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If it's a B&S tuba with am Alex bell, that would explain the leadpipe weirdness.

doublebuzzing wrote:Think of it this way: If it is a B&S made tuba you likely won't have such intonation issues as you would with a typical Alex

+1!

bort wrote:If it's a B&S tuba with am Alex bell, that would explain the leadpipe weirdness.

Knowing nothing of these instruments, I have to wonder why this wouldn't be the obvious explanation, rather than a counterfeit engraving on the kranz which seems like a mighty odd thing to do. Bells get swapped all the time, from what I understand I may be the one of the few who've owned several tubas and haven't ever transplanted a bell from one to the other.

The flanges on the thumb ring and lyre holder on the Alex-engraved bell are B&S-style. More decorative. Most Alex flanges I've seen are mostly plain and rhomboidal. It would be odd to have a transplanted bell without transplanting that hardware as well, yes?

Donn wrote:

bort wrote:If it's a B&S tuba with am Alex bell, that would explain the leadpipe weirdness.

Knowing nothing of these instruments, I have to wonder why this wouldn't be the obvious explanation, rather than a counterfeit engraving on the kranz which seems like a mighty odd thing to do. Bells get swapped all the time, from what I understand I may be the one of the few who've owned several tubas and haven't ever transplanted a bell from one to the other.

Sorry just to kill that last bit of suspense...
The tuba is most likely 100% B&S including the bell. The small side of the bell that goes into the ferrel, on the B&S should be around 38-37.50cm in circumference. For an Alexander 163 BBb the circumference is 42-42.50cm. Although one could theoreticall shrink down the small end or expand the bell tenon, this is not a job for the faint of heart and it would leave telltale signs. However if you take a quick look at the picture on Ebay of the inside of the bell, you will see a continuous single seam which is SOP for most B&S BBb bells in the 1970s. On the Alexander 163s built up until the 1980s, there was a large triangle piece set in the flair.

The leadpipe has probably just been very poorly modified or repaired.

Have a good day everyone,
Cheers from Berlin
TheBerlinerTuba