I ran across the forum in my search for a relatively inexpensive used instrument to play. I started, quite a few years ago now, playing piano, then trombone, then trumpet/coronet. In my elementary school years I fell in love playing a BBb Tuba. I played it, euphoniums, and sousas through college. Then life happened and for 20 years I have not played anything but the occasional piano or coronet. I have been wanting to get back into playing my my true musical love, the tuba.
What suggestions, vendors, etc. would ya'll suggest to a middle aged wanting to begin again player (in Mississippi or surrounding areas if possible)? I am not/will never be a professional musician, but I have dearly missed playing and would love to eventually get into our local community band. My price range for an instrument is quite low, so I am looking towards something used but playable to scratch the itch until I can convince the boss to let me have the checkbook .
It's too bad about DC Metro, but I think it's still possible to get something that plays fine, for under $1K. You need patience, and some ability to distinguish between cosmetic and mortal damage. With more of those, considerable luck, and possibly willingness to consider an Eb tuba, you could do it under $500. I have to emphasize patience, because for me it's the most challenging part, to watch the seasons go by in a possibly futile hope that the good deal will come along.
You can accelerate the process considerably by resorting to online auctions, but not only is that a "buyer beware" environment where you're buying a "pig in a poke", you also have to consider the very real possibility that your seller will do a terrible job packing the tuba and hand it over to a parcel service who will brutally abuse it. Then you have to spend more money to get it fixed.
Be careful and don't go too cheap. If you are starting up again, fighting a heavily dented leaky horn will make it less fun and you will have other things to worry about. King 2340s are plentiful and you might get one that looks pretty good for $1K or less. This is the same body as the 2341 but with three valves. There are used 3 valve beginner's horns like King 1140s, Conn 5J (?) and Yamaha 103 that could be good if not too thrashed and might be purchased for $500 or less. There are Chinese clones of these models like the Wessex Junior Tuba which is about $1K new with case. Other "generic" Chinese beginner's horns can cost less.
Don't be afraid to pass one by if it isn't in good enough condition. There are lots of these types of instruments out there and having something fixed can get expensive quickly.
Thanks for the info folks, its much appreciated! Next, If i purchase a used horn (what my price range reflects) or a more modern asian model, who in the south east (more memphis/jackson/birmingham driving range) is a recommended service center for repairs? I previously used my old band director from high school and later another local band director. They have both since retired from teaching and repairing instruments. I figure my best hope at getting something decent (even in a beginner instrument.. which is enough for me tooting around on ) will be to find something that is serviceable with only surface blemishes (which don't bother me at all .. we all age ). I can solder electronics with no issue, but I doubt that I would be competent to work on a brass instrument to do small repairs.
In the "FWIW" department, I found a nice Yorkmaster 3/4 BBb on this forum for $850 9 years ago. In the meantime, I have learned a lot about tubas. In your case, I'd be tempted to buy bloke's tuba...
Advice taken . Ill hold off on wanting to spend my Christmas savings and save up till I can afford something that will be worth the money. That's why I asked for help! I do appreciate it! Ill be in touch with ya bloke hopefully before the end of the year when (if luck holds out) I can save up enough to hit a good min price range .
bearphonium wrote:In the "FWIW" department, I found a nice Yorkmaster 3/4 BBb on this forum for $850 9 years ago.
In the same department, an upright bell King 1240 cost me something in that neighborhood a year or so ago, I misremember the details. I've moved on to something bigger (maybe to my regret, will see after I've hauled it to a few shows), but I found no flaw with the $850 tuba's performance, other than a design problem with water drainage and a couple small spots of corrosion on the first valve piston that would slow it if left untended for a while.
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