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I’ve played one or two newer Alex C tubas, because I’ve been around Tom McGrady a little bit. Like Terry, they seem to me to have the same tuning characteristics as older ones, but tempered somewhat to the good.
A long time ago, I owned an Alex C.
I’m not an Alex person, but I’m very proud for Terry that he has that wonderful new instrument.
If I won a drawing and got to pick a shiny new Alex tuba, I would probably pick a five valve 163 B-flat. Maybe (??) Terry would as well, except he already has two B-flats.

bloke wrote: ↑Sat Jan 01, 2022 6:30 pm Terry would as well, except he already has two B-flats.

Actually, I had one BBb and one C before I got the new C. The new C is MUCH more in tune that the older one, probably because the older one was basically a factory cut down BBb. The new ones have supposedly been re-engineered from the ground up as a C tuba. When you get to a bore that large (.808) it won't be perfectly in tune. Same tuning characteristics? Probably, but MUCH less and easily correctable without pumping slides. I think the leadpipe has been changed - maybe a bit smaller? I haven't measured, but it doesn't seem to be such an air hog as the mid 70s one. As the Brits would say, I am "over the moon" with my new horn. It's easy, it's in tune, it's light, and it is gorgeous! The pics don't do it justice, especially the contrast between the gold brass bell/leadpipe and the yellow brass body.