Check out my Alexander Vienna system F tuba

[MaryAnn]

Eh, I'm jealous. Oh well....congrats on a great find.

[pjv]

Just plundered this from Uwe Schneider's FaceBook.
Look familiar? In my eyes this horn matches yours to a T.

[arpthark]

Very close - the wrap of the left hand third valve circuit on my tuba is just a little more tight.

Still wish I could find some decorative thumb screws though.

[pjv]

Keep in mind this is an artists interpretation
and
probably another vintage than your horn
and
these are hand made horns.
Still, it looks like the lengths of the tubing match which might very well mean that this tuning was standard'ish for a time.
A lot of speculation here.

[arpthark]

Yes, I wasn't discounting you at all. Very obviously an Alex Vienna F.

[arpthark]

I just played this horn last night on the first tuba part of John Stevens' "Moondance" in its first public performance with three other members of the University of Louisville tuba studio.

I screwed up 2 bars of counting in the 7/8 and we had a couple intonation problems, but it was a solid performance. We were all a little tentative about playing in a hall we hadn't gotten to rehearse in. I can upload the audio shortly.

[Lars Trawen]

Hello,
There is one for sale in Germany in Tubaforum for 5500 Euro right now.
http://tubaforum.de/?page_id=384" target="_blank
Good luck,
Lars

[Alex C]

Mr. Jacobs told me these horns were made for String Bass players who doubled on tuba. They would be used to using the left hand in fingering the strings on their bass so the manufacturer put 1-2-3 is in the left hand. Converting to 1-2-3 in the right hand is not difficult, making it a 4+2 requires a fine tech with experience.

[arpthark]

Mr. Jacobs told me these horns were made for String Bass players who doubled on tuba. They would be used to using the left hand in fingering the strings on their bass so the manufacturer put 1-2-3 is in the left hand. Converting to 1-2-3 in the right hand is not difficult, making it a 4+2 requires a fine tech with experience.

I understand Alexander did some different variations of the 3+3 system. My horn is left hand 1 2 5 instead of the nominally more conventional 1 2 3, for instance. I've been in contact with some people who would be able to make it a 4+2 but that would be a lengthy and expensive project.

[imperialbari]

With all due respect to Mr. Jacobs: the reason the 1-2-3 valves are in the left hand is all about bore size.

The said valves are used in the mid and upper ranges and they work best being of a smaller bore. That is the reason that they are placed early in the main bugle.

I am aware that some makes of 4+1RV tubas have the 5th valve early in the main bugle, but more modern tendencies place the 5th valve after the main tuning slide.

Klaus

[Alex C]

With all due respect to Mr. Jacobs: the reason the 1-2-3 valves are in the left hand is all about bore size.

The said valves are used in the mid and upper ranges and they work best being of a smaller bore. That is the reason that they are placed early in the main bugle.

I am aware that some makes of 4+1RV tubas have the 5th valve early in the main bugle, but more modern tendencies place the 5th valve after the main tuning slide.

Klaus

Assuming the bore is graduated through the valves your reasoning would be solid. My Vienna-style tuba (a Sherzer) did not exhibit that trait. I haven't read all of the posts in this thread so I don't know if this tuba has a graduated bore or not.

I find that the idea of changing the bore to make the upper range play easier unsubstantiated by history or in your own example of 5th valve placement. It certainly is not the reason the valve arrangement is left hand dominant. It might be your opinion but if I have to choose between opinions I choose Jake's opinion.

[imperialbari]

Are all six valves in your 3+3 tuba the same bore?

[arpthark]

Are all six valves in your 3+3 tuba the same bore?

Yes. They are all 18.5mm.