Alexander 163 CC mod thread

[arpthark]

ref: viewtopic.php?t=9389

I'd rather not clutter up the main music chat forum since all the remaining stuff to do with this Alex really belongs under this subheading.

Before:


After:


In short, the 5th valve linkage has been converted to RH thumb, the main slide was trimmed to bring this horn up to around 10c sharp when pushed in as opposed to 10c flat, and the first valve slide has been trimmed as well.

Here's what's on the docket. (This is sort of more for me to keep track of what all's going on):

Short-term projects:

- Find a better gig bag (I do have the original hard case)

- Trim the fifth valve circuit to bring low 2-3-5 F better in tune

- Find a lyre screw (no naked boxes, @MiBrassFS!)

Long-term project:

- Convert the clocksprings and S-links to modern Alex paddles/Minibal linkages

==========

Today, I completed swapping out the rest of the ancient and dry rotted cork bumpers with black "Buna-N" rubber, which made a pretty significant difference. Also went ahead and did some oiling of bearings and rotor surfaces and things like that (which probably hadn't been done in a very long time!) and that helped a bit with the clockspring speed.

[bloke]

Alexander itself is certainly a resource, but also consider that Meinlschmidt can also build you a complete set of linkage if you take absolutely straight on pictures from different flat 90° angles, and edit those pictures with height and width accurate measurements that they will need. That firm impresses the hell out of me.

[MiBrassFS]

My bet would be that Alexander sources the valve assemblies from Meinlschmidt and Meinlschmidt sources the paddles and linkage from Jurgen Voigt and Jurgen Voigt sources the Minibal ball ends from Martin Seibold.

[bloke]

...so to send a complete set of careful measurements to the lowest-level retailer...

[MiBrassFS]

I *think* that most expedient route (notice I didn’t say economical…) would be to contact Jurgen Voigt.

Lyre screw acquisition is a must.

Although… I might have a NOS set of paddles with the bar… in a box… in my stuff… along with a 5th.. and maybe a 6th… lever… maybe…

[bloke]

If you could ever get it silver plated, it would be professional. It's already in C, so you're halfway there.

[Sousaswag]

You could probably put a Miraphone paddle set on there. I’ve thought about doing that with my Willson F when I replace the linkage. Might be easier to source than the Meinlschmidt stuff?

[bloke]

You could probably put a Miraphone paddle set on there. I’ve thought about doing that with my Willson F when I replace the linkage. Might be easier to source than the Meinlschmidt stuff?

Miraphone (it seems to me...??) sets their stuff up to line up with Miraphone geometry, whereas others mentioned (who don't build entire instruments) may be more willing to work with supplied dimensional geometry.

Christian and I are talking on the phone tomorrow (scheduled call)...maybe (??) I should ask him...

[arpthark]

You could probably put a Miraphone paddle set on there. I’ve thought about doing that with my Willson F when I replace the linkage. Might be easier to source than the Meinlschmidt stuff?

Miraphone (it seems to me...??) sets their stuff up to line up with Miraphone geometry, whereas others mentioned (who don't build entire instruments) may be more willing to work with supplied dimensional geometry.

Christian and I are talking on the phone tomorrow (scheduled call)...maybe (??) I should ask him...

Wouldn’t hurt to check if you don’t mind. TIA!

[arpthark]

Next step on this is cutting the 5th valve circuit (which is tuned to a two-step length) so I have a usable 235 low F and a 125 slightly flat (instead of extremely flat) low C# and F#.

I think I see an easy way to do it that won't entail trimming any slides or outer slide tubes. Here is the rear of the instrument where the long 5th circuit is seen snaking behind the 3rd and 4th slide and the main bugle.



There are two ferrules in the tubing. If my math is right, I need to trim about three inches total from the circuit, so an inch and a half or so on each side. There is minimal bracing back here, mostly only tube-on-tube solder connections, so hopefully this won't be too hard.

[arpthark]

Another funky thing about this tuba is the fifth valve tubing. As you can see on the rear pic, the ferrules are plain and the braces are also very plain with rounded feet compared to the normal beveled Alex braces (which I always think of as "bird feet" braces).

With all the really fine custom work that was put in to make this tuba a five-valve inline horn, I am wondering if the entire fifth valve assembly was also custom, maybe with parts sourced from Alexander back in the day.

The water key has also been removed and the hole brazed shut, but I don't miss that because I've always been a MTS slide dumper on rotary horns with a vertical MTS (Piggy, PT-6, etc.).

[bloke]

Also...

When are you going to get rid of that patina and go over the entire instrument with Scotchbrite?

bloke "whoops...I might have just thrown a bit of shade...Oh well. What the hell?"

[MiBrassFS]

If young Master Arpthark sands down this tuba, I may be forced to drive to Connecticut and smack him upside his head…

“Stop instigating, you…”

[bloke]

...I am actually laughing...ie. the symbol is inadequate...
speaking of chuckling, what has happened to the cyclist and the engineer...??

[arpthark]

We think of these instruments as being beautiful, well-engineered, sounding "majestic" and fussing over a lot of things with them, but last night I played the silly tuba solo to If I Only Had a Brain in that Wizard of Oz medley on this instrument, which is probably more fitting. I also botched a page turn and missed the entrance when the tune comes back, so I really didn't have a brain. At least it was just rehearsal.

No Scotchbrite, but I am planning on soldering a few lumps of brass on it here and there -- you know, to tame the nodes and antinodes.

I was also going to see about getting that pesky silver bell rim thing removed, because I've heard silver makes your sound brighter.

Oh, another update edit: I have a screw in the lyre box now.

[bloke]

speaking of which...

If anyone has one of those huge-knurled-head old-school Miraphone lyre screws in their junk drawer, a customer's tuba is missing one.
I didn't include "replacing it" in the job, but it would be a nice touch...

I'm thinking $5 (first class or that "USPS Ground" thing...NOT "priority") for your postage cost (in a small recycled bubble-wrap-lined bag that you didn't throw away) plus $5 for the good-condition/not-boogered-up screw (??)

You could send me a picture FIRST, to make certain that we're taking about the same screw...

[arpthark]

After tonight’s orchestra concert, I will finally be brave enough to dismantle the fifth valve tubing and trim it a bit.

“Flat major third” tuning slide length provides no useful alternates unless your tuba features a stinky-sharp 2-3 combination, and this Alex (somehow) does not. 235 F and 125 C#/F# are much too flat. 45 low E is too flat. 245 low Eb is about right, so I guess that’s this tuba’s “money note.”

Side note, it’s so much fun to play this horn in an orchestra. I love the blend I get with the trombones. There is a timbre match there that’s really satisfying. At the same time, I can favor it a bit and back off 10% and also blend with the basses, although I think the (large 4/4) Alex sound has a tendency to stick out of the texture a bit. Or maybe I’m just a little trigger happy…!