Reverb WA: 1930s Alex 163

For posting interesting and remarkable deals found on the internet.
Post Reply
hrender
Posts: 1910
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:18 am
Has thanked: 610 times
Been thanked: 298 times

Reverb WA: 1930s Alex 163

Post by hrender »



User avatar
arpthark
Posts: 3898
Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2020 4:25 pm
Location: Southeastern Connecticut
Has thanked: 950 times
Been thanked: 1067 times
Contact:

Re: Reverb WA: 1930s Alex 163

Post by arpthark »

Looks like the bracket is still there for those of you who don't have six fingers and would like to convert it to a 4+1.
These users thanked the author arpthark for the post:
hrender (Wed May 22, 2024 12:28 pm)
User avatar
Tubajug
Posts: 745
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 10:27 am
Location: Nebraska
Has thanked: 223 times
Been thanked: 202 times

Re: Reverb WA: 1930s Alex 163

Post by Tubajug »

Very interesting setup with that 5th valve. Perhaps it was made for Count Rugen?

Image

I also noticed the bell diameter is listed as 6.5 inches. Maybe this is a rare Alexander travel tuba?? :laugh:
Jordan
King 2341 with Holton Monster Eb Bell
King/Conn Eb Frankentuba
Pan AmeriConn BBb Helicon
Yamaha YBB-103

"No one else is placed exactly as we are in our opportune human orbits."
Kevbach33
Posts: 47
Joined: Sat Mar 18, 2023 5:50 pm
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 10 times

Re: Reverb WA: 1930s Alex 163

Post by Kevbach33 »

I have tested this very tuba. It's interesting, to say the least.

It has an oversized receiver.

Aside from the awkwardness of putting the 5th valve paddle (2+3 5th btw) with the others (and NOT for the thumb) it has some intonation issues that were odd to me. This is likely me not knowing all the idiosyncracies of old Alexander CC tubas, and also me not being a CC player to begin with. (I also don't remember what they were, so don't ask.)

But as I heard first-hand, now I know what people refer to as "the Alex sound."
F Schmidt 2103 BBb, Laskey 30G US
Wessex TE360P Bombino Eb, Perantucci PT-84S
JP274MKII Euphonium, Tucci RT-7C
Various slide things
User avatar
arpthark
Posts: 3898
Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2020 4:25 pm
Location: Southeastern Connecticut
Has thanked: 950 times
Been thanked: 1067 times
Contact:

Re: Reverb WA: 1930s Alex 163

Post by arpthark »

I see an old Alex like this and I immediately know I am going to have to play G in the staff 1-3, and use 1-2, 2-3, 1-3, and maybe even 1-2-3 for E, Eb, D, and Db in the staff. Finger calisthenics aside, I loved mine!
User avatar
bort2.0
Posts: 5253
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:13 am
Location: Minneapolis
Has thanked: 336 times
Been thanked: 999 times

Re: Reverb WA: 1930s Alex 163

Post by bort2.0 »

So, basically this:

These users thanked the author bort2.0 for the post:
York-aholic (Wed May 22, 2024 9:01 pm)
Schlitzz
Posts: 428
Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2020 11:36 am
Has thanked: 55 times
Been thanked: 59 times

Re: Reverb WA: 1930s Alex 163

Post by Schlitzz »

Yeah, looks like it could be found in Bellingham, WA. Just glad it's not Enumclaw.......
Yamaha 641
Hirsbrunner Euph

I hate broccoli.
User avatar
bloke
Mid South Music
Posts: 19272
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:55 am
Location: western Tennessee - near Memphis
Has thanked: 3835 times
Been thanked: 4081 times

Re: Reverb WA: 1930s Alex 163

Post by bloke »

1930's...??

bloke "not so much skeptical, as - if actually 90 years old - it sure looks like it could easily have been made in the 1960's, and spent most of its life in a hard case"
These users thanked the author bloke for the post:
Schlitzz (Wed May 22, 2024 8:34 pm)
Schlitzz
Posts: 428
Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2020 11:36 am
Has thanked: 55 times
Been thanked: 59 times

Re: Reverb WA: 1930s Alex 163

Post by Schlitzz »

What a closet case…..
These users thanked the author Schlitzz for the post:
bloke (Wed May 22, 2024 8:59 pm)
Yamaha 641
Hirsbrunner Euph

I hate broccoli.
User avatar
bloke
Mid South Music
Posts: 19272
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:55 am
Location: western Tennessee - near Memphis
Has thanked: 3835 times
Been thanked: 4081 times

Re: Reverb WA: 1930s Alex 163

Post by bloke »

Schlitzz wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 8:34 pm What a closet case…..
That's golden !


Image
User avatar
sugawi
Posts: 53
Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2021 11:37 pm
Has thanked: 19 times
Been thanked: 13 times

Re: Reverb WA: 1930s Alex 163

Post by sugawi »

bloke wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 8:26 pm 1930's...??

bloke "not so much skeptical, as - if actually 90 years old - it sure looks like it could easily have been made in the 1960's, and spent most of its life in a hard case"
Looks pre-WWII.

Here’s Alex from 50’s:

Image
These users thanked the author sugawi for the post:
bloke (Thu May 23, 2024 5:08 pm)
humBell
Posts: 2048
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 11:25 am
Has thanked: 218 times
Been thanked: 165 times

Re: Reverb WA: 1930s Alex 163

Post by humBell »

bort2.0 wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 10:49 am So, basically this:

So... a Fozzy 163?
"All art is one." -Hal
User avatar
bloke
Mid South Music
Posts: 19272
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:55 am
Location: western Tennessee - near Memphis
Has thanked: 3835 times
Been thanked: 4081 times

Re: Reverb WA: 1930s Alex 163

Post by bloke »

Yeah. Some small differences there for sure
User avatar
Stryk
Posts: 471
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:51 am
Has thanked: 130 times
Been thanked: 89 times

Re: Reverb WA: 1930s Alex 163

Post by Stryk »

If I didn't already have 3 of 'em, I'd go for it!
Terry Stryker
Mirafone 186C, 186BBb, 184C, 186C clone
Gebr. Alexander New 163C, Vintage 163C, Vintage 163BBb
Amati 481C
Lyon & Healy 6/4
Kane Stealth tuba
A plethora of others....
Post Reply