where to test horns on west coast

bububassboner · Post by **bububassboner** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 12:19 am

Like alot here I'm looking for a contra-bass tuba for college. But all the big stores like Dillons and Baltimore Brass are way far away. So my question is where are some good music stores in the Northwest to try ALOT of different horns?

ParLawGod · Post by **ParLawGod** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 7:15 am

I've dealt with Steve Ferguson (hornguys.com) several times. Steve makes sure that EVERY horn that comes in is in top notch playing condition - in short, he will not sell a lemon! If there is even the slightest in playability he sends it out to get fixed, or he sends it back to the manufacturer...there are other stores who might go ahead and just sell the horn as is. I highly recommend him. When you visit he might only have 8-10 models to try (not sure how many of each he has) but they will all be excellent tubas. Steve is committed to quality - you won't be disappointed.

pjv · Post by **pjv** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:19 am

As well you can check out Robb Stewarts. Its no mega store but he has very resonable prices. Hes only listed four tubas. He might have more.

BBb Conn 20J 305757 1935 lacquer very good old lacquer $1300

BBb Huttl Kaiser bell ca. 1930 brass/nick very good .810" bore $1200

BBb Reynolds bell front 23041 ca. 1960 brass good $700

CC Conn 3 valve top 239563 1927 lacquer very good
.694" bore $1000

I purchased an awesome 1930's 36J there a couple of years ago. www.robbstewart.com

I don't know if Stein on Vine carrys tubas. You could always call. www.steinonvine.com

Good luck

Patrick

circusboy · Post by **circusboy** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 1:13 pm

I don't know if Stein on Vine carrys tubas. You could always call. www.steinonvine.com

Nope. Stein doesn't. And L.A.'s quite a hike from the Northwest. It's like telling someone in Miami to hop up to Baltimore Brass.

If Oberloh doesn't have what you seek to try/buy, bassboner, you may as well suck up the time/airfare and head east. I agree that Steve Ferguson's a nice fellow, but if you're going to be hopping on a plane, you'd be able to try many more horns at Dillon's, Baltimore, WWBW, Custom, etc. (Unless you really want to try a Gronitz.)

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 1:31 pm

If you find yourself in Southern California, you might want to visit Kanstul's showroom in Anaheim (not far from Disneyland) and have a toot on their big BBb tuba.

Dylan King · Post by **Dylan King** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 3:36 pm

circusboy wrote: I agree that Steve Ferguson's a nice fellow, but if you're going to be hopping on a plane, you'd be able to try many more horns at Dillon's, Baltimore, WWBW, Custom, etc. (Unless you really want to try a Gronitz.)

Steve also has a nice selection of Miraphone and Alexander tubas in addition to the Gronitz horns, and there's a pretty nice Yorkbrunner frankentuba for sale there right now as well.

trseaman · Post by **trseaman** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 4:43 pm

I lived in Beaverton, OR for a number of years and agree that there's not much up there. Portland Music had an old Holton BF 3-banger for sale that I once considered but that was many years ago... Call around and ask all the local music stores they might be able to stir up at least a couple good leads. Local professors might be able to help, maybe? Goodluck!

Tim

glangfur · Post by **glangfur** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 9:02 am

You could try Akright's near Seattle:
http://www.akrightmusic.com/325381.html