Living in Utah with no tubas to try out.
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tubaribonephone
- bugler
- Posts: 95
- Joined: Thu Jul 29, 2004 3:53 pm
- Location: Roy, Utah
- Contact:
Living in Utah with no tubas to try out.
By the end of the summer, I'll have saved up about $5,000 to put towards a tuba but there isn't a decent music store around here with a variety of tubas to try (the only place around only has 1 brand.....). So my question is, where is a decent place to try a fairly wide variety of tubas either around Northern Utah (maybe a 5 or 6 hour drive or less) or even on the west coast (and I'll just do a cheap flight)? Thanks for you help!
Ricky
Phantom Regiment - '06 Contra
1st Chair Tuba - Weber State University Wind Ensemble '03-'08
Low Brass Section Leader - Weber State University Marching Band '03-'07
Phantom Regiment - '06 Contra
1st Chair Tuba - Weber State University Wind Ensemble '03-'08
Low Brass Section Leader - Weber State University Marching Band '03-'07
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Alex F
- 4 valves
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- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 12:39 am
- Location: Chicago
Try Steve Ferguson in LA:
www.hornguys.com
There's also an outfit in Las Vegas, Kessler Music
Also, if Southwest flies anywhere near you, I think they have some very good fares that will allow you to travel to NJ (Dillon's) and/or Baltimore (Baltimore Brass). If you fly to Newark, NJ, Dillon's can be reached by local train and Baltimore is just a short trip on Amtrak from NJ.
www.hornguys.com
There's also an outfit in Las Vegas, Kessler Music
Also, if Southwest flies anywhere near you, I think they have some very good fares that will allow you to travel to NJ (Dillon's) and/or Baltimore (Baltimore Brass). If you fly to Newark, NJ, Dillon's can be reached by local train and Baltimore is just a short trip on Amtrak from NJ.
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Uncle Buck
- 5 valves
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- Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2004 3:45 pm
- Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
- Contact:
Oberloh
Give Dan Oberloh a call.
http://www.oberloh.com/
From what I hear, he usually has some used horns in stock that he doesn't post on his website. If he has a few you might be interested in, a 12 hour drive might be easier than a flight, and trying to bring your just-purchased tuba home on a plane.
Anybody know of a good place maybe in the Portland or Boise area (so he could make a few stops in one trip)?
http://www.oberloh.com/
From what I hear, he usually has some used horns in stock that he doesn't post on his website. If he has a few you might be interested in, a 12 hour drive might be easier than a flight, and trying to bring your just-purchased tuba home on a plane.
Anybody know of a good place maybe in the Portland or Boise area (so he could make a few stops in one trip)?
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LoyalTubist
- 6 valves
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- Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2006 8:49 pm
- Location: Arcadia, CA
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Kessler does not ship tubas... They must be picked up at one of their three stores in the Vegas area. This point is mentioned on their website--
http://www.kesslermusic.com/
Although I am technically a Las Vegas resident right now (it's where my mail goes before it comes here to Vietnam), I have never dealt with this company. They mainly sell Conns. Looking at their website, they seem a little expensive. I can't discourage this company nor endorse them. If anyone has dealt with Kessler and Sons, I would be interested in knowing how they are.
http://www.kesslermusic.com/
Although I am technically a Las Vegas resident right now (it's where my mail goes before it comes here to Vietnam), I have never dealt with this company. They mainly sell Conns. Looking at their website, they seem a little expensive. I can't discourage this company nor endorse them. If anyone has dealt with Kessler and Sons, I would be interested in knowing how they are.
________________________________________________________
You only have one chance to make a first impression. Don't blow it.
You only have one chance to make a first impression. Don't blow it.
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iiipopes
- Utility Infielder
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- Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2005 1:10 am
There are also stores and other individuals who, upon the security of a credit card or cash deposit, will ship instruments to you on approval.
Believe it or not, living in southwest Missouri, we are about as destitute for tubas here as you are. The stores that specialize in band instruments simply do not carry tubas, as there is such a small market, and what market there is usually only consists of which school in the area is ordering an instrument or two to replace an instrument being retired. The private ownership of tubas is sparse. In a metropolitan area of about a quarter million, there are probably only about a dozen guys who actually own tubas. Half of them are in the city with either the orchestra or the local community bands, like me, and the other half dozen are south playing in the shows.
So, like you, I have had to purchase both my tubas long distance. Fortunately, I had done my homework properly and they both worked out, but I would have been in a world of hurt had they not.
Good luck. With $5k, you're in the market for some really fine tubas, albeit mostly used ones if you want top brands (didn't prices just go up on Miraphones and some others?) although that will purchase a new Cerveny, King, VMI and may a couple of others. So take your time, invest in a platinum card with a limit you can call in to secure a trial, (then cancel it immediately after you purchase your tuba so you don't get yourself in trouble credit-wise!) and spend a few hundred to go to LA or Nevada.
Good luck and have fun!
Believe it or not, living in southwest Missouri, we are about as destitute for tubas here as you are. The stores that specialize in band instruments simply do not carry tubas, as there is such a small market, and what market there is usually only consists of which school in the area is ordering an instrument or two to replace an instrument being retired. The private ownership of tubas is sparse. In a metropolitan area of about a quarter million, there are probably only about a dozen guys who actually own tubas. Half of them are in the city with either the orchestra or the local community bands, like me, and the other half dozen are south playing in the shows.
So, like you, I have had to purchase both my tubas long distance. Fortunately, I had done my homework properly and they both worked out, but I would have been in a world of hurt had they not.
Good luck. With $5k, you're in the market for some really fine tubas, albeit mostly used ones if you want top brands (didn't prices just go up on Miraphones and some others?) although that will purchase a new Cerveny, King, VMI and may a couple of others. So take your time, invest in a platinum card with a limit you can call in to secure a trial, (then cancel it immediately after you purchase your tuba so you don't get yourself in trouble credit-wise!) and spend a few hundred to go to LA or Nevada.
Good luck and have fun!
Jupiter JTU1110
"Real" Conn 36K
"Real" Conn 36K
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pat
- lurker
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- Joined: Fri May 28, 2004 2:40 pm
[quote="DLThomas"]Several years ago I found my York BBb at Kolacny Music in Denver. I haven't been there recently (to know what's in stock) but they might be worth a call and perhaps a look.[/quote]
Agreed, about the only place I know of around here that will actually have tubas on display.
They usually have at least a few tubas to show, new and/or used.
One of the main sales guys there, Larry, is a tubist. I believe he helps organize the Denver "Tuba Christmas" each year.
He does the buying IIRC, and also seems to know of any used pro-owned horns to be had on the local market...
Agreed, about the only place I know of around here that will actually have tubas on display.
They usually have at least a few tubas to show, new and/or used.
One of the main sales guys there, Larry, is a tubist. I believe he helps organize the Denver "Tuba Christmas" each year.
He does the buying IIRC, and also seems to know of any used pro-owned horns to be had on the local market...
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LoyalTubist
- 6 valves
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- Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2006 8:49 pm
- Location: Arcadia, CA
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When I was younger, almost every town of over 30,000 had a musical instrument store and it was rare to see any to have a tuba. Tubas are not something that every music store stocks. It would be a money-losing proposition for most stores.
________________________________________________________
You only have one chance to make a first impression. Don't blow it.
You only have one chance to make a first impression. Don't blow it.
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Chuck(G)
- 6 valves
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- Location: Not out of the woods yet.
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I wonder if any of the nice folks at BYU would let you at least figure out what yoiu're looking for by playing a few horns (supervised of course) there?
It might be worth asking Steve Call. That way, when you're out on your horn-hunting expedition, you'll at least have a general direction to shoot for.
It might be worth asking Steve Call. That way, when you're out on your horn-hunting expedition, you'll at least have a general direction to shoot for.