FS: 1959 Alexander 163 CC 4 rotary valve tuba

[ori_ohiyo]

I posted earlier, but it was removed. There was a great reply from a previous owner here @the elephant which had the exact history of this tuba. I purchased it for 5,000 USD, looking for around 7,000, given the difference in value from when I bought it around 2009/2010 (from memory) to today. I am willing to negotiate given proximity, shipping, etc. I currently have the tuba in Houston, Tx, and can deliver it up to 4 hours in any one direction.

Off the top of my head, from what he said (and please correct me if I'm wrong, the first reply, including the story at the end, was beautiful! I believe it originally had the name Lucille?), it is full brass; it has had custom work that he put into it from slides and rods to a repair on the bell. One of the major differences is that it doesn't have the original Alex mouthpiece insert (which I do not have). Other than that, I really don't know much about tubas other than I really enjoyed playing this from high school through university. It still plays great, with no mechanical issues, some minor wear and tear, and it could use polishing.

Photos here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/z3dw5WziHe361g9v9

You can ping me directly with any questions, request for more pictures or videos, or offers on WhatsApp at +19723584505, thanks

[Stryk]

I'm curious how you dated it to 1959, since they didn't have serial numbers.

[bort2.0]

I'm curious how you dated it to 1959, since they didn't have serial numbers.

If Wade was the previous owner, then I trust that's correct.

IIRC, he owned the tuba for quite a while. Guessing that the build year is oral history from the owner before him. Who knows, maybe that was the original owner. Or, he learned that from the original owner....

"Purple monkey dishwasher"

[Stryk]

I went through the dating thing with my first Alex. I was bought by my friend "very used" in 1969, he was told it was from 1917, Alexander said it was from the 1970s. Who knows unless you find the original owner - which Wade may have. I was just curious.

[the elephant]

My mistake. It was (probably) made in 1958, not '59. It has been a LONG time since I have dug this letter out and read it. Please forgive my error!

[bort2.0]

That's a neat letter -- thanks Wade!

[Stryk]

HOW COOL!!!!

[Ted Cox]

Wade, is this the Alex I was playing when the bomb went off at the Murrah building? If it is, that tuba was really nice and is under priced at 5K. I felt so comfortable with that horn I was going to play it on the children's concert that morning. The braces and valve caps often tell the age, and my guess is circa 1960 - a little later. 1959 is not out of the realm of possibilities. Serial numbers show up in 1975, but they too are somewhat meaningless. You'll find the number stamped on the top plate of the second valve. Older Alex's have a nicer engraved back valve cap. Top left corner, 1960. Top right corner, 1963. Bottom left corner, 1980. Bottom right corner, 2004.

[ori_ohiyo]

Thanks for all the posted information. Shameless bump and willing to negotiate price, of course. Towards the middle of September, if it isn't sold, I'll likely be passing it off to a consignment music store local to me hoping to move it.

[the elephant]

Yes, @Ted Cox, this is *that* Alex. I posted the two-page letter (above) from Anton Alexander, who stated that it was likely manufactured in 1959 despite having been sold in 1960.

In the seller’s original post I shared the story of the OKC bombing that morning. I may need to tell that one again, though…

[Ted Cox]

We love to romanticize old Alexander's. A 65-year-old Alex is a survivor - for good reason. This particular Alex is very good - and as I said, it's underpriced for what it's capable of doing. If I had more career left and didn't already have a back-up 163, I'd most likely buy it as it made an impression on me 30 years ago. Alexander instruments were written down in a ledger. The model, the material (gold brass or yellow brass) and the price. There were no serial numbers back then and they were making quite a few 163's. A letter from Anton Alexander is as good as it gets determining the age - but it was an educated guess. Nonetheless, it doesn't matter. Great string instruments are all about the sound they produce. Strings and woodwinds could care less if you're playing a giant piston shiny silver tuba - does your sound compliment their sound? That's what an Alex can do - and in my opinion, better than most anything else.

[Mary Ann]

In my dotage I am having fun acquiring fine instruments and this one is intriguing, but it feels silly to even think about it because I cannot possibly get out of it what a pro could, and it seems a pro should have it. I wish some of you had the financial advantage I have of being a retired engineer instead of being an active musician.

[ori_ohiyo]

Sorry for the bump. I have to state this because I cannot even reply to PMs as I still have a lurker flag.... If anyone would like to discuss the tuba for sale, you can reach me via:

whatsapp: +19723584505
email: adam_hanzel@utexas.edu

[ori_ohiyo]

Bump. on the 21st of october I'll be taking it to a consignment shop as I'm leaving the country.