My silver Alexander 163 CC
- bort
- 6 valves
- Posts: 11222
- Joined: Wed Sep 22, 2004 11:08 pm
- Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
My silver Alexander 163 CC
I've had it for about 4 hours. It is amazing!
This is the LAST tuba I will buy for a good, long time.
This is the LAST tuba I will buy for a good, long time.
Last edited by bort on Fri Mar 06, 2020 1:12 am, edited 1 time in total.
- bort
- 6 valves
- Posts: 11222
- Joined: Wed Sep 22, 2004 11:08 pm
- Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Re: New tuba
Accepting guesses through 4:00.
-
- 5 valves
- Posts: 1525
- Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2010 3:12 pm
- Location: USA
Re: New tuba
I know the horn, but I only see 4 rotors - is there a 5th hidden from view?
And, did you make the drive, or have it shipped?
That is stunning, but the way!
And, did you make the drive, or have it shipped?
That is stunning, but the way!
-
- 5 valves
- Posts: 1579
- Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2004 11:01 am
Re: New tuba
That's my kind of tuba! Sure looks like an Alexander to me, though overhauled/customized slightly.
The Darling Of The Thirty-Cents-Sharp Low D♭'s.
- anotherjtm2
- 3 valves
- Posts: 271
- Joined: Sun Mar 17, 2019 1:18 pm
- Location: Austin, Texas
Re: New tuba
First valve slide trigger instead of a 5th valve?
I like the way the uphill lead pipe provides incentive to put lots of air through the horn.
I like the way the uphill lead pipe provides incentive to put lots of air through the horn.
John Morris
- 1960s CC Scherzer/Sander
- 1960s CC Scherzer/Sander
- bisontuba
- 6 valves
- Posts: 4319
- Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2004 8:55 am
- Location: Bottom of Lake Erie
Re: New tuba
Alex CC with the bent Mirafone lead pipe probably done by Bob Pallansch....
- bort
- 6 valves
- Posts: 11222
- Joined: Wed Sep 22, 2004 11:08 pm
- Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Re: New tuba
Most of the above is correct...
This is an Alexander 163 CC, with 4 valves, fresh from Lee Stofer. He shipped it yesterday afternoon by Greyhound... it was in my home before 10:30am today.
Lee believes that it was silver plated at Anderson's at some point, because of the quality of the plating and because it is plated inside and out. He also wondered if these are Hirsbrunner valves, they don't seem like the standard Alex valves to him. On the paddle bar, the word "TRYPLEN" is stamped into the metal. This has tuba has metal valves, but obviously, tryplen would equate to Hirsbrunner.
The leadpipe is obviously not original. Lee vouched for the work and said that it was done very well, and that the tuba played great with this leadpipe. I was offered the option of a new Alexander leadpipe to be fitted and bent to match the tuba... but it seemed like there was little reason to change it. I've seen a similar leadpipe on Dave Kirk's Alexander 163. I've also been told that Don Harry and some of his students from long ago had this done to their tubas. I think Mark is correct about this being Bob's work...
The tuba plays amazingly well. Response is extremely quick. Intonation is solid, and few if any notes need alternate fingerings. Eb in the staff needs to be 23 (same as most CC tubas). Low F is either 1-4 and a big pull on the first slide, or 1-2-4 and no slide pulling. I'll figure out the rest of the low register stuff over time, nothing unreasonable though. The sound... well, you know.
My usual mouthpiece from the last few years (Thein RCC) works just okay. But my old Rudy Meinl RM1 absolutely nails it on this tuba in every way.
This is an Alexander 163 CC, with 4 valves, fresh from Lee Stofer. He shipped it yesterday afternoon by Greyhound... it was in my home before 10:30am today.
Lee believes that it was silver plated at Anderson's at some point, because of the quality of the plating and because it is plated inside and out. He also wondered if these are Hirsbrunner valves, they don't seem like the standard Alex valves to him. On the paddle bar, the word "TRYPLEN" is stamped into the metal. This has tuba has metal valves, but obviously, tryplen would equate to Hirsbrunner.
The leadpipe is obviously not original. Lee vouched for the work and said that it was done very well, and that the tuba played great with this leadpipe. I was offered the option of a new Alexander leadpipe to be fitted and bent to match the tuba... but it seemed like there was little reason to change it. I've seen a similar leadpipe on Dave Kirk's Alexander 163. I've also been told that Don Harry and some of his students from long ago had this done to their tubas. I think Mark is correct about this being Bob's work...
The tuba plays amazingly well. Response is extremely quick. Intonation is solid, and few if any notes need alternate fingerings. Eb in the staff needs to be 23 (same as most CC tubas). Low F is either 1-4 and a big pull on the first slide, or 1-2-4 and no slide pulling. I'll figure out the rest of the low register stuff over time, nothing unreasonable though. The sound... well, you know.
My usual mouthpiece from the last few years (Thein RCC) works just okay. But my old Rudy Meinl RM1 absolutely nails it on this tuba in every way.
-
- 4 valves
- Posts: 534
- Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 4:33 pm
- Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Re: New tuba
The joy of a new horn! It is beautiful. Have fun with it!
1930 King "Symphony" Recording Bass BBb
1916 Holton "Mammoth" Upright Bass BBb
1994 King 2341 Upright Bass BBb
Wedge H2 Solo mouthpieces
Stofer-Geib mouthpieces
1916 Holton "Mammoth" Upright Bass BBb
1994 King 2341 Upright Bass BBb
Wedge H2 Solo mouthpieces
Stofer-Geib mouthpieces
- cjk
- 5 valves
- Posts: 1915
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 12:16 pm
Re: New tuba
I hope you enjoy your new tuba. Is this number 278? I do find the leadpipe length and shape amusing.
I believe that meinlschmidt made the rotors for both HB and Alexander.
I found the quote below in the following thread:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=61817" target="_blank
I believe that meinlschmidt made the rotors for both HB and Alexander.
I found the quote below in the following thread:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=61817" target="_blank
bisontuba wrote:Hi-
Just a FYI...some Alexander's of that period also had those same tryplen rotors...they were usually identified by having TRYPLEN stamped on the rotor bridge/bar....
Mark
- bort
- 6 valves
- Posts: 11222
- Joined: Wed Sep 22, 2004 11:08 pm
- Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Re: New tuba
Ooh... Well, maybe they are tryplen, then. Some day, I'll take it apart to figure it out. For now, justbhaving fun, and also being amused by the loopy leadpipe!
-
- 6 valves
- Posts: 4230
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2015 9:44 am
- Location: With my fellow Thought Criminals
Re: New tuba
The spit comes back at me lead pipe arrangement is not my bag, baby!!
But I can’t argue with success...
3,2,1...
But I can’t argue with success...
3,2,1...
I am committed to the advancement of civil rights, minus the Marxist intimidation and thuggery of BLM.
- cjk
- 5 valves
- Posts: 1915
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 12:16 pm
Re: New tuba
Pull the second valve slide out and shine a flashlight down there. Alternatively, you could pull the main tuning slide and shine a light at the 4th rotor. You should be able to tell if it's solid brass. The rotors themselves could have been replaced, but the bar not.bort wrote:Ooh... Well, maybe they are tryplen, then. Some day, I'll take it apart to figure it out. For now, justbhaving fun, and also being amused by the loopy leadpipe!
-
- 5 valves
- Posts: 1713
- Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2012 10:42 pm
- Location: Baltimore, MD, USA
Re: New tuba
Another Awesome Alexander- congratulations!
Principal tuba, Bel Air Community Band
Old (early 1900s?) Alexander BBb proto-163
1976 Sonora (B&S 101) 4-rotor BBb
1964 Conn 20J/21J BBb (one body, both bells)
1970s Marzan Slant-rotor BBb
~1904 York 3P BBb Helicon
Old Alex Comp.F, in shop
Old (early 1900s?) Alexander BBb proto-163
1976 Sonora (B&S 101) 4-rotor BBb
1964 Conn 20J/21J BBb (one body, both bells)
1970s Marzan Slant-rotor BBb
~1904 York 3P BBb Helicon
Old Alex Comp.F, in shop
- bort
- 6 valves
- Posts: 11222
- Joined: Wed Sep 22, 2004 11:08 pm
- Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Re: My silver Alexander 163 CC
Here is the similar leadpipe style on Dave Kirk's Alexander...
- bisontuba
- 6 valves
- Posts: 4319
- Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2004 8:55 am
- Location: Bottom of Lake Erie
Re: My silver Alexander 163 CC
Those lead pipes made ALL the difference in the world....
- kingrob76
- 3 valves
- Posts: 409
- Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2004 10:45 pm
- Location: Reston, VA
Re: My silver Alexander 163 CC
I predict it'll be on the market by Christmasbort wrote:I've had it for about 4 hours. It is amazing!
This is the LAST tuba I will buy for a good, long time.
Rob. Just Rob.
- bort
- 6 valves
- Posts: 11222
- Joined: Wed Sep 22, 2004 11:08 pm
- Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Re: My silver Alexander 163 CC
Intonation is awesome! No problems at all. I have to use 23 for Eb in the staff (not unusual) and then the low register is a little different because of 4-valve fingerings. Otherwise... Dare I say it... Intonation is better than anything piston valve than I have owned.cktuba wrote:How is the intonation? It's always been a theory of mine that the often (but not always) sketchy intonation on the 163 and the MW 2155R was due to the ginormous leadpipe. And that replacing the leadpipe with one with a more reasonable taper might improve intonation.
The thing that surprises me the most is how flexible the tone is. Playing soft, it's thick and meaty, lots of presence and a big dark sound. Loud, you can have the same, or it can be search and destroy. All from a 16.5" bell. Holy cow, this is a ridiculous tuba. I love it.
- bort
- 6 valves
- Posts: 11222
- Joined: Wed Sep 22, 2004 11:08 pm
- Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Re: My silver Alexander 163 CC
Nah, man, this is it. Put a ring on it, she's moving in, we are here to stay. This is it. When you know, you know! Take that seriously from a serial tuba owner!kingrob76 wrote:I predict it'll be on the market by Christmasbort wrote:I've had it for about 4 hours. It is amazing!
This is the LAST tuba I will buy for a good, long time.
-
- bugler
- Posts: 203
- Joined: Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:59 pm
- Location: Texas Hill Country
Re: My silver Alexander 163 CC
Brett,
I guess we've had this discussion for a couple of years now - it looks like my prediction was correct - Alexander is the one you have been looking for. 4/4 in size, 5/4 in sound, it is a deceptively powerful horn when you need it to be. And although the sound can be very dense, it seems to have just the right color when playing in an ensemble situation.
It's a beautiful horn in silver plate - congrats!
I guess we've had this discussion for a couple of years now - it looks like my prediction was correct - Alexander is the one you have been looking for. 4/4 in size, 5/4 in sound, it is a deceptively powerful horn when you need it to be. And although the sound can be very dense, it seems to have just the right color when playing in an ensemble situation.
It's a beautiful horn in silver plate - congrats!
Alexander 163 CC 5V, MW Thor, Mel Culbertson Neptune, B&S Symphonie F 6V