Ebay Advice

Ames0325 · Post by **Ames0325** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:59 am

So I haven't played in over a year and am going into tuba withdrawals. I have about 500-$1000( that's actually a bit rich for my blood but it's possible) I could spend on a tuba. I am planning to start patiently searching auctions but I don't knwo the first thing about buying tubas on ebay. I know I won't get anything beautiful but I would be overjoyed to just find something that played ok and could be fixed up over tiem as I got the money. Does anyone have any advice for how to go about buying a first tiem tuba on E-bay?

thanks,
Amy

The Big Ben · Post by **The Big Ben** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 1:45 am

My suggestion would be to first look at the merchants which are linked in the "Shops" section here on TubeNet. Also, click on the "Sponsors" link and look over those sites.

These are all merchants who are well known to the group here and some of them are active here on TubeNet. They may have what you are looking for at a reasonable price with an exchange policy if you aren't happy with your purchase.

If you can't find what you are looking for there, then go to eBay. Follow along the auctions for a month or so and try to get a feel on the prices. I bought an eBay horn that needed a lot of repair but was cheap. Everything has turned out fine but I probably could have gotten an equal or better horn for less than the total amount I have spent by dealing with the merchants linked from TubeNet.

Jeff "More money than sence" Benedict

Donn · Post by **Donn** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 2:08 am

I have on a couple of occasions bought things nearby via EBay, and picked them up in person. No issues in either case, but if there's a serious problem you're in a slightly better position. For example with my old Eb giant bass, I brought a tuner and checked for high pitch before I got out my wallet (I had enquired about pitch during the auction.) And you can probably transport the instrument back more safely than UPS can. It's still a gamble, though.

djwesp · Post by **djwesp** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 3:48 am

Ames0325 wrote:Does anyone have any advice for how to go about buying a first tiem tuba on E-bay?

thanks,
Amy

The biggest advice I can give, if you are going to bid. Bid LATE in the auction. The later you bid, obviously, the less time and people see the new bid. The time constraints also keep the bidding low.

Take the risk of not getting the horn by bidding late, rather than bidding early and watching the price of what should be a cheap horn skyrocket.

MikeS · Post by **MikeS** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 9:42 am

If you buy a horn from Dillon or Baltimore Brass you have several advantages over eBay. You know that the horn has been cleaned and serviced and will work as well as it's going to. You also have honest, knowledgable folk to deal with who can give you an honest assessment of the horn. Finally, you know that it will be packed well enough to survive shipment. You can find some real bargains on eBay but you can also find an $800 lawn ornament.

If you are looking for a BBflat Dillon has a Conn 12J and a Conn 21J that are in your price range. They have a three valve bell-front King, like Bloke mentioned, but it's $1700. Baltimore Brass has a Besson Stratford that's also in your range. If you are looking for an Eflat there are more choices, but I think if you want to play in a community band you would be happier with a BBflat. Just my opinion, for what it's worth.

The Big Ben · Post by **The Big Ben** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 11:17 am

MikeS wrote:I
If you are looking for a BBflat Dillon has a Conn 12J and a Conn 21J that are in your price range. They have a three valve bell-front King, like Bloke mentioned, but it's $1700.

Tuba Exchange advertises a 3v King for $695 and will ship it to you for free! Oh, boy!

Ebay is fine and kinda fun if you are the type that likes to play blackjack at the casino. The bidding, the winning the bid, the delivery of the product has that gambling feeling to it. There are ways to raise your odds but I still say look through the TubeNet vendors first!

You might want to e-mail them with your needs also. I know Dan Schultz (Tuba Tinker) has some of those 3v Kings he's going to fix up to sell but hasn't done so yet. Maybe some of the others have other types of tubas sitting around to be fixed when time allows. The repair guys might get motivated to get it fixed up to make you a nice deal on a good horn.

Jeff

ParLawGod · Post by **ParLawGod** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 2:37 pm

A bell-front King or Conn would probably be good for you (and cost under 1K) until you can afford a better one. If they say shipping for the tuba will be $175 send them an e-mail (ahead of time) - see if they'll send it through Greyhound (I recently did this and it cost me over $100) and it only cost me about $50 for shipping. If you can find an auction close to you (if if if) you might be able to arrange a pickup. I did this when I bought an alto horn a few weeks ago and it saved me money on shipping, it saved the guy the hastle of finding a box to ship it in, and I got the horn faster (that's the big one lol).

Or...put an ad here on the forum, someone may be able to help you (my guess would be that some people may have already sent you messages after viewing this thread).

Good Luck!!!

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 5:17 pm

The Big Ben wrote: I know Dan Schultz (Tuba Tinker) has some of those 3v Kings he's going to fix up to sell but hasn't done so yet. Jeff

I've got two of those Kings ready to go and another two hot on their heels! good players.

Ames0325 · Post by **Ames0325** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 11:46 pm

Wow thanks for all the replies and advice. Many suggestions that I hadnt yet thought of.

Amy

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