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Reverb WA: 1930s Alex 163

Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 8:34 am
by hrender

Re: Reverb WA: 1930s Alex 163

Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 8:51 am
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.

Re: Reverb WA: 1930s Alex 163

Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 8:59 am
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:

Re: Reverb WA: 1930s Alex 163

Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 9:17 am
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."

Re: Reverb WA: 1930s Alex 163

Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 9:36 am
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!

Re: Reverb WA: 1930s Alex 163

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


Re: Reverb WA: 1930s Alex 163

Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 2:06 pm
by Schlitzz
Yeah, looks like it could be found in Bellingham, WA. Just glad it's not Enumclaw.......

Re: Reverb WA: 1930s Alex 163

Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 8:26 pm
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"

Re: Reverb WA: 1930s Alex 163

Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 8:34 pm
by Schlitzz
What a closet case…..

Re: Reverb WA: 1930s Alex 163

Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 9:03 pm
by bloke
Schlitzz wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 8:34 pm What a closet case…..
That's golden !


Image

Re: Reverb WA: 1930s Alex 163

Posted: Wed May 22, 2024 10:20 pm
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

Re: Reverb WA: 1930s Alex 163

Posted: Thu May 23, 2024 12:24 pm
by humBell
bort2.0 wrote: Wed May 22, 2024 10:49 am So, basically this:

So... a Fozzy 163?

Re: Reverb WA: 1930s Alex 163

Posted: Thu May 23, 2024 5:08 pm
by bloke
Yeah. Some small differences there for sure

Re: Reverb WA: 1930s Alex 163

Posted: Thu May 23, 2024 5:39 pm
by Stryk
If I didn't already have 3 of 'em, I'd go for it!