Want Bell damage opinion from the pros

[Timtamtuba]

https://the-brass-shop.com/gebr-alexand ... uba-e3499/
How bad is that bell damage/Repair work?
Some of the garland looks to me like its been maybe poorly repaired but im no expert whatsoever.

[bort2.0]

Dang, I just wrote a bunch and got logged out before it posted.

It's not great looking, but if it doesn't buzz or rattle then that's step 1.

Step 2 is deciding if it's repaired in a way that kills the resonance. A handmade tuba like an Alex 163 is supposed to be a lightweight and resonant horn, that's the magic of how these come alive.

@the elephant did an epic 186 rebuild a few years back, you may want to see that threador ask Wade. I forget the details but he did a lot of work with the bell and kranz. Probably way more than he ever intended to. The results were spectacular, but was a lot of work.

If it were me, I probably wouldn't buy it. But if I did, I'd take it to Joe, Lee, or Matt, or someone else who will know exactly what to do to it, and not a bit more. Not because of being cheap or lazy, but because the decades of experience they each have to know what is the overall best thing to do.

[Timtamtuba]

Dang, I just wrote a bunch and got logged out before it posted.

It's not great looking, but if it doesn't buzz or rattle then that's step 1.

Step 2 is deciding if it's repaired in a way that kills the resonance. A handmade tuba like an Alex 163 is supposed to be a lightweight and resonant horn, that's the magic of how these come alive.

@the elephant did an epic 186 rebuild a few years back, you may want to see that threador ask Wade. I forget the details but he did a lot of work with the bell and kranz. Probably way more than he ever intended to. The results were spectacular, but was a lot of work.

If it were me, I probably wouldn't buy it. But if I did, I'd take it to Joe, Lee, or Matt, or someone else who will know exactly what to do to it, and not a bit more. Not because of being cheap or lazy, but because the decades of experience they each have to know what is the overall best thing to do.

I guess its the type of horn you buy expecting to put more into it almost immediately. I absolutely love Alexs but between the 3 they have thier this one to me, looked the most modern and potentially easiest to just plug and play but the belll gives me pause because of bad the garland looks. Like if it came off at one point. Thanks for the warning

[arpthark]

FYI, I bought an Alex from that seller and it was damaged in intercontinental transit. There was only about an inch of light styrofoam sheet padding on the side of the box next to the bell.

[jose the tuba player]

FYI, I bought an Alex from that seller and it was damaged in intercontinental transit. There was only about an inch of light styrofoam sheet padding on the side of the box next to the bell.

I messaged them through their website and I never heard back from them. I do see them posting on multiple fb groups often.

[bloke]

I would need to see the tuba, and not pictures of the tuba. I would need to mash into the brass with my thumb, look to see if it had been refinished before, then-damaged and then re-repaired.

This is not something I would buy from pictures.
When I see apparent stuff such as this, I have to assume there's other stuff, even if my assumption is wrong.

Were I an Alexander lover and were shopping for myself, I would look further and reach deeper into my wallet. That said, I could be missing out on a tremendous deal.

I suspect I could make that bell look a lot better, but - after making it look a lot better - would I want it mounted on a tuba which I personally owned?

On the other hand, at that price, why didn't it sell the first day it was listed, and locally?

I'm not a pro.
I'm just a horn fixer.

[Mary Ann]

And I have that stellar example sitting in my garage, and everyone wants it for free.

[Sousaswag]

Bell damage is an automatic “no” from me in the VAST majority of cases. My Holton 345 being an outlier, of course.

If there are no cracks or strange buzzes, you are probably okay. I don’t usually take that chance sight unseen, though.

[the elephant]

I owned a 163 for 12 years. I have done Kranz replacements.

I would not buy this tuba unless I could play and examine it first.

Full stop.

[Wilco]

They are buying and selling, they are NOT repairing…. Besides some cleaning perhaps, I see no value added. They have lot’s of 3 valve tuba’s in stock. I wouldn’t expect much demand for those….

There are better Alexander offerings on Kleinanzeigen…. But I would would check in person as well.

[Wilco]

Updated linkage: Gerade bei #Kleinanzeigen gefunden. Wie findest du das?
https://www.kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/ ... nt=app_ios

[catgrowlB]

I like Alexander tubas, and would probably like this one as well. Looks to be in overall nice shape. The weirdest thing to me isn't the bell kranz repair; it's how someone cut the old S-links in half, and replaced the bottom halves with modern miniball linkage at the stop arms
The clocksprings are still there, so an interesting combo with the miniball linkage at the other end. Whatever works I guess.

As for the bell.....
Look closely and you will see a LOT of solder between the kranz and bell in places. Make of that what you will.
I'm personally not crazy about having a kranz/garland on a bell for multiple reasons, especially bell repair. The kranz will just give much more trouble when it comes to bell repair, even if they look nice. But Alexander likes to use them.

[bloke]

Updated linkage: Gerade bei #Kleinanzeigen gefunden. Wie findest du das?
https://www.kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/ ... nt=app_ios

I tried to look at pictures of whatever that was, but I was assaulted with a cookie page - in German - and backed out

[Eric Murphy]

If I were seriously considering buying a BBb Alexander 163, I would be talking with@Mary Ann . If I am not mistaken, she currently has her price dropped to $6560 before she sends it to Dillon for consignment. Thay seems like a no-brainer to me. That tuba looks to be in incredible condition.

[bloke]

And I have that stellar example sitting in my garage, and everyone wants it for free.

Yeah....a new condition one for less additional money than it would cost to patch up the one in the picture (certainly including replacing the bell) as good as someone could manage.

[Thomas]

Mary Ann wrote: Sun Jul 26, 2026 2:12 pm
And I have that stellar example sitting in my garage, and everyone wants it for free.

Yeah....a new condition one for less additional money than it would cost to patch up the one in the picture (certainly including replacing the bell) as good as someone could manage.

+1 for above statements. I put approx. 1500€ into a Kaisertuba I got from there which was absolutely worth it as I did a good trade that left me some money to invest. But I knew this beforehand as I could play and inspect the instrument at their shop location before buying.

Putting the silver 163 into an at least comparable condition to the stellar example would easily cost 2500-3500€ here in Europe (or $). And you will still have to live with only overhauled valves, some scars and maybe even patches.

That having said, if you're aware what you're buying, their shop is a serious source for special or just decent elder instruments. Including me, I know of several people buying or trading there.

[prodigal]

X10. Just buy Mary Anne's Alex!

[Timtamtuba]

FYI, I bought an Alex from that seller and it was damaged in intercontinental transit. There was only about an inch of light styrofoam sheet padding on the side of the box next to the bell.

Oof thats not great. International shipping is scary even for things that are not very fragile let alone for something who's value is derived from its structural harmony and integrity

[Timtamtuba]

Updated linkage: Gerade bei #Kleinanzeigen gefunden. Wie findest du das?
https://www.kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/ ... nt=app_ios

The rotor linkages being bent like are interesting don't think ive ever seen any like that before.

[the elephant]

X10. Just buy Mary Anne's Alex!

Too late…