Alexander Tuba

[Søren]

Just thougt that I might ask this board.
I just looked the following listing on the german ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.de/Alexander-Kaisertuba ... dZViewItem

A couple of years ago I bought an old, rather cheap, BBb tuba, that I think playes nicely. After closer inspection it turns out to be an Brdr. Alexander Meinz.
I have two pictures of it:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a233/ ... IM0466.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a233/ ... IM0456.jpg

And my question is if my tuba is worth roughly the same? I live in Denmark and the prices might be a little different. But anyway, it could be funny to know what my tuba is worth.
Any input is appreciated

[Lew]

I would guess that a used/vintage 4/4 sized Alexander BBb tuba today would sell for between $4000 and $6000 in most music stores. On eBay it could sell for considerably less.

[Lew]

I would guess that a used/vintage 4/4 sized Alexander BBb tuba today would sell for between $4000 and $6000 in most music stores. On eBay it could sell for considerably less.

I haven't seen Alexander tubas of any sort at most music stores. In general, when I sell rare, desirable, well-presented merchandise in very good condition on eBay, I almost always sell it for considerably more than I would in my music store.

Of course you don't see Alexanders in most music stores, just most music stores that I am likely to be in. On the other hand, the price range I mentioned is what I have seen NEW horns go for, not used.

You are the exception on eBay. Most instruments that I have seen sell on ebay for a good bit less than what I have seen the exact same instrument sell for in some of the more well known stores, like Dillon's or Baltimore Brass. There are exceptions, but especially recently, ebay prices seem to be generally lower than "retail."

I would think that the price would greatly vary (even below the range you suggest) depending on how many people might be interested at any given time. Clock-spring linkage with S-arms might (??) be a price negative as well. In general, the vast majority of those shopping for good used BBb tubas (of course, with exceptions - otherwise, no Fafners, etc. would be sold) seem to have a fairly hard ceiling of $3500. Indeed, a couple of years ago I purchased a Willson model 3100 BBb (with RB bag, gold Bobo mpc, and K&M stand) in perfect/new condition on eBay for only $3500 - probably because it wasn't very well presented.

I have seen plenty of BBb tubas sell for over $4000, but you certainly see more of them than I do, and I think the higher cost examples are more of the exception. I also think that the demand for BBbs is higher in Europe than in the US, which should affect the value. I didn't notice the clockspring linkage, which does affect value, although easily replaced (as you certainly know). I still think that my "considerably less thought is about right, with a most likely selling prices of between $2000 and $3000, deneding on the way the wind is blowing.