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I never knew Yamaha ever made this type of instrument. Anyone know anything about them?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Yamaha-Maestro-4-Ro ... 286.c0.m14

I bought a 'Maestro' curved euphonium like that a couple of years ago and sold it to a fellow in the German band I was playing with. The 'Maestro' horn I bought was a Chinese brand and cost about $300 plus the postage.... about $335 total as I recall. The horn actually played pretty well and the mechanics were OK. But... it certainly wasn't a Yamaha and I don't think the horn in question is either.

Thanks for the responses. I was wondering the same. Maestro is a branding they use in Europe but not in the US.

I went on the UK Yamaha site. Indeed, their Maestro logo does not look like that one. Sounds fake to me.

I emailed the seller and questioned the validity of the listing. Here is his response:

"According to our research and the previous owner this is a Yamaha. It is possible that we are wrong, but at this time we feel our description is correct. Thank you for your inquiry. If you have anymore questions please let me know. (name withheld) - Used Instrument Warehouse"

I suppose the seller can have the benefit of the doubt... for the moment, anyway.

TubaTinker wrote:"According to our research and the previous owner this is a Yamaha.

"Research"? It seems to me, that the research into this matter would be to look at the instrument's bell, and see whether "Yamaha" is engraved thereon. If it is, then the careful researcher might have some way to determine that the engraving isn't fraudulent, but that's far beyond the call of duty for Ebay sellers.

Without Yamaha's name, I don't see how anyone can call it a Yamaha. I will sometimes mention Conn in connection with my Pan American Eb Giant Bass, but A) it isn't a Conn Pan American, it's a Pan American (made by Conn as I understand it), and B) for a tuba made ca. 1926, that presumably means the same Indiana factory. Today, we're undoubtedly talking about China, and even if Yamaha were somehow associated with this intrument, it's irrelevant.

Auction is fraudulent.

Methinks they don't know how to do research. Did they call Yamaha? I doubt it. Yamaha does stamp "Maestro" on their UK line of pro instruments, but like I said their logo is different. Definitely a fake. The lack of a model number also concerns me.

eBay Seller wrote:It has hand-lapped valves and slides for a perfect seal between the valve pistons or slide parts

What?

Trust me, it AIN'T a Yamaha. Save yourself $2000, buy one of the Chinese euphs.