Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 11:42 pm
Roy,
While I am neither Mr. Highams nor Mr. Denney, I do have some experience with 70's model Imperials. I own one that I bought for $250.00 from an ill-advised college freshman. It is a wonderful horn. I only replaced it when a student of mine fell over, and then onto, the horn. I had it repaired, but it has never been quite the same. The third player in my quartet is using it now.
There has been much concern expressed on this board about the plating on the valves on these horns. Try to get the seller to send you a photograph of the valves out of their casings. If you see a lot of wear around the bottoms (or rust) you should probably take care in bidding. The price seems a little high, to me, for an instrument of this age.
If you do purchase it, I hope you are as happy with yours as I have been with mine.
Carroll
While I am neither Mr. Highams nor Mr. Denney, I do have some experience with 70's model Imperials. I own one that I bought for $250.00 from an ill-advised college freshman. It is a wonderful horn. I only replaced it when a student of mine fell over, and then onto, the horn. I had it repaired, but it has never been quite the same. The third player in my quartet is using it now.
There has been much concern expressed on this board about the plating on the valves on these horns. Try to get the seller to send you a photograph of the valves out of their casings. If you see a lot of wear around the bottoms (or rust) you should probably take care in bidding. The price seems a little high, to me, for an instrument of this age.
If you do purchase it, I hope you are as happy with yours as I have been with mine.
Carroll