3+3 Alexander F

[arpthark]

Take a look at this one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ALEXANDER-F-TUBA-6- ... 612wt_1167" target="_blank

... Somebody wanna explain how that works?

[tclements]

Yes, I have one. Left hand - valve 1-2-5; right hand - valve 3-6-4. Rather like playing a sax.

[arpthark]

Was there a reason for such an unusual setup, or was Gebr. Alexander just trying to confuse unsuspecting tubists?

[Wyvern]

Was there a reason for such an unusual setup, or was Gebr. Alexander just trying to confuse unsuspecting tubists?

Its a Viennese style F tuba. A different set up as used in Austria and by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra until recently which is closer to that of the original F tubas invented in 1835

[arpthark]

Interesting. I wonder if Moritz and Wieprecht tried to make the fingering patterns similar to that of the ophicleide, since that was (more or less) what the tuba was designed to supplant.

[tclements]

The Anton Dehmal that I have (the one about which Jake speaks in "Song & Wind") is set up the same way. If you remember that horn players were the first to play the tuba, the valve set up makes sense.

Happy Tuba Day!