Alexander 164 BBb 5V at the Horn Guys

[Mark Horne]

Well, it was a very difficult decision. It was one of the very few horns that I was willing to try to learn to play BBb rather than my usual CC. I've decided that my limited practice time needs to be spent on improving my playing in general, and not trying to learn a new set of fingerings (although I did get to the point where I could play some charts pretty well).

This is the real deal. I love my Alex 163 CC and I sometimes wish I could get a little more - a little more volume, more depth, a little more projection when the situation dictates. This horn does all that. It's bigger than the 163 in all respects - larger bore, height, bows and bell flare. The difference is size that you see in pictures doesn't do justice to the difference you experience when it's in your lap. It's not heavy for its size but its sound is huge. I've never tried to overblow it, but I doubt that I would be able to. Alexander tubas have a characteristic weight and density - the 164 takes it to another level. Stuff in the house vibrates when I play - this despite the fact that I'm not a Bb player.

This is the exact same horn that has been pictured on the Horn Guys website for several years. I used to look at the pictures just to admire the beautiful German engineering and art. I am the second owner - the original owner ordered the horn for a gig that never materialized. As a result it spent much of its time in the included Winter case, or being played at home. The original owner had an ingenious extension made for the 5th valve slide that gives an in-tune tritone. The allows the usual 2-4 combinations such as low E to be played as 5 alone. Low Eb becomes 2-5 and pedal C is 4-5. The extension is easily removed and the 5th slide can be restored to a 2-3 combo in less than a minute. Of course, all your usual 4-valve fingerings work as well, so playing in tune is not a problem.

I've heard from several others that there has been somewhat of a movement among American orchestral tuba players to switch to a big BBb for certain works. This horn transcends the typical "what is the best key for a tuba" argument - it is built as well or better than any CC you will find out there. It is a 6/4 in the Kaiser tradition, and it speaks in its native key of BBb - no apologies required. This is not the kind of horn you get when you want to get a good quality instrument, but never learned CC, it's the kind of horn you get when you have played everything else and decided that you want a distinctive voice that lets everyone know that you've showed up to the gig.

Horn Guys is a sponsor here, and the horn is now at their shop in La Crescenta, CA

[Heavy_Metal]

Here's the link:

http://www.hornguys.com/collections/bbb ... aiser-tuba" target="_blank

(drool)

[bort]

Wow!

[EMC]

Never been so excited and disappointed that I cant afford it so much in my life... this would be my dream horn :'(

[Mark Horne]

This setup if purchased new would be over $15,000 with a wait time of 6 months. Plus there's no wondering if the horn will come out ok as each is hand built to order. If you've not been to the Horn Guys it's worth the trip. I don't know if they ever had this many tubas in stock before...

[Mark Horne]

According to the Horn Guys web site this horn will be at ITEC next month. Anyone looking for a legit powerhouse BBb should plan to check it out.