TubeNet

http://imgur.com/a/FBZdD#rJtXBmt

Hi, I got the above pictured tuba in 1996. Life happened, and now I'm looking to sell this. However, I'm having trouble identifying what model it is and what a reasonable asking price would be. It's in excellent condition, except for the small ding where I sadly dropped my mouthpiece on the side (shown in pictures). Thanks for any help that can be offered.

VMI 2103 BBb. Those tubas were also under the "Musica" stencil. Great tubas

Thanks for the prompt reply! Is $4000 a reasonable price for such a tuba? Is that even a reasonable question to ask here?

^ Sure thing. $4000 is reasonable for that tuba, if a bit on the high side. Looks like it is still in very good condition; does it include a case? Usually those tubas go from $2500 - $4000 in good/excellent used shape.

It has a gig bag. If I had to ship it though, that obviously wouldn't work so well. Besides the ding in the photos, I'd say it's basically like-new. But then...of course I'd say that! Thanks again for the feedback. I'll be listing it here soon.

If you go to this entry in the index of my Yahoo-based brass gallery,

B&S-VMI-BBb tubas circa 1996

you will see it called the 3103 on that catalogue page.

Klaus

Thanks for the response Klaus. I sent a group join request for that group so that I can view it.

Just so ya know: VMI = B&S. Same manufacturer.

VMI 2103 BBb: http://www.music123.com/brass-instrumen ... 4-bbb-tuba

I guess the 3103 is for the B&S brand. But it's the same tuba, and like I said earlier, it was also under the "Musica" stencil (UMI's imported name for that tuba). VMI/B&S is probably one of the most stenciled brands in the tuba world

Ok, yeah, both of those look the same and almost exactly like mine, except that the images you both posted show what looks like a lyre holder above the thumb ring. Mine does *not* have a lyre holder. Could that make mine a different model, or is it most likely the same thing, just without that option?

^ I'm guessing there may be tiny differences depending on who imports/deals them. But pretty much the same tuba without the lyre holder.

Ok, thank you. I think that's probably good enough for me. When I list it, I just want to be as accurate as possible with what I list it as.

Maybe the importer reckoned that US BBb marching mostly happens with sousaphones.

Klaus

Not to be a downer, but I would not expect to get $4000 for that model in BBb. The differentiation between them and the Chinese horns just isn't that great these days, in my opinion - especially when the new Chinese one is around $2000 less.

jeopardymaster wrote:Not to be a downer, but I would not expect to get $4000 for that model in BBb. The differentiation between them and the Chinese horns just isn't that great these days, in my opinion - especially when the new Chinese one is around $2000 less.

Well like I said, $4000 is on the high side, but at least it's the real-deal VMI in excellent condition. AFAIK, there are no copies of this particular rotary BBb tuba. The Chinese tuba you are thinking about is the B&S 'Sonora' copy, which is a different model rotary BBb tuba. And you can usually get the real Sonora BBb in good used shape for the same or less than the Chinese copy

If I had the money, I'd still get this VMI BBb tuba anyday over the Chinese models.

Same thing as a B&S PT-2, I believe.