TubeNet

I'm 64 and I play a heavy King Eb on a stand that fully supports the weight. I show up early to a gig and take my time climbing all those stairs
with tuba, trumpet, mike stands and mikes. I wait for help if we have to bring in our huge P.A.. I invested in a hand truck with big wheels to carry two EONs per trip and largest possible wheels w/brakes on our rack box.
I don't have a tuba case. My old King rides in a seat in the car or van with a seat belt on it. If the tuba has to go in the trailer, I tie life jackets and quilts on it and lash it high to all 4 walls of the trailer.

I know about the horns you mention but what is "Blue Book?"

If you are refering to a book on the used value (such as the Kelly Blue Book for cars), I've never seen anything like that for any musical instrument. I've seen blue books for audio/video equipment - is there such an animal in the music world?

Just go here:

http://www.orionbluebook.com/orion/guitar-music.asp

Bloke, people often ask the wrong questions,don't they?

A few years ago I had to give up my collection of great old horns "CoolTubas.com" because of my failing ears and crappy back (got hit in the rear of my 2 seater Morgan by a vintage caddy which blew out the twin spares like cannon shots and screwed up my back). Needed something that played in tune (be sure to test the Cerveny you buy), wasn't all that heavy and had the sound I wanted. Settled on two Cervenys. A BBb 683 and its big brother 693. Great sound on the (sort of piggy) 683 and even better on the big 693. The 683 was for "bad back days" and the 693 for concerts and "good back days". I'm 73, the lungs are still really good and I'm the only tuba in a 55 piece band, play dixie several times a week and do a solo (not the hard stuff) with the band every year or so. It's working for me....at least for now and I REALLY would miss playing as I'm sure you would so hang in there. And since you already have the 693...think about the 683. They're a perfect match to switch back-and-forth. Dale

treddle wrote:What is a blue book on a Conn 20J with both bells and cases? What would be a reserve?

Were I you, I'd sell the 20J with the forward bell separately from the upright bell. You might get more for the bell by itself that you will for the 20J, and you'll certainly get more for it than if you sell it with the horn.

Used Cervenys do not command a really high price. It depends on who is looking at the time.

The King 2341 has the best ratio of output to weight as any BBb tuba on the market.

That said, buy a stand. It makes playing an instrument like my Holton as easy as playing a Miraphone. And use a side-loading case or gig bag so you don't have to lift and lower the instrument into a top-loading bag.

Rick "who would hire a native bearer before giving up on the Holton" Denney

I do have several years of Ebay tubas on CD-roms and could easily send copies for $5 each.