TubeNet

I guess someone needs to tell you that your chances of getting a decent used "full size" tuba for $600-$800 are essentially non-existant. Even if you can find a "beater" for this amount, chances are that the amount of work needed to get it into playing shape will cost you several hundred bucks. Yes, there may be some exceptional value out there but you may grow very old waiting for this to happen.

Now, for $1.5k to $2k, you will be able to find a tuba that plays well even though it may look a bit rough. Check out Dillon, BBC, Taylor Music (or whatever they call themselves these days) and our FOR SALE posts.

Unfortunately, those of us taking a liking to larger instruments are cursed with having to pay more for them. Good luck in your search.

I'm gonna have to disagree with Alex on this one. But I guess it all depends on your definition of a "beater".

If you want a nice looking (not many dents, lacquer still intact, etc.) 4 valved 4/4 horn for under $1500, then maybe the chances are slim. Dont give up though. Keep checking ebay everyday. There's several really cool horns an there right now that'll probably go for under $1500.

To me, it seems that horns that LOOK BAD (not play bad mind you) seem to go for far less than what they are worth. I bought my horn (old York Master) for a guy here on TubeNet for $500. She looked like a dog. I spent about $200 for a guy in Salem, VA to get her in the best playing shape he could and clean her up a bit, and he did a great job. I like the way my horn plays and sounds better than the Miraphone 186's and Yamaha 641's my school has for me to use. Drawbacks? The horn has only 3 valves, and a recording bell, neither of which really bother me at all. Some people consider the horn "looking bad" a drawback, but I think it's really funny. I had the horn for a gig on Easter, and the music director of the church just kinda stared at me at first. Then he HEARD the horn, and liked it quite a bit...

Bottom line, if you're willing to make some comprimises, as in a horn that looks like she's seen better days, etc., deals are out there in abundance!

I'm not sure how many people would consider a 3 valve York Master with a recording bell a step up from a Miraphone 186.

fpoon said

I like the way my horn plays and sounds better than the Miraphone 186's and Yamaha 641's my school has for me to use.

Maybe the horns his school had were really bad. My first horn that I ever owned was a 3 valve York Master Sousaphone. It also played better than the Miraphones my college had. Also, If you dont have the air to fill up a larger horn then a smaller bored horn will "sound better" to the player.

If I were you willemac, I would hunt for the cheapest horn you can find that sounds good. Work your chops back up on it, and then trade up. Try to buy a horn that you can put some air through before you buy so that you will at least know if there are any major leaks in it. Build yourself back up on the cheap horn...surf the forums and the resellers for a good deal on a better horn and then go for it...the sooner you start playing the sooner you will be back to where you want to be (btw...I got every penny back plus more than I paid for that $350 York Master sousaphone when I traded it in on a better horn)

The miraphones are in very good condition, I just like my horn better. Thats all there is to it.

I've seen 4 or 5 good tubas on ebay and here under $1500. 3 and 4 valve. And that was just in the past month! You just can't be picky about appearance or brand. And you can always step up to a better model later on if you choose to do so.

Will

Its in your price range:

viewtopic.php?t=7198

That'd be a great horn to relearn on. Looks like it's in really good condition.

I'd snatch it up if I had the extra cash. It'd be useful when I give lessons to my younger students. They could look at my fingers for reference. Right now I use an F, which works most of the time.


Will

Let me add a little different perspective as a person in your position 4 or 5 years ago. If you are purchasing on the web, you need to consider the shipping cost. Tubas ship for around $100. If you get a tuba that you only use for a few months to get your chops in shape, its like leaving $100 on the road for UPS to pick up.

I bought a Conn 10J to start playing. The seller didn't tell me (in fact they wouldn't tell me the model) and I didn't know that this was a 3/4 size tuba. It didn't take me very long to realize that this tuba wasn't going to make it in the community band I played with. Within six months I had another used tuba, a King 1241. This one made the grade (with some mechanical work).

The King 2340s and 1240s, 3 valve tubas, will work in a number of situations as will other full size tubas. Beware of smaller tubas unless you are playing with a small group or by yourself. Also, when dealing on eBay make sure you understand fully what you are buying. The cost to ship back to the seller costs as much as the shipping to you, more money down the drain.