ALEXANDER 151 MH tenor tuba

[Gaston]

Hello,

I posted in a thread about the ALEXANDER 151 tenor tuba, but ultimately the simplest and most logical thing to do is probably to start a new thread.

So:
I would like to see photos of the C-tuned version of this instrument. It's the 151MH model.
It hasn't been manufactured for a long time (perhaps even several decades), but it did exist.

Perhaps one of you owns one, or owned one in the past?
Any photos and technical specifications would be greatly appreciated !

Thank you in advance.

[Mary Ann]

Probably no one has one. I have the Bb version of the 151, but that's not what you asked for pictures of.

[Gaston]

OK, thank you.
Let's wait for any other possible responses...

[hubert]

https://www.eppstore-instruments.de/ins ... inz-151-g/

Here is one for sale. THese instruments are only manufactured on order!!
Best,
Hubert

[arpthark]

https://www.eppstore-instruments.de/ins ... inz-151-g/

Here is one for sale. THese instruments are only manufactured on order!!
Best,
Hubert

That’s the Bb version (unless my German is rusty). OP is looking for the version pitched in C.

[Gaston]

Hello,

Yes, the one in the link provided is in Bb, not C.
The latter seems very rare...

And I don't know what the "G" after 151 means, but the C version was called "MH".

Thanks anyway for yours posts !

[hubert]

As far as I know the tenor tuba 151 is only offered in B flat. But, who knows, perhaps on special order it can be made in C....???
The G is for Goldbrass.
MH for low brass seems strange to me; I only have met this indication for special (lightweight) leadpipes and tuning slides with trumpets, e.g. from B&S, called after the trumpet player Martin Hutter. I am afraid only contact with Gebr. Alexander company can solve this riddle...

Have searched some more. Result: a few decades ago the Alexander tenor tuba also was made pitched in C, and with the indication MH. Could not find a meaning for MH, sorry. Anyway, it is out of production.
Hubert

[Thomas]

Here's an equivalent from Miraphone for sale in C. The body is slightly smaller. I personally own a similar early 56A nickel plated and in Bb.

https://the-brass-shop.com/miraphone-c- ... one-e1999/

Gebr. Alexander have the 5V Bb version in (I think in goldbrass) in their showroom ready for testing as of last year. I could play it there last spring. A really really fine instrument. A very open and large sound especially in the lower register compared to an euphonium. Easy blowing all throughout the range. I'd consider it following their BBb-Tuba (not F-Tuba) concept for the tenor range. A Tenor-164. I did not recognize anything special or tricky regarding intonation.

The Miraphone plays only slightly different as it's not quite as large (my 70ies version even has a small receiver and a 290mm bell) yet sharing the general bow size and bore (incl. 16,2mm bore for the 4th valve) with the current version. They share the very open low range using an euphonium sized mouthpiece.

If you keep searching for the Alexander 151 C (MH) Version, good luck. I'd contact Alexander directly. They're very accessible.

[Mary Ann]

Interesting what you say about the low range, because my 151 has a low range that is like a rotary F tuba on steroids. Once you figure out how to play it (not like a euphonium) it does have quite a sound. I have the four valve version, which has never bothered me with tubas.

[Thomas]

Interesting what you say about the low range, because my 151 has a low range that is like a rotary F tuba on steroids. Once you figure out how to play it (not like a euphonium) it does have quite a sound. I have the four valve version, which has never bothered me with tubas.

Thanks! I think your words describe the low range better than mine. Definitely far more open and totally different from a (compensating) euphonium. Different from those and also some F Tubas the 4th valve combinations can really be pushed without any stuffiness to overcome. I found the high range of the 151 easier to access and more open than with my Miraphone. On the other hand I found a bit of "french horn" characteristics in the high range sound of the Miraphone which I like.

They're NOT euphoniums.

[Mary Ann]

I meant the opposite of open -- won't even play until you figure it out.

[donn]

Yeah, "on steroids" usually indicates robust strength, but the reality of steroid abuse isn't always desired outcomes. The story of the F tuba.

There's always the Bass Saxhorn, though cost might be an issue.

[Thomas]

I meant the opposite of open -- won't even play until you figure it out.

Then we missunderstood. Given me as a player with my mouthpiece (Warburton Demondrae - need the small shank version for the Miraphone), both the Alex and the Miraphone share the open, definitely not stuffy low range. Intonation with my 4 valve horn is fine using 1-4 for low E, 1-2-4 for low Eb, so most euphonium parts can be done. Of course low H is not really there and usable, but this is just for the record.

[Mary Ann]

My guess would be that you also have no problem with rotary F tubas. I never was able to make one "go" satisfactorily in the low range. Still have "some" problem in the low range with the NStar, but nowhere near what I have run into with rotary F tubas. I think it's something you figure out at one point, forget how you did it, and then it's there. i also suspect it requires more air supply on the tubas than I have. I can make the Alex "go" but since i only play it occasionally, i forget what I did and have to re-figure it out every time.