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Looking for a larger horn. I have played the PT-6 and really like it, and was wondering if there where any for sale? Also, any larger horns for sale?

Tim Owens is selling his rotor Neptune 6/4. It's a great horn and he's a stand-up guy. I couldn't find the tubenet post, but here's the info I had from an email:

Greetings all,

A good friend, Tim Owens, is selling his Mel Culbertson CC tuba. I have played this horn on many occasions and it is quite wonderful. Below is the description that he sent me, and I have put together a Yahoo picture page: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/tim_olt/a ... FBw7pGWwWp

Please contact Tim Owens at the contacts below if you have any questions.

VMI 4098 "Mel Culbertson� Neptune Tuba for Sale in Cincinnati, OH

Features
• Bell: 20.5" Gold lacquered brass
• Bore: .748" to .827" graduated bore
• Case: Hard case included – non-negotiable
• Key: CC
• Size: 6/4
• Valves: 5 rotary valves with thumb activated 5th valve
• Extra 5th valve slide
• Whammy-bar actuating lever on second valve slide
• Only one leadpipe. Brasswinds sent me home with an extra Apollo leadpipe that obviously doesn’t fit, but I’m using on my F tuba.
• Clear neoprene tubing bell rim guard

Sadly, I am selling one of my most prized possessions. My Neptune 6/4 CC is in mint condition, save a small dent scar in the bell. I've played it with the American Wind Symphony Orchestra on two tours, the Middletown Symphony, and the Cincinnati Pops, all of whom have loved its sound. I'm selling the horn because I've chased out my dreams of becoming a major orchestral player, and have found a great horn that is smaller for the more frequent quintet and smaller orchestral jobs that I love playing. My Neptune 6/4 CC is in mint condition, save a small dent scar in the bell. I am a NAPBIRT certified tech that has done my utmost to baby and maintain this horn to keep it in top shape. I've replaced the rotor springs with slightly stronger ones that don't let the valves bounce on the return stroke. I've also replaced all the squishy and opaque VMI bumpers with sturdier black neoprene. This gives the horn a quick and immediate response, I think faster than most piston horns. I've used ATF on all the linage parts to keep them from wearing, and my own concoction of Al-Cass and Singer Sewing machine oil on the rotors. The horn's valve section and lead pipe have just recently been chem. cleaned in an ultra-sonic tank. I've kept the lacquer pristine by cleaning it with Pledge. The only damage ever suffered to it was on the Point Counterpoint II, coming up the stairway, I had to dodge a harp coming down and the end of the handrail put a dent into the inside bell. I had Ted W. at Wolkliens in Pittsburgh take it out, and since my training at Badger State and Getzen, I've continually worked it back out of the bell to where there's just a small crease left.

I bought my rotary Neptune from Brasswinds during the summer of 2001, just before I left on tour with the American Wind Symphony Orchestra. It has been one the best horns I've ever played. Tony Kniffen played my horn and found it to be one of the most resonant horns he's every played, and was quite impressed. With the rotors, especially with my customization, it has the versatility to do fast, delicate solo works, but the 6/4 throat gives it the breadth and resonance of a monstrous pipe organ. I found it much more agile than the piston version of the horn. It has such a beautiful lush sound, it really hurts to sell it. Intonation wise, I've found it works best with my altered Bach 7 mouthpiece. It is solid, and has a whammy-actuating bar on the second valve slide that's easily accessed with the left hand while playing.

Advantages to buying this horn verses a new one from Brasswinds:

On the WWBW site, the Culbertson with the hard case I have, I got the subtotal: $8,548.99, no tax included or shipping. I have at least $400 worth of work in personal customizations and a pro chem. clean in that Culbertson as well as what Ted Wear charged me for dent removal. I've also professional set up the horn with brand new high quality rotor bumpers. From a buyer's perspective, yes, it looks like you could pay 600 more plus tax and get a totally new horn. However, it is a horn that will need new bumpers and whose springs bounce the rotors around so bad that you can't play anything fast with ease, and will need I'm guessing $200 of work very soon at a pro shop. So, if you want a horn like I've got, then the price without tax comes to at least $8, 748.99. Add tax and you get to add on $568 some dollars at 6.5% sales tax. This brings the total that you will have to pay at Brasswinds or to your state's tax office to roughly to $9316.99. The tax brought the Culbertson and case to $8k when I bought it, and at the time it listed for just under $7k. I am only looking to regain my principle investment in the horn, but am willing to negotiate.

Asking price: $7,950.00 Buyer pays for shipping

For questions please contact Tim Owens at tubagowens@gmail.com

tubadude08 wrote:Looking for a larger horn. I have played the PT-6 and really like it, and was wondering if there where any for sale? Also, any larger horns for sale?

WARNING - Personal opinions follow:

I played a rotary PT-6 for seven years that I purchased from Bob Tucci at his shop in Germany. A very fine instrument, and there are certainly some name-brand players making a fine living playing them (Jeff Anderson in San Francisco comes to mind).

Having said that, however, I'd put my rotary Willson up against a rotary PT-6 any day. If it weren't for financial reasons, I wouldn't be selling it:

viewtopic.php?t=20069

After switching around on horns for many years, Paul Krzywicki said of this instrument that he wished he'd had it earlier on in his career. My horn was his last large CC stage tuba, and he sold it through Dave Fedderly to me.

Please feel free to touch base with any questions, and like I said - just my $.02, your mileage may vary...

...Dave