Alexander 202ST – Rare Model, Amazing Player!

Here we have a 1970’s Alexander 202ST (compensating double horn with stopping valve and ascending 3rd) made for a Parisian player. Ascending 3^rd fingering systems gives many advantages – a beautifully easy high A and Ab and many useful alternate short fingerings for dexterity all across the instrument.

This instrument is in gold brass giving it a very gentle ppp but the tapers and construction still give it a great punch at fff. The overall sound is dark and gentle and it’s got superior dexterity.

This example is in fantastic condition; the valves have good compression even on the F side and there are very few signs of repair. The larger bell brace is a patch covering a thin spot in the bell tail. This repair has been very artfully done and is in an area where the hand touches the bell leaving a negligible effect on the sound and response. An additional guard has also been added to the F crook.

The lower trigger controls the Bb/F change, the upper trigger controls the stop valve.

The horn originally stood in F, I switched it to Bb because the stop valve only acts on the Bb side so it made more sense to me to play it in that manner. Should the buyer wish I can switch it back before sending.

This horn uses a narrow shank lead pipe as common for French mouthpieces at the time. The horn will include a Strachan Brass model H with the buyer’s choice of rim size (17.5, 18 or 18.5).

Part of the San Francisco Collection. Located in California with its owner.