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Before reading any further, please save me the public teasing or joking, because 1) I do absolutely love this instrument and 2) I could easily keep it forever. However, my playing needs and perhaps even my style are changing a bit, and I'm not convinced that it's the right decision for me to keep it.

I'm still resolving myself to selling it, so it's still a *maybe*... But knowing whether or not there's any interest would make the decision easier.

Here goes:

Silver plated Alex 163 CC, bought through Lee Stofer in March 2020, and has been used sparingly since then, not sure it's ever left my house.

It is an exceptionally fine tuba. Looks and plays like a million bucks, it's incredible.

* Pristine condition
* Silver plate is 98%+
* 16.5" bell
* one small ding, otherwise it's clean
* Lee was impressed by the fit and finish of this, and he did basically nothing to it but clean, shine, and lubricate it. No air leaks, no bad solder joints... This is what an Alexander tuba can be, when it's done right
* 4 valves, which are quick and quiet..Lee thought they may be Hirsbrunner valves, because they are so nice. (the valve paddle bar says "Tryplen", but the valves are metal)
* Glorious, unmistakable Alexander sound, with immediate response and great intonation (not "great for an Alexander" but actually great for anything). You'll need to play 4-valve fingerings down low, but that's not a fault of the tuba, just a function of having 4 valves. The first valve slide has a big comfy pull ring, if that's your thing!
* The leadpipe was done by Bob Pallansch a long time ago, a classic Don Harry mod. This is a Miraphone 190 BBb leadpipe, and it eliminates the bad Alexander CC intonation problems.
* New Superfine top-loading gig bag, which is a *slightly* roomy fit girth-wise but the right height. It's a GREAT! bag.

Price would be $6200

Local pickup in Minneapolis, I'm not really wanting to ship!

Curse you and your polite request to not be razzed about maybe selling this! :-)

When I *look* at it, the roller-coaster style leadpipe makes me nervous. Have you found it to be delicate or in the way at all? I suspect it's not a problem but I'm curious what your experience with it has been.

Looks wild but rock solid. Zero concerns. Lee agreed, he was questioning how sturdy it is, but it's braced and reinforced very well, and works brilliantly. I'll add a few photos when I get a chance this weekend.

So you're going to use that Conn full time?

KingTuba1241X wrote: ↑Sat Jun 19, 2021 12:27 pm So you're going to use that Conn full time?

Unlikely to be a long-term solution.

I can't wait to see what is your long term solution!

LargeTuba wrote: ↑Sat Jun 19, 2021 3:52 pm I can't wait to see what is your long term solution!

Reported for trolling… :-p

LargeTuba wrote: ↑Sat Jun 19, 2021 3:52 pm I can't wait to see what is your long term solution!

Well if nobody buys this, then I think you're looking at it.

I, for one, enjoy following your tuba escapades. Life is short and the ability to own and really experience many different Tubas in depth (beyond mere play testing) in one's lifetime, if one is able to, is a luxury of sorts. There are downsides to selling and reacquisition of course, but there are also many experiential upsides too. Beyond being a repair technician, independently wealthy, or crazy, most of us settle down with one main axe, often wondering what it would be like to own something different. Sounds like being married in a way, then you get the itch again. For me that would be a rotary PT-6 or a 188. Cheers to you for not being married to one horn and choosing to enjoy what many varieties of our chosen instrument are out there. At least with Tubas you can do that!

kingrob76 wrote: ↑Sat Jun 19, 2021 11:23 am

When I *look* at it, the roller-coaster style leadpipe makes me nervous. Have you found it to be delicate or in the way at all?

I just don’t like the spit sliding back at me!!

Three Valves wrote: ↑Sat Jun 19, 2021 8:08 pm

kingrob76 wrote: ↑Sat Jun 19, 2021 11:23 am

When I *look* at it, the roller-coaster style leadpipe makes me nervous. Have you found it to be delicate or in the way at all?

I just don’t like the spit sliding back at me!!

Not sure that has ever happened to me!

^^^^^

Perhaps not but it looks like it would!!

worth every penny. if I didn't just buy one - not near as nice - I would grab it. UGH

So I guess we are allowed to follow this and speculate, kind of like "90 Day Tuba Fiance," but I'm curious as to what direction you are tending...if the 20J started this, but isn't the final solution, are you looking to stay in the 6/4 BAT camp and maybe have a 4th valve?

As far as the Alex is concerned, it is by reputation a wonderful horn, and maybe you will be sorry you sold it, but not many of us have an extra $10-$12K sitting around to have two great tubas. Sande McMorran, our local Knoxville tuba guru and professor emeritus, has played and loved an Alex his entire career, I'm told.

Somebody will be very happy to get the Alex if you let it go...the only problem with those BATs is that you almost need to get a building to play them in...

Good luck, cannot wait for the next "episode."

The Alex in the picture doesn't look particularly BATty. Is it?

It's funny to me that a 20j of all tubas started this. I have a 20j and I still love my Eastman Miraphone 191 clone.

Maybe the bell is facing the wrong way and I can't hear myself.

LargeTuba wrote: ↑Sun Jun 20, 2021 6:59 pm It's funny to me that a 20j of all tubas started this. I have a 20j and I still love my Eastman Miraphone 191 clone.

Maybe the bell is facing the wrong way and I can't hear myself.

Nah, wasn't started by the 20J, kind of a long time coming. The 20J was a bit influential, but not at all the start.

I appreciate and deserve the other comments, haha. I see tuba ownership as an impermanent possession of an object. Doesn't have to be an attachment, doesn't have to be for life. My skills and opinions change over time, and frankly, sometimes I just want to try something new for a while. There are some tubas that maybe I should have kept, but doing so would have prevented me from owning others later. I guess I just do it differently than others, but this is how I've done it so far.

Contrast to everything else in my life.... I'm not so choosy and don't change things often at all.

If I weren’t so far away, I’d be tempted. What I probably really want, though, is the 188 you got rid of earlier.

kingrob76 wrote: ↑Sat Jun 19, 2021 11:23 am Curse you and your polite request to not be razzed about maybe selling this! :-)

When I *look* at it, the roller-coaster style leadpipe makes me nervous. Have you found it to be delicate or in the way at all? I suspect it's not a problem but I'm curious what your experience with it has been.

Have you seen/heard Dave Kirk play his? It'll change your mind.

I wish I had tuba collector money. I'd be on this right away.