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Anybody have any knowledge of this horn, or any insight on if this would even be a decent purchase?


http://m.ebay.com/itm/162278726780" target="_blank

Probably only as a collector piece, wall art or repair project. Only four valves means no reliable fingering for low Ab, G or Gb. The valves could be shot. Looks like the seller is suggesting it's not in A=440 as well.

A good candidate for a tuba in "G".

The thumb ring and flange are worth 100/

Whether it would be a decent purchase or not depends on what you want it for.

It looks like it would be a fun tuba with better than the usual optics to play in a polka band in Oktober wearing Lederhosen. (What the aurals might be is anybody's guess.) And at the price point it's at now, it might be a fair investment for that purpose.

But if you're looking for an F tuba that a college teacher will be glad you showed up with for a lesson, this ain't it.

That little loop in the main tuning slide reminds me a little of tuning slide extensions that lowered pitch from high to standard, but in this case it isn't enough tubing, am I right? It's a little irritating that the seller apparently tested the pitch but doesn't say what it was, just "maybe not quite in modern A=440 tuning." What does "not quite" mean? With the slide all the way in? Who knows.

Anyway, if I needed an F bass tuba, I'd take a chance on it, though not if I were worried about playing Ab below the staff etc.

Actually this looks as though it was fairy recently modified. The curl in the main slide appears to bring it down to modern day pitch, and looking at all the other slides, they appear to have been lengthened. This might be a player that could work out well for someone. As to the low Ab, G and Gb, you can always use false tones.

Just my thoughts.

Rger

I would also agree that something has been done to the tuning slides. They are a different color and have less patina on them. If it's got a decent sound might definitely be worth fixing up and/or modifying, should the valves be in serviceable condition, and that's the big question. Without really looking at it that way, you never know.

I would have thought they could have found someone around there who actually knows tubas to take a look at it, as that would definitely have increased how much the museum will get for it.

bloke wrote:How much is any interested bidder's house worth per square foot?

Space that isn't available for tubas isn't worth a dime.

Tuning? If it is an old Concert Pitch 435 Hz then it might be hard to get it play in 440.... . Anyway - could be a nice decoration.