. Thanks for the inspiration.

Back to Mark's question, despite my initial answer I do think the look of four uniform coins would be more appealing - I like the Texas state quarter idea.

Solder or super glue?

How about some gold $2.5 Indian quarters? Depending on the vintage it might cost more than the tuba.

bisontuba wrote:Golden color coin might look nicer with a lacquered horn...beautiful image too...


Sacagawea

I once went to the bank and bought a whole bag of these.

Yep, I got a sack of gawea's.

windshieldbug wrote:Keep it consistent...

That would actually be cool.

58mark wrote:

Michael Bush wrote:

windshieldbug wrote:Keep it consistent...

That would actually be cool.

Except that's from japan.

Details, details...

Four of these (1984 P):

I use Canadian pennies on my horn. They are put in place with hot melt glue. I like them because they have a slightly raised edge on them.

58mark wrote:

balchb wrote:Solder or super glue?

Solder

Definitely solder. Please avoid super glue. Not too long after joining the forum all those years ago, I made the mistake of recommending super glue on paddles in another thread. I was immediately, directly, and properly advised why this is not a good idea, especially due to the cyanide fumes that are released when heat is applied for any subsequent repair without the repair tech knowing what awaits.

I have added coins to many of my tubas and found the half dollar size works best. Although you can get quarters on the cheap they are just too small and dont look right on the larger tuba paddles. On my current alex i added 3 1/2 oz year 2000 silver Australian year of the dragon coins and on the 4th added the 2012 1/2 oz silver year of the dragon coin. The coins were a little smaller in 2000 then the 2012 coins. I like the Australian 1/2 oz silver because each year is done depending on the year of the zodiac, i just like the dragons because they look cool. Here is a video of what they look like, its hard to tell but they do the job in extending the paddles giving a little more grip and response. These will run 30 to 50 dollars each.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=03guqi1Tf1w" target="_blank

On my f tuba i added 1/2 oz silver libertads pre 1996 as they are a hair smaller than those after 1996. These will run about 30 dollars each.

You can really go all out and buy texas half dollar commemorative silver coins but they will run about 200 per coin. These are incredibly artistic but due to their rarity will cost you.

The most economic way is to get some US silver halfs like a franklin, kennedy and walking liberty and add those. These will be in the 10 to 15 dollar range. Personally i like the walkers the best.

I recommend only using silver halves as the clad just doesnt look as good. This is from someone who has done it on about 20 tubas i have owned and if you ever see an alex 163 for sale with silver halves it was probably mine at one point. Take some pics when you get done.

sloan wrote:Four of these (1984 P):

1894P.jpg

These would look cool but at almost an ounce per coin and the size being about 38 mm they are just too big. Now if you could find one that is super slick that might work on the 4th paddle.

mctuba1 wrote:

sloan wrote:Four of these (1984 P):

1894P.jpg

These would look cool but at almost an ounce per coin and the size being about 38 mm they are just too big. Now if you could find one that is super slick that might work on the 4th paddle.

not to mention the cost...

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