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#8 Who to blame (other than myself).

9. For sale "nothing that affects the way it plays!"

bort wrote:9. For sale "nothing that affects the way it plays!"

10. and "It's in good condition for its age."

11. Wondering how to keep the band director from finding out.

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Is this anything like Dante's nine circles of perdition?

13. Subsequent owners of the instrument wondering how much better it played prior to whatever unfortunate incident(s) damaged the horn

I guess this true of most, if not all of us, especially as one who taught in public schools for 35 years. When looking/drooling over pics of tubas for sale, it is very easy to see which horns were owned by individuals and have minor or "odd" dents vs. those that came out of a school setting. These have all the usual dents and damages in the same places: bell, lead pipe, bottom bow, valve slides, etc. Some of them may still play pretty well, but I always wonder if they stayed in the shop more than in the band hall.

14. Wondering why this thread was even started.

My 186 was obviously a college salvage rebuild; that and the detachable bell is why I got it so inexpensive at the time. That is also why it was worth it to do the mods and upgrades I have done, including the Besson BBb 17" New Standard bell swap. Where in the original seven, or added stages, this fits, I leave the rest of the TNFJ to decide, probably somewhere between #7 and #8.

Using a mute this concert, so the chances of the first ding on my new horn is high. At least it’s not the Firebird.