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Ok, I know these threads have been done before, but hell, I like them.

All of your horns / cases / bags / mouthpieces just disappeared courtesy of the hardware fairy. In their place you found a pile of cash which counts out to $12,000. You need to replace your gear.

Rules: You have to buy at least one horn, and at least one mouthpiece and one case or bag for each horn you buy. You can't spend more than $12k. If you want to a buy used equipment, use the historical or listed value of the prices in the For Sale section. Yes, you can travel to Vegas or Atlantic City to try and double your money. No, it won't work.

I'll take first crack.

used 6/4 CC Holton - $6,800
used G&W Baer MMVI - $125
used 188 - $4,500
2 Altieri bags - $450
used Deck 3 mpc - $100

total $11,975

most people will probably look at Eb or F tubas, and I thought about that but I know I can drive a 188 in 90% of all situations and feel pretty good about it. Having a BAT and an "all-around", plus the flexibility of one American-style horn and one German-style horn, would fit *me* better.

kingrob76 wrote:All of your horns / cases / bags / mouthpieces just disappeared courtesy of the hardware fairy.

"Mr. Hardware Fairy, meet Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson."

Here's my list:

Holton BB-345, $5000
Miraphone 186 Bb, $3000
PT-48 (will work on both of above), $75
B&S Symphonie F, $3000
Mike Finn MF-4, $125
Two Cronkhite gig bags (the 186 and the B&S will fit in the same bag), $800
Total: $12,000

I would buy everything used except the MF-4 and the gig bags, which might be hard to find.

I can understand that many players have a preference for C tubas, but they pay a price for that preference. In my view, the tubas above can meet any need.

Any repair work needed because the instruments are used can be deferred.

Rick "prefering a Conn Helleberg for the Miraphone but for the budget" Denney

Great topic Rob:

HB 2P Going for about $8,000 used with hard case, this are falling out of favor, but I still find them to be the best all around horn. for me.

Yamaha YCB 621 $3,000 used with hard case. Great small gig, 2nd tuba, chamber recital, BQ horn.

Mouthpieces about $600 total
PSO1
PT 50
PT 44
MF 3H
PT 9, or 64S
Shilke 67

That leaves about $400 for a gig bag for the HB. The Yamaha Hard case is small enough to get around on.

SC

My $12,000 setup consisting of a contrabass tuba, bass tuba, one mouthpiece and gig bag for each, and a universal travel trunk that can fit either tuba:

Vintage Alexander 163 CC (used) @ $6,000
(price includes allocation for c.$1,000 in likely repairs and valve work)
Doug Elliott Mouthpiece for Alexander (new) @ $180
Dolly Bag for Alexander (used) $200

Meinl Weston 45-SLP (used) @ $4,795 (yes, I like these)
Floyd Cooley Helleberg (used) @ $125
Dolly Bag for SLP (used) $200

Unitec (not really my preference, but it will do) travel trunk to fit both tubas (used) @ $500

Total: $12,000

Ok, here goes:

From Dillon's used page: Alexander 163 CC tuba - $3995.00 plus cost of a 5th rotor, paddle, and tubing $1500.00
From Dillon's used page: Conn 2J w/ bag - $2995.00
From Baltimore Brass Company: Used MW 45 F tuba $2995.00

Two mouthpieces: $290.00 total (Canadian Brass Jacobs and solo)
Case for Alexander: $157.00

Total: $11,932.00

Wilson 3050 (w/DEG Bag) -$7,500

Meinl Weston 45SL-P (w/Alteri Bag) - $3,950

GW Churada - $139.95

GW Caver - $139.95

Total - 11,729.90 (with $270.10 left over for shipping and what not)

Scott, if I could find a 2P that played like your 1P, I'd be right in there with you.

However, I did come up with another combo:

used Miraphone 1295 w/ hardcase - 4500
used Getzen CB 50 w/ Altieri bag - 6000 (yes, this is my old horn)
Altieri for the 1295 - 225
New Doug Elliott, probably a R130 - 180
second DE cup and shank (P cup, matching shank) - 130
third DE cup and shank (N cup, matching shank) - 130
$50 for pizza and beer to bribe Doug to actually MAKE something these days
used Deck 3 - 100

$11,315

I would go with
Gnagey Cut 4/4 CC - 6,000
YFB 621 (used with Yamaha Hard Case) - 4,000
Unitech Case for Gnagey - 500
Aliteris for both 225 x 2 = 450
Bobo Solo - 100
Conn Helleberg - 50
Total 11,100
900 left over for concerts, recordings, tuner, metronome etc

Wow...Well...

First off:
Old Mirafone in CC (back before their model #'s)-$3,250
Then:
Used Miraphone Firebird-$2,500
Holton Bass Bone- $2,000
Used
King Peashooter 605 w/trigger-$200
Older trumpet-$100
LOUD LM-7-$145
G&W Baer CC & F-$330
Schilke 60-$50
1 case-$1,187
2 gig bags-$400
16GB iPod Touch-$400
Total:$10,562
Throw the rest in the bank and at stocks.

You could throw the rest at the used firebird and still get laughed outta the room.Not a realistic used price for one..

cktuba wrote:$3595 Yamaha 321 Eb (from Dillon Music)

I'm glad someone threw that one out there. Every so often one pops up used for less than $2k. Nice little horns but at $3600 it doesn't fit into any of my scenarios

Rick Denney wrote:

kingrob76 wrote:All of your horns / cases / bags / mouthpieces just disappeared courtesy of the hardware fairy.

"Mr. Hardware Fairy, meet Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson."

Here's my list:

Holton BB-345, $5000
Miraphone 186 Bb, $3000
PT-48 (will work on both of above), $75
B&S Symphonie F, $3000
Mike Finn MF-4, $125
Two Cronkhite gig bags (the 186 and the B&S will fit in the same bag), $800
Total: $12,000

I would buy everything used except the MF-4 and the gig bags, which might be hard to find.

I can understand that many players have a preference for C tubas, but they pay a price for that preference. In my view, the tubas above can meet any need.

Any repair work needed because the instruments are used can be deferred.

Rick "prefering a Conn Helleberg for the Miraphone but for the budget" Denney

So...you would hunt down the guy who stole your current collection of instruments and buy them back as "used"?

tubaguy9 wrote:Used Miraphone Firebird-$2,500

Used CSO York CC - $3,500
Drugs you're on - Priceless

sloan wrote:So...you would hunt down the guy who stole your current collection of instruments and buy them back as "used"?

No, I would "recover" them.

But Rob's scenario doesn't imply that Mr. Hardware Fairy is a thief or a sudden disaster. I was the one who implied that with my joke.

I think he meant that, for one reason or another, one's current collection went away and it was time to build a new collection. It could be that other financial demands or time demands forced tuba playing and tuba owning to a lower priority for a while, and now those constraints were being lifted. It could be that one grew tired of the previous collection and sold it off in favor of something new. It could be that one's performance objectives changed and the old collection no longer seemed appropriate.

Thus, I didn't apply the constraint that Wade did by limiting the list to something that could be bought immediately.

His stated constraints weren't that different from my constraints as I built my collection. I was always focused on the most bang for the buck, and always trying to stay within a self-imposed budget. It turns out that several of my most useful instruments fit his scenario perfectly--from my perspective.

Another constraint Rob did not state but that I applied was that just because one was limited by budget doesn't mean they have to be limited to instruments they would not choose without those constraints. For a person willing to play Bb instead of C, I doubt there is much a top pro could not do with my collection, and doing better would require spending MUCH more (my list might then include a MW 6450, a Thor, and a Firebird). And my instruments conformed to a strategic objective, also from my perspective, of being able to support large ensembles, small ensembles, and still smaller ensembles and solos. And being able to support all kinds of music from Berlioz to polkas.

By the way, TubaRay has a collection that fits the requirements quite well, without the Bb compromise. He has a Miraphone 186 five-valve C and a Rudy Meinl 5/4 C with four valves. There is not much Ray can't do with those two instruments.

Rick "noting that we all have constraints" Denney

This is seriously entertaining as hell! I love reading not just the selected hardware, but the rationale behind the buying decisions...

Since I am not playing in a large band or orchestra, consider my choices out of necessity NOW, with a horn that's usable in a larger setting if duty calls...

Besson Sovereign 982 - purchased used for in the neighborhood of $4K
Chronkite Cordura Gig Bag - purchased new in some snazzy color - $400

Miraphone 1291-5V BBb (incl case) from Dillon - $5895

Wick 1 - $70.50
Conn 7B - $47.00

All for under $10,500. I figure the Besson is serving me well for the Brass Band, and the BBb would serve well for any calls for larger groups, or for my church quintet. If I wanted to drop this below $7,500 I would buy back the Jupiter 482L I used to own and pickup an older BAT just for kicks, but I figure the Miraphone would be a good swing option.

MikeMason wrote:You could throw the rest at the used firebird and still get laughed outta the room.Not a realistic used price for one..

Well...At least some Miraphone F tuba...

Interesting subject.

I'd likely go for a good condition used BBb 186 - $3,500 or so
A standard type mouthpiece (Bach 22, Hellenberg, nothing fancy) - $75 (less if I shop around)

Gig bag - $250 to $300

a Los Angeles Era Benge CG trumpet (to replace the one I have) in good condition - $700 - $800 + repairs ($300)

So about $5000 to $5200 or so. for the rest? see about upgrading the eldest's fiddle, maybe?

My rationale gave no limits on time, or types of instruments. The idea was if you HAD to start over, and had a respectable budget, what would you buy? I included the requirements for mouthpieces and cases because those real world needs. What's fascinating to me is that very few people would buy new instruments - I know I wouldn't. I just bought my first brand new instrument and I did that because the instrument I was looking for has been difficult to obtain used.

It's also fascinating to read what people perceive as good values in the used arena - I know that big Holton with the York bell and bottom bow VERY much got my attention, I'm just iffy on buying horns without spending a good chunk of time on them first. The brands that are mentioned (and not mentioned) is rather fascinating as well.

First off, $12,000 to replace everything would be a significant profit for me over what I have now. Here goes:

Used Miraphone 1291 w/bag: $6,500
Baer MMVI: $200

MW45 w/bag at BBC: $3,000
Baer MMVI F: $200

Bass Trombone: ~$1,500
Mouthpiece: ~$75

...and I'll use the rest for gas money, taxes, shipping, etc.