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It seems that the price in the USA of a Yamayork is about $30,000. Out of curiosity I asked Yamaha Australia about pricing - the list price in Australia is A$68,000 (US$57,000) !!

I don't think they're expecting to sell any

Is there a significant difference between a Yamayork and a Yorkbrunner? A couple of the Usual Sources have three of those in premo used shape, all under $15K USD.

Jeff "Not me" Benedict

Super Smooth wrote:Does anyone play one of them professionally? If not, it would seem to be a boondoggle.

Jim Self
Chris Olka
Gene Pokorny

there are more, but just off the top of my head.
Bill

Norm Pearson was using one for a while as well

Super Smooth wrote:Does anyone play one of them professionally? If not, it would seem to be a boondoggle.

No, not a boondoggle. Fact is, nobody has really found the highest price possible for a tuba, at least for a production capacity in the single digits. Judging from the waiting list (at least at present), Yamaha's price is competitive in the market or even a bit low.

If they could not sell their full production capability, only then would I think the price too high.

Of course, being too high for the market and too high for any one person are two different things.

Used HB-50s in the $15K price range is already showing the effects of market pressure. When they were the pinnacle of Yorkophones, they sold for more (in real dollars).

Rick "who declined the invitation to play-test an early 826 primarily to avoid personal humiliation" Denney

Super Smooth wrote:Does anyone play one of them professionally? If not, it would seem to be a boondoggle.

Thein's still got 'em beat. €23,821 = $33,072.

Ka-CHING!

I thought that Gene Pokorny used the CSO York in his performances?

I wasn't commenting on the price or value of the Yamayork in the USA, I was pointing out the huge discrepancy between the US price and that charged by Yamaha Australia.

If the US price is $30,000 (and I wanted to buy a Yamayork) I could fly to the US and bring one back, paying freight and taxes and still save about A$24,000 (US$20,000) off the local list price.

Dave M wrote:Sounds like a great opportunity to surreptitiously buy several of them in the US and smuggle them back to open a vigorous Yamayork black market. You could dramatically undercut Yamaha Australia and still make enough to pay for the one you keep, plus maybe enough for some nice Yammie tuba accessories, like a WaveRunner
Dave

That's assuming you can find enough people down here that want to buy a $30k tuba.

Andrew