WTB Alexander 163 C (FOUND!)

[Stryk]

If you have a 163 C that you would like to sell, please let me know. I would prefer an older one, but will consider a newer one.

[Mene]

Theres one on Tubenet if you are interested, its a 163 5 valve CC tuba. The 5th valve was added post production. Comes with a brand new pro-tec gig bag. It costs $5500

Link to pics:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/6gxdayNpc2MekEyz5

Link to the post:
http://forums.chisham.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=98717
.

[Heavy_Metal]

163 or 164?

There's a 163 for sale on TN:

http://forums.chisham.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=98717

Edit: Great minds think alike!

[Stryk]

Who is selling it? I'm no longer a tubenet member, so I can't contact them.

[Stryk]

163 or 164?

Typo - 163

[the elephant]

Oh, that beautiful baby is so beat up! I wish I had the filthy lucre so I could run it through my shop. I miss my 1958 163 CC!!!!!

[bloke]

Who is selling it? I'm no longer a tubenet member, so I can't contact them.

https://www.facebook.com/vdgomez/

I'd guess that the upper bow cap extension indicates a hole or a very thin area where - over the years - someone's hand (pumping that 1st slide constantly) wore down the sheet metal in the upper bow.

[jtm]

Oh, that beautiful baby is so beat up! I wish I had the filthy lucre so I could run it through my shop. I miss my 1958 163 CC!!!!!

Yeah. I wish I had the lucre to run it through your shop, too, just to see what all the fuss is about.

[the elephant]

Oh, that beautiful baby is so beat up! I wish I had the filthy lucre so I could run it through my shop. I miss my 1958 163 CC!!!!!

Yeah. I wish I had the lucre to run it through your shop, too, just to see what all the fuss is about.

HAHAHA!!!

[bort2.0]

Not sure if it's the same horn...

But I remember hearing of someone who bought an old Alex 163, got it home, and put his hand on the top bow just to find that it was super thin, and formed a hole just as Joe said...

Is that better or worse than buying a tuba with an MTS kicker?

[Stryk]

Is that better or worse than buying a tuba with an MTS kicker?

I actually thing the MTS kicker is an easy way of controlling pitch - no other slides have to move. That being said, it puts a BIG question mark in my mind when I see one. Those funky bow braces are there for a reason, and may (or may not) be a good fix for the problem - again, a BIG question. If it were a couple grand cheaper, I would take the chance - I have seen what folks like Dan Schultz, and i'm sure Bloke, can do making patches for problems like that. I have a wonderful Alex 163 already that gives me the sound I have been chasing for my entire life, but it is a BBb, and I am not very fluent in BBb. I have a good vintage 186 C that plays well in tune with a smaller mouthpiece (epiphany there), but does not give me that sound. I am in good shape for instruments, but would like to find a good 163 C for no other reason than I want one.

[bloke]

"I am not very fluent in B-flat..."

COME-ON, MAN !

You played it in junior high, high school, and kolij marchin' ban' for NINE YEARS, yes?

...or no?

[Stryk]

"I am not very fluent in B-flat..."

COME-ON, MAN !

You played it in junior high, high school, and kolij marchin' ban' for NINE YEARS, yes?

...or no?

I played tuba 3 years in high school and sousaphone 2 years in marching band, but I did teach BBb fingerings for 40+ years. Unless the right Alex C just falls into my lap, I will likely just do what I did today - spend time practicing on the BBb. I can do OK with band music, but was doing some Canadian Brass stuff today and sounded like I majored in missing notes! But, I can play it a hell of a lot better than I can play an F tuba!

[bort2.0]

Terry, we will keep our eyes out for you.

Alex 163's seem to come in waves. None for a while, then a bunch all at once. One of us will hear of something and let you know.

[bloke]

I don't do a good job of remember what people own...but I believe I remember that you own a Miraphone 186 C.
If you want a C tuba that plays fairly well in tune - but sounds like an Alex, you might consider buying an Alex bell for the Miraphone tuba (if one of the Alex bells fits a 186 bottom bow ?)...
A newer Alex (as they play almost as well in tune as Miraphones) would be fairly pricey, but (assuming - as I'm not - you're not a collector) you have a Miraphone 186 C and an Alex B-flat that could be sold to finance a later-vintage Alex C tuba.
I also don't remember which Alex model B-flat you own...but you might measure the circumference of the insertion point of the Alex bell...
If the Miraphone and Alex happen to be the same (??), you could swap your own bells, and find a replacement bell for your Alex at your leisure.

[bort2.0]

Terry, how's that 163 working out so far?

[Stryk]

Terry, how's that 163 working out so far?

I'm in love! lol Figured out the intonation, working on some physical issues. Replaced the springs, took out a lot of the dents, ordered some parts for the linkage - things like that.

[Three Valves]

So you are selling that pesky BBb now??