TubeNet

I'll pay M&M's TubeNet sponsorship bill (at the last rate I knew about, $25 per month) for the next two months, plus one extra month for the pot, if he will answer (with what any reasonable person would accept as real, complete, substantive and non-evasive replies) my questions on his post in the sponsor forum quoted below:

#1 M&M Instruments does not sell warmed over Jinbao Instruments , We have our own line of Instruments made to our specs

1. What are the names of the manufacturer(s) of each of these tubas?
2.What specs vary from the manufacturers' published specs and from what is available from other sellers? In other words, what *exactly*, in terms of materials and measurements) distinguishes M&M instruments from similar tubas from other sellers?

#3 M&M does have in inventory , until deleted Jinbao French horns ,Trumpets, Clarinets, Tubas and other instruments that are a great buy for schools and students

3. What does "until deleted" mean in this sentence?

(I am ready to accept that Michael must not be a native speaker of English. For a long time I assumed he was, but it just must not be so. Therefore, all the errors of usage and spelling are for others to criticize. I'm not going there. I just want factual answers.)

I'll split the bill with you

And

You misunderstand me. This is not about tuba importers. I am all about supporting Jonathan and Tom. I have bought tubas from both of them and one I got from each is sitting within ten feet of me right now. Both of them are upstanding citizens and I support them. It's the cloak and dagger shadiness of a couple of other dealers that drives me right up the wall.

(And it's $75 I'm offering, if you read my post, by the way, not $25, in complete confidence that I won't have to shell out a dime.)

bloke wrote:It is true that the Chinese factories offer two or three grade levels of some of the models...but - when I've seen the "top level" Chinese stuff, it all looks/plays the same from various retailers.

As an example, if you're shopping for the Yamaha knock-off compensating euphonium with the nickel-silver outside slide tubes and stainless steel pistons, you might as well shop for the lowest retail price. It sure ain't made in Europe...

The only problem that I've had with one of the Chinese instrument sellers (again) is with a seller who showed me one picture, shipped me (two) of a cheaper model (not a lower-grade, but a TOTALLY DIFFERENT model), was VERY tardy in making any refund, and would NOT refund (HAS NOT refunded) all of the shipping (several hundred dollars) for the wrong/lower-grade instruments (which I sent back on the very next bus).

Yet, you still maintain the high degree of professionalism that should be admired by not throwing the manufacturer under the bus by posting their name in every post. Well played.

Now look at them JinBaos that's the way you do it
You play the tuba on the MTV
That ain't buzzing that's the way you do it
Money for answers and valves for free

I feel like I've made my point. If the post gives offense, I'm fine with it being sent to the cornfield.