Tmea update: Alexander 164 BBb w/removable bell price $6000

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EMC
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Tmea update: Alexander 164 BBb w/removable bell price $6000

Post by EMC »

After much difficult thought And debate with myself I've decided it's time to let it go as a last ditch attempt to help pay for school, This is a beast of a BBb tuba that puts out a really sub wooferesque sound Especially in the lower register. The Fs all line up intonation wise which I've been told is odd, even the F above the staff plays in tune which is the most odd thing to me, otherwise the intonation is really quite good overall, C# in the staff is very flat you'll need to lip it or use 2-3, the pedal low D and low Db take a bit of practice to place right too, aside from those there aren't any notes that strike me as bad notes the horn just takes a bit of time to learn as any Alexander would, but its very worth it as the sound that comes of it is amazing to me, it has a huge broad dark sound that is perfect for Russian works, I've used it on Prokofiev 5, his cello concerto, overture to war and peace, Tchaikovskys' Marche Slave , Coplands fanfare for a common man, the ride of the Valkyries, and Mars to name a few notable pieces. The Alex has a removable bell which is nice and convenient since the horn is pretty tall, it's not as heavy as you might think though since its an Alex, it also has an Alexander made forward facing bell, a modified MTS hard case and a protect gig bag, I'm also throwing in the Warren Deck mouthpiece I've been using on it. All the rotors work smoothly and quickly, I believe the horn is from the 50s, so it retains the large shank and has some dents and scratches here and there but it's perfectly mechanically usable and a good tech could probably touch up any of the dents easily. Any other questions or negotiation offers please pm me.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ey9Ssi ... p=drivesdk" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AgCI4L ... p=drivesdk" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tKcAJW ... p=drivesdk" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_kha33 ... p=drivesdk" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b65EiT ... p=drivesdk" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g8LGXD ... p=drivesdk" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g8LGXD ... p=drivesdk" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1m4Qoya ... p=drivesdk" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_EvTbJ ... p=drivesdk" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank



Asking 6000$ for the whole package Kaiser tuba with both bells both hard case and gig bag as well as houser Warren deck mouthpiece. Willing to negotiate for instance if you don't want the forward bell or the gig bag or whatever it may be. Just pm me thanks. :tuba:
Last edited by EMC on Sat Jan 20, 2018 9:26 pm, edited 4 times in total.
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Re: Alexander 164 BBb w/removable bell

Post by binlove »

Heads up, almost all those picture links require me to ask for permission to view the image.
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Re: Alexander 164 BBb w/removable bell

Post by tofu »

.
Last edited by tofu on Wed Dec 29, 2021 11:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Alexander 164 BBb w/removable bell

Post by bort »

I would LOVE to hear that thing in action!
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Re: Alexander 164 BBb w/removable bell

Post by WakinAZ »

I would love to get my PM answered. :D
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Re: Alexander 164 BBb w/removable bell

Post by EMC »

Pms have been answered
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Re: Alexander 164 BBb w/removable bell

Post by EMC »

The horn is located in El Paso Texas for those wondering.
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Re: Alexander 164 BBb w/removable bell

Post by EMC »

Bump for the Kaiser Beast
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Re: Alexander 164 BBb w/removable bell

Post by EMC »

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1K-Qd41 ... p=drivesdk" target="_blank

https://drive.google.com/file/d/108LKqB ... p=drivesdk" target="_blank


A couple of excerpts I played with winter chops to give you guys in idea of what the horn sounds like, please use some headphones for best idea, I do screw up a few times since I don't play BBb nearly as much as CC or F but don't roast me too hard for it, thanks for taking a look!
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Re: Alexander 164 BBb w/removable bell

Post by bort »

How does this compare to the Fafner (or was it a Fasolt?) that you used to own? Really large tuba, how easy is it to play? Take a lot of air?
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Re: Alexander 164 BBb w/removable bell

Post by EMC »

It does take some big air, more like air control though, I don't think it takes anymore or less than the Fasolt which was very comparable in size Except the Fasolt has a bigger bell and is MUCH heavier The Alex despite its size weighs maybe 22lbs? The Alex has a great high range the Fasolts high range was very thin and hard to play in But the fasolt is a modernish horn and I'd say overall it was probably "easier" to play, not so much of a learning curve wheras the 164 like most Alexanders take a little while to feel out and learn but when you do the resonance and size of sound is crazy.
The Alex excels because it will respond to you and everything you give it whether that's a good thing or not i suppose depends on the player, the fasolt while gave a very meaty dark sound, it was kind of a one speed instrument big and Loud and that was a lot of fun but I was constantly getting the hand and that quickly got old. I like them both but the 164 is definitely the more flexible/versatile Instrument, even if it does take a little more effort in the practice room to master.
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Re: Alexander 164 BBb w/removable bell

Post by EMC »

Hi tubenet, I have a little announcement to make I will be performing at this year's TMEA with the Utep Wind symphony and I will using the Alex for the 3-4 concerts that we are giving, I don't know exactly how much free time I will have in between concerts but for potential buyers I'm more than happy to exchange phone numbers, facebook etc. So that we can meet up and you can have first hand experience playing it yourself as well as hearing it in concert at various venues throughout the convention. Of course should you decide to buy it, this will eliminate the need for me to ship it to you which is always nice, obviously if it sells before the convention I won't have it,Thanks again and be sure to pm me if interested.
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Re: Tmea update: Alexander 164 BBb w/removable bell price $6

Post by tubadoctor »

I think someone is scamming your horn on eBay. Located in California. Listed it for 5000. Same photos as your ad.
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Re: Tmea update: Alexander 164 BBb w/removable bell price $6

Post by Mark Horne »

The auction looks legitimate to me: correct location, no "pasted" text that asks a buyer to make a contact outside of ebay. The $5000 is the opening bid. The scam auctions usually start the bids with some odd dollar amount below $20.
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Re: Tmea update: Alexander 164 BBb w/removable bell price $6

Post by humBell »

Perhaps not a scam, but worth making sure EMC knows it exists, and if it is the same horn legitimately placed up for auction, perhaps it has some baring on the availability of this post? So maybe it is also worth noting it here for those considering this post...

I could have driven through El Paso this past week, but held up my plans due to the fine Texas weather, then decided to take the hypotenuse from Denver to Houston. Besides, i had no large shank mouthpieces on me.
Thanks for playing!
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Re: Tmea update: Alexander 164 BBb w/removable bell price $6

Post by tubadoctor »

I could be wrong... often am...
My spidey sense was tingling because the ebay ad says the horn ships from Los Angeles area, and EMC says here that he is located in El Paso...
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Re: Tmea update: Alexander 164 BBb w/removable bell price $6

Post by bort »

Still got it?
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Re: Tmea update: Alexander 164 BBb w/removable bell price $6

Post by roughrider »

Thank you for posting your playing. It takes courage to do that and I think you did very well. I enjoyed listening to the excerpts as I have never heard an Alexander tuba before!
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1916 Holton "Mammoth" Upright Bass BBb
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