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If every tuning issue is a low issue, what about a main tuning slide with a spring and a stop rod that you can pull up and let go of - whereby it goes back out to a set position?

A belated congratulations on your Alex 164!

I just saw this post looking up the Alex 164. My first tuba. I bought it used in 1981 for $900.00 from another tubist. I was a tubist in the 1st Marine Division Band and the Marine I bought it from was a tubist in the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band in El Toro, CA. It had a red brass lacquer on it with a standard set of valve paddles and springs instead of the clock spring valve set. The leadpipe receiver was huge. I had a repair tech named Larry Minick in Los Angeles make an adapter for me so I didnt have to put masking tape on my mouthpiece shank. I was studying tuba with Jim Self at the time, so he had me using a Mirafone C4 (Tu-23) mouthpiece with a standard American sized shank. I loved that tuba.

Sadly, it was stolen from me after performing the 1982 Tuba Christmas in Los Angeles, with Jim Self directing and Harvey Phillips as guest conductor and player with the professional ensemble. After our performance, my buddy, a euphonium player and I went to a small bar/café to listen to the Tubadours playing live. I had my tuba in the back seat of my Buddy's Land Yacht and his euph was in the trunk. When we came out of the bar to go back to Camp Pendleton, the right rear window was smashed and my tuba was stolen. Fortunately for my friend, his euphonium was in the trunk, undisturbed. Good thing because it was a government euphonium and that meant big trouble if it was stolen. Jim was sickened and Harvey launched out of his seat and almost exploded, he was so pissed off. I filed a police report with the LAPD, knowing I would likey never see it again, and that Alex didnt have a serial number anywhere on it. I had orders to the Armed Forces School of Music in January of 83 and needed a tuba, fast, so Jim went to the the Mirafone facility in California and picked out a killer Mirafone 188 CC 5V tuba for me and picked one for himself. I was able to get a loan from my credit union to pay for it and it was shipped to me at the School of Music and I received it in February of 83. My instructor had me turn in my issued tuba, a Mienl-Weston 25 BBb and the next day, I had to play my new 188 in my concert band rehearsal (no pressure there).

I have attached a photo of me with my Alex.

I ended up trading the Alex, but it was quite a nice tuba that needed some love that I didn’t have to spare at the time.

My repair guy/mentor/friend was an employee of Larry Minick’s in the ‘80s.

York-aholic wrote: Sat Mar 29, 2025 10:00 pm

Chris Mayer wrote: Sat Mar 29, 2025 10:31 am I have linked two pictures of the Alex 164 Bb for your info. Hope the dropbox links will work.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/r4oe4y36 ... 0c66r&dl=0

enjoy.

Chris

Nice! Is the wrap of that 4th valve tubing, the tuba world’s version of when those trombonists started using the open wrap f attachments?

That is a really nice, open (and pretty darn cool looking) 4th valve wrap!

That 4th/valve wrap has been the Alex standard for at least a century, and the (what became) B&S tubas originally designed by the same guy starting in the late 30’s likewise.

Rick “but it is dangerously exposed” Denney

Rick Denney wrote: Sat Apr 11, 2026 4:33 am

York-aholic wrote: Sat Mar 29, 2025 10:00 pm

Chris Mayer wrote: Sat Mar 29, 2025 10:31 am I have linked two pictures of the Alex 164 Bb for your info. Hope the dropbox links will work.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/r4oe4y36 ... 0c66r&dl=0

enjoy.

Chris

Nice! Is the wrap of that 4th valve tubing, the tuba world’s version of when those trombonists started using the open wrap f attachments?

That is a really nice, open (and pretty darn cool looking) 4th valve wrap!

That 4th/valve wrap has been the Alex standard for at least a century, and the (what became) B&S tubas originally designed by the same guy starting in the late 30’s likewise.

Rick “but it is dangerously exposed” Denney

Also found on certain Cerveny models, which certainly shares a lineage with the B&S craftsmen.

I was sitting next to my Piggy and seeing this same wrap as I read this comment.

I think the pair of Cerveny eefers I have in the garage also share this wrap, and maybe even the 601 Kaiser I used to own. But not the 681/686, which have a Miraphone 186-style tuning slide layout.

USMCTuba wrote: Fri Apr 10, 2026 8:31 pm Sadly, it was stolen from me after performing the 1982 Tuba Christmas in Los Angeles, with Jim Self directing and Harvey Phillips as guest conductor and player with the professional ensemble. After our performance, my buddy, a euphonium player and I went to a small bar/café to listen to the Tubadours playing live. I had my tuba in the back seat of my Buddy's Land Yacht and his euph was in the trunk. When we came out of the bar to go back to Camp Pendleton, the right rear window was smashed and my tuba was stolen. Fortunately for my friend, his euphonium was in the trunk, undisturbed. Good thing because it was a government euphonium and that meant big trouble if it was stolen. Jim was sickened and Harvey launched out of his seat and almost exploded, he was so pissed off. I filed a police report with the LAPD, knowing I would likey never see it again, and that Alex didnt have a serial number anywhere on it. I had orders to the Armed Forces School of Music in January of 83 and needed a tuba, fast, so Jim went to the the Mirafone facility in California and picked out a killer Mirafone 188 CC 5V tuba for me and picked one for himself. I was able to get a loan from my credit union to pay for it and it was shipped to me at the School of Music and I received it in February of 83. My instructor had me turn in my issued tuba, a Mienl-Weston 25 BBb and the next day, I had to play my new 188 in my concert band rehearsal (no pressure there).

Back in the early 1980’s a friend of mine had a lovely Rudy Meinl BBflat. Since gig bags were not a common item in those days, he bought a Sears rectangular sleeping bag with a flannel liner and added another zipper to close the top. One night he found the back window of his Olds wagon smashed. The thief took the sleeping bag and left the tuba. It was February in upstate New York so I could kind of see the logic there.

arpthark wrote: Fri Apr 10, 2026 9:12 pm I ended up trading the Alex, but it was quite a nice tuba that needed some love that I didn’t have to spare at the time.

My repair guy/mentor/friend was an employee of Larry Minick’s in the ‘80s.

I am glad to know your repair tech, mentor, and friend was an employee of Larry Minick's in the 80s. I'm sure he is masterful in his work. Minick's shop was extremely cool to be in and see all the work being done to make great instruments in the 80s. Minick made a few instruments for my mentor and teacher, the late Jim Self. I also had a few friends who played on Minick modified trombones. I got to the point where I could identify a Minick trombone on sight. Fantastic!

Your Alex 164 BBb Kaiser tuba sure brings back memories of mine that I bought used in 1981. I paid $900.00 and it was in great condition and I had to have a dent on the fourth valve slide taken out, and the rest was just cosmetic. Like yours, the receiver was massive and since I was in Southern California at the time, I had Larry Minick make me an brass adapter so I was able to use my American shank mouthpieces with it. I played on a 1970s Conn Helleberg and a Mirafone C-4 (TU-23) mouthpieces.

My Alex was built in the late 60s to mid 70s, I believe. It had a rose gold lacquer and the valve spatulas were updated from the clock springs to the conventional spatulas and springs currently in use. The linkage was the same as yours. It played very well and sucked every ounce of air out of my lungs

Sadly, it was stolen from me in December of 1982 in Los Angeles, CA after participating in Tuba Christmas. My teacher, Jim Self and Harvey Phillips were as pissed off as me, after I was done freaking out, and I thought Harvey was going to spontaneously explode in his fury. What irritates me to this day is not so much that it was stolen from me, well, I am still pissed over that, rather, I never had the chance to play it properly and really make it sound as big as it was as I matured as a tubist. The silver lining (if one can call it that), was that Jim helped get me a great price on a brand new Mirafone 188 CC 5V tuba, which I have had for 43 years now. Still, I would love to have that Alex in my hands.

Cheers!