5-valve-inline Alexander 163 CC converted to conventional thumb 5th valve

[arpthark]

Headed to Shires (well, a Shires person) after the 4th to get everything sorted out.

By any chance would that be a fella named Paul?

Yup!

[MiBrassFS]

Then it’ll be in good hands!

[bloke]

...so which do you find to be the most Alexander-like:

the Alexander, or the Yamaha 641?

[arpthark]

This is currently getting worked on to convert it to a normal 5 valves right hand tuba, but I thought I'd share some pics of the original case for you case fans.

[bloke]

case porn !!!!

[York-aholic]

That case is in amazingly good shape by the looks of it.

[arpthark]

Just an update for those folks interested -- it's been in the shop since July but I should have it back before the end of the year. I am meeting my repairman for a weekend-long session of getting everything straightened out on it. Stay tuned!*


*by using 1+3 for G

[bloke]

Now that I'm over on the dark side - and even after four decades, C almost seems foreign to me now, I actually might be interested in looking at a B flat Alex if someone had one way too cheap, way too nice, and not too far away.

bloke "a bottom feeder, who needs no more instruments"

[pjv]

Charles Coffinger
Co-finger
That's it: Charles had six fingers!!!

[donn]

Charles Coffinger
Co-finger
That's it: Charles had six fingers!!!

I don't get it ... CO for Cut Off? Hope most of the 6 are on the right hand.

[pjv]

Sorry
Humor’s not my forte.
Co- as in “joint” or “alongside”
An extra finger.
Oh well.

[MiBrassFS]

Just an update for those folks interested -- it's been in the shop since July but I should have it back before the end of the year. I am meeting my repairman for a weekend-long session of getting everything straightened out on it. Stay tuned!*


*by using 1+3 for G

Looking forward to seeing the results. I’m sure it will be great!

[arpthark]

Spent a whole day with my repairman, working on different solutions, headaches, snapped linkage rods, but we finally got it. Also ultimately trimmed the MTS a bit and the 1st valve a bit more.

We were going to use the existing fifth valve paddle (the weird one), but it proved to be too much of a pain. Instead fitted it with a nice olivewood lever.

There is a reason for the double little curve in the linkage, mostly to do with using what we had on hand and had already bent without rethreading something, but I like it.

Long term project with this tuba would be to get the clockspring swapped out with a modern genuine Alex set with miniballs. For now, I'm over the moon with it.

[Heavy_Metal]

Alexander über alles!

[bloke]

That's great. Whether or not you redo anything in the future, it's important to get it up and running for now.

[MiBrassFS]

Awesome! A big congrats and have fun!

[gocsick]

Out of curiosity... Did you consider a left hand paddle instead of a thumb lever?

[arpthark]

Out of curiosity... Did you consider a left hand paddle instead of a thumb lever?

No, because I wanted to be able to manipulate slides with my left hand, but it would've been the easier option!

I'm used to playing 3+1 E-flats and 4+2 F tuba, but for some reason 4+1 CC tuba would feel weird to me. I'd probably get over it eventually, but since everything was getting redone anyway, I figured I might as well pony up extra to get the configuration I wanted.

[arpthark]

After getting over the holiday cooties and traveling, today is woodshed day with the Alex. I'm encouraged so far after a couple hours on the horn, but it is still just a little too long. I need to cut about another inch or so off the main slide for me to be really happy with the overall pitch level. Once that's fixed, a lot more should lock into place a bit easier.

Don't get me wrong, this isn't a holy grail Alex or anything. The intonation is about what you'd expect. But it sounds fantastic and I'm really happy with the customization job on the fifth valve. The clockwork springs are barely used and everything is fast and quiet. This is almost a "NOS" Alexander, dating back to the 1930s or so.

[bloke]

near non sequitur:

If I ever get down to the Riviera des Ploucs - and visit with Monsieur Strykérre,
I'd like to play his Alex BB-flat.