TubeNet

Hi-
While browsing, I see that the Tuba Exchange has redesigned their website. They also list a St. Pete's piston CC tuba-4 piston & 1 rotor 4/4 tuba with .800 bore pistons??!! Also, 2 different bell sizes to choise from. Interesting, if true.....check it out...
Mark

http://www.tubaexchange.com/about-tuba-exchange

Interesting. I notice that they have the two used Eb's (the aforementioned Yamaha and a St. Pete), but they no longer list any Eb's other than the St. Pete in the new horns; conspicuously missing is the 3+1 TE brand Eb.

OK, here's the scoop...

My wife and I were laid off from The Tuba Exchange at the beginning of the year after working for the new owners for 1.5 years, so I think I'm qualified to chime in here. The Tuba Exchange was sold by my parents, through a business broker, to a couple who are not musicians and had no experience in the music retail business. My guess is, the numbers looked good and they thought they could make lots of money selling "pretty" musical instruments. The owner's last job was managing a cream puff factory in rural North Carolina with around 80 employees whose products you see in the frozen desert section at Wal-Mart.

Part of my job at The Tuba Exchange was to post instruments on the web site. It looks like the new owner has taken over these duties...the all caps and broken english are dead giveaways. When my wife and I saw the description and specs for the YEB-321S a few months ago, we couldn't stop laughing!

I played a YEB-321S as a second, smaller horn when I was in school and liked it a lot, but if you call The Tuba Exchange and ask about this or any other instrument, keep in mind you are probably talking to someone who has never played it.

John

JSMusic wrote:OK, here's the scoop...

My wife and I were laid off from The Tuba Exchange at the beginning of the year after working for the new owners for 1.5 years, so I think I'm qualified to chime in here. The Tuba Exchange was sold by my parents, through a business broker, to a couple who are not musicians and had no experience in the music retail business. My guess is, the numbers looked good and they thought they could make lots of money selling "pretty" musical instruments. The owner's last job was managing a cream puff factory in rural North Carolina with around 80 employees whose products you see in the frozen desert section at Wal-Mart.

Part of my job at The Tuba Exchange was to post instruments on the web site. It looks like the new owner has taken over these duties...the all caps and broken english are dead giveaways. When my wife and I saw the description and specs for the YEB-321S a few months ago, we couldn't stop laughing!

I played a YEB-321S as a second, smaller horn when I was in school and liked it a lot, but if you call The Tuba Exchange and ask about this or any other instrument, keep in mind you are probably talking to someone who has never played it.

John

I am genuinely sorry to hear that. Although I never bought anything very expensive from TE, I was always pleased with the service and quick responses to emails and phone calls.

Hmm ... it'd be kinda ironic, in an "ain't karma a bitch" kind of way, if Luc were to take a page from John's daddy's playbook and threaten to sue John for making negative comments about the owner and/or the products.

I recently purchased my new Miraphone 5050 euphonium from TE. They were great to deal with. I've talked with Luc (pronounced Luke) many times and he's a great guy and easy to deal with. Mike Morse - brass repair tech - is still with TE.

FWIW

Did the sale have any impact on the historic collection?

It should be deemed a national treasure!

And BTW, Vince was a very gracious host when I was in the area and had a few rarities that I wanted to check out.

-F

Website for the collection is here:

simonettitubacollection.wordpress.com

Amen.

Curmudgeon wrote:Shame it couldn't have stayed in the family.

Maybe the fact that Daddy sold the business to "a couple who are not musicians and had no experience in the music retail business" rather than keeping it in the family and letting little Johnny run it says something about Daddy's opinion of little Johnny's business acumen?

I've lived 15 minutes south of the Tuba Exchange for the past 15 years and have and many very positive dealings with the previous owner (Vince) and staff (John), the new owner (Luc) and staff (Michael), and the repairman (Mike). Over the years, the folks at the TE have treated me very well. I've purchased 2 tubas and several accessories, sold 2 tubas on consignment, and had a lot of excellent repair and maintenance work done on my tubas and euphs. Mike Morse is highly respected in this area for his excellent work on brass instruments. I often stop in to admire the historic instrument collection and test drive the many new and used instruments they have in their display room. In all these years, I've always been treated well and enjoyed the experience.

I know this is an old thread but has anybody put their hands on one of these 210's yet? If so, what are your thoughts?

http://www.tubaexchange.com/st-petersburg-tubas/stp-210" target="_blank