Tucson CL: Martin Recording Bass

[hrender]

https://tucson.craigslist.org/msg/d/martin-tuba/6640940788.html

[roweenie]

Fiberglass?

[Paul Scott]

I'd bet it's fiberglass. Don't like the looks of that leadpipe.....

[SousaWarrior9]

I'd bet it's fiberglass. Don't like the looks of that leadpipe.....

Yup, fiberglass. I saw this exact horn for sale some time ago, same exact picture too, mangled leadpipe and all. Seems strange that it's the same picture, but who knows.

[WakinAZ]

I'm local to the seller, if it's the same person that posted last time. I'll report back here on what I find

[YORK-aholic]

It sure looks to be fiberglass (look at the junction between fiberglass and brass where the electrical tape is). Engraving on bell tenon

4/4

Looks to be a chip out of the bell rim.

[WakinAZ]

The seller responded to my inquiry via Craigslist email, so that is a change from last time. That said, I have absolutely no interest in having a 3 valve recording bass (even a rare/collectible/unique one) at this point, so I decided not to pursue it.

[vespa50sp]

Probably not the original bell. I played with a guy who had a nice three valve Martin. It was a Mammoth-sized horn, sounded great. But he had to strap the two cases (bell and body) to a hand cart to get it to practice.

[Donn]

I assume we're talking about full fiberglass, not just the bell. Everything but the valves and the leadpipe (what's left of it.) Common 4/4 size.

[YORK-aholic]

Probably not the original bell.

Why do you believe that it isn't the original bell? It looks to be all one piece fiberglass, i.e. no connector ferrule between the flare and the 45 degree bend/elbow.

[SousaWarrior9]

Probably not the original bell.

Why do you believe that it isn't the original bell? It looks to be all one piece fiberglass, i.e. no connector ferrule between the flare and the 45 degree bend/elbow.

Agreed. See no reason why the bell wouldn't be original. It looks right by the over all shape/flair and similar wear and tear to the body. Plus, I can't see any reason someone would take the bell off an already rare fiberglass Martin and put it on something else.

I assume we're talking about full fiberglass, not just the bell. Everything but the valves and the leadpipe (what's left of it.) Common 4/4 size.

Correct

The seller responded to my inquiry via Craigslist email, so that is a change from last time. That said, I have absolutely no interest in having a 3 valve recording bass (even a rare/collectible/unique one) at this point, so I decided not to pursue it.

Were you able to get more details as to the extent of the damage to the leadpipe or any other issues?

[WakinAZ]

@SW - no I didn't ask, and the seller didn't volunteer anything other than being willing to show the horn.

[bloke]

Someone buy it for $500, and swap it to me for some repair work on something else.

[Gongadin]

This may be a scam. As someone else mentioned, this horn was for sale a long while ago, using the same photograph.
I contacted the Seller today and he or she was agreeable to shipping this horn. Replies to my questions were fast. Then I asked for a couple of photos of specific spots where the damage was (chipping and the lead pipe) and all of a sudden communication stopped.
Granted, the Seller might not be responding until he or she can photograph the requested areas, but it seems strange that the conversation ended as soon as I made that request.