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A friend is selling a 50+ year old King (H.N. White Co., Cleveland) 4 valve bell front euphonium. I'm thinking of buying it for my 10 yr old grandson who is currently playing on a smaller school horn. The King is in good shape for its age with only minor dents and a bell crease that has been non-professionally rolled out. The valves look and work great and all the slides pull. He is asking $200 and I was thinking more like $150, but the difference is not worth haggling over with a friend. Is this a reasonable price range for this type of horn?

The main question will be: How does that instrument play in the hands of your grandson?

From my experiences as a teacher I would find such an instrument on the larger side of relevancy for a 10 years old kid. But students are different, and I could be wrong.

If the instrument makes your grandson sound better, $200 is not at all a bad price, especially if there is useable case involved in the deal. The motivation factor of owning ones own instrument should not be underestimated.

Some of the old King bell-front’s have a quite interesting bell bore profile progression.

If the project fails, I may be willing to give you $100 for that instrument, but then I will have to add shipping and import taxes.

Klaus Smedegaard Bjerre

I just sold an upright bell King (frnt action) for over $1000. It was in good shape. If it plays, $200 is a great price.

Thanks for all your responses to my question. Just think, I was able to get world-wide advice on what was really a very insignificant local decision. Ain't Tubenet amazing!

Van,

I think what you are doing for your grandson is great. Hopefully, he will will repay your generosity by using a good instrument to learn and play great music.

Alex F.