Please check out my eBay listing. Priced to sell.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0336880903
Alexander 163CC, five valves
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This is for posting links to off site deals that you are not personally selling,but wanting to pass along good deals
This is for posting links to off site deals that you are not personally selling,but wanting to pass along good deals
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SinNawlins
- bugler
- Posts: 41
- Joined: Wed Oct 03, 2007 11:03 pm
Re: Alexander 163CC, five valves
here are some really dumb questions by a neophyte:
- how big is this horn, as in weight, tubing dia, bell dia and overall height?
- on shipping, have you decided the only way to ship is fully insured via UPS versus other shipping options? We see some people ship via Greyhound but the issue there seems to be insurance...
- here is another neophyte Tuba question on CC versus BBb: for an older trombone guy playing in a community band who wants to move down (I use the word 'down' loosely, really it might be an upward move) to tuba and does not know what valves to push for what, would it really make any difference if he has to learn CC Ttuba or BBb tuba fingering? It's all new, so is the tuba learning curve really any different for CC versus BBb for a guy used to one big slide all his life?
I told you these were really dumb questions...
- how big is this horn, as in weight, tubing dia, bell dia and overall height?
- on shipping, have you decided the only way to ship is fully insured via UPS versus other shipping options? We see some people ship via Greyhound but the issue there seems to be insurance...
- here is another neophyte Tuba question on CC versus BBb: for an older trombone guy playing in a community band who wants to move down (I use the word 'down' loosely, really it might be an upward move) to tuba and does not know what valves to push for what, would it really make any difference if he has to learn CC Ttuba or BBb tuba fingering? It's all new, so is the tuba learning curve really any different for CC versus BBb for a guy used to one big slide all his life?
I told you these were really dumb questions...
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jon112780
- 4 valves
- Posts: 541
- Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2004 10:52 am
- Location: on my soapbox...
Re: Alexander 163CC, five valves
I played this horn a couple months ago, and:
-It has the the best intonation of any Alex I've ever played; which means it had average intonation of a German style 4/4 rotary CC.
-The valves were a bit slow, but I'm sure cleaning/oiling would improve them.
-The 5th slide is a sharp 23, would have to get it cut down to a flat whole step.
-The low register gets stuffy, but I was using a Conn Helleberg mouthpiece, so using a deeper cup should bring out the low register
-It has that GREAT Alex sound.
-It has the the best intonation of any Alex I've ever played; which means it had average intonation of a German style 4/4 rotary CC.
-The valves were a bit slow, but I'm sure cleaning/oiling would improve them.
-The 5th slide is a sharp 23, would have to get it cut down to a flat whole step.
-The low register gets stuffy, but I was using a Conn Helleberg mouthpiece, so using a deeper cup should bring out the low register
-It has that GREAT Alex sound.
Energizer Bunny arrested, charged with battery.
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xoidufn
- lurker
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Fri Aug 22, 2008 2:10 pm
Re: Alexander 163CC, five valves
Hi, everyone. I'm having so much fun with this that I just can't help listing it again, lol.
That said, I really appreciate the comments from the guys who have played this tuba. Both have good creds and are good players. Guys, thanks. The checks are in the mail! Kidding.
However, to clarify: the fifth valve is indeed already a flat whole step, not a sharp 23. I just checked it with the tuner to make sure I wasn't confused myself, since I mostly play my Yamaha CC these days. It's probably been 3 or 4 months since Jon played the Alex, and he may have misremembered. He has been looking at CC tubas off and on, I believe, and it's possible he's played an old Miraphone 185, and those did indeed come with a two-whole-step (or 2-3 combo) fifth valve. At any rate, there's no need to cut it to get it to a flat whole step.
The valves should be relatively clean. I generally clean my horns once a year with a snake, and I "hose" them a couple of times a year as well. However, I do prefer a slightly thicker oil than the usual valve oils on all my tubas, which can lead to my valves feeling a little heavier than what you may be used to. Up to you as to what you prefer, of course. That said, I had no trouble cutting the Malcolm Arnold quintet on this tuba the last time we played through it.
If anyone out there has a 4-valve noncomp. euph that he or she would like to toss in as part of the eBay payment (for up to 500 bucks toward the tuba), provided it's playable and doesn't need major repairs, I'd consider that in partial payment.
Thanks for looking!
That said, I really appreciate the comments from the guys who have played this tuba. Both have good creds and are good players. Guys, thanks. The checks are in the mail! Kidding.
However, to clarify: the fifth valve is indeed already a flat whole step, not a sharp 23. I just checked it with the tuner to make sure I wasn't confused myself, since I mostly play my Yamaha CC these days. It's probably been 3 or 4 months since Jon played the Alex, and he may have misremembered. He has been looking at CC tubas off and on, I believe, and it's possible he's played an old Miraphone 185, and those did indeed come with a two-whole-step (or 2-3 combo) fifth valve. At any rate, there's no need to cut it to get it to a flat whole step.
The valves should be relatively clean. I generally clean my horns once a year with a snake, and I "hose" them a couple of times a year as well. However, I do prefer a slightly thicker oil than the usual valve oils on all my tubas, which can lead to my valves feeling a little heavier than what you may be used to. Up to you as to what you prefer, of course. That said, I had no trouble cutting the Malcolm Arnold quintet on this tuba the last time we played through it.
If anyone out there has a 4-valve noncomp. euph that he or she would like to toss in as part of the eBay payment (for up to 500 bucks toward the tuba), provided it's playable and doesn't need major repairs, I'd consider that in partial payment.
Thanks for looking!
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jtuba
- pro musician
- Posts: 713
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 8:35 am
- Location: Norfolk, VA
Re: Alexander 163CC, five valves
I'm voting very flat whole step
Adjunct Tuba Professor, Christopher Newport University
Eastman Artist
Eastman Artist
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xoidufn
- lurker
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Fri Aug 22, 2008 2:10 pm
Re: Alexander 163CC, five valves
Looks can be deceiving, lol! Let's see, a flat whole step down from a CC would take about 26 inches or so of pipe, I believe. A sharp 2-3 combo, or major third down, would need about 42 inches or so. Trust me, there is not 42 inches of pipe (over a yard!) in that crook. Plus, again, my trusty electronic tuner does not lie (though I sure wish it would sometimes): if you play an open C and the press the fifth valve, you are going down to a flat B-flat, nowhere even close to a sharp A-flat. If you play an open G, anywhere on the horn, you will get a slightly flat F with the fifth valve.
Rest assured, folks, it's a flat whole step. I suspect you'd need some Thorazine and a few beers to get relaxed enough to bend it down to a sharp 2-3 combo. It's possible someone cut this down before I owned it, although if so, it was a really clean and careful job and I've never noticed it.
Of course, I know some of us guys have an issue with thinking things are longer than they actually are, lol. Kidding. Appreciate the chatter about the horn.
Best,
X
Rest assured, folks, it's a flat whole step. I suspect you'd need some Thorazine and a few beers to get relaxed enough to bend it down to a sharp 2-3 combo. It's possible someone cut this down before I owned it, although if so, it was a really clean and careful job and I've never noticed it.
Of course, I know some of us guys have an issue with thinking things are longer than they actually are, lol. Kidding. Appreciate the chatter about the horn.
Best,
X