Can anyone tell me if this thing is any good?

[djwesp]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ANTIQUE-BRASS-HELIC ... dZViewItem

Cute little Eb helicon.


Looks like it needs work, but I'm not fully sure if the person selling it is aware of what they are selling. The neck appears to be fine and original. The "small section of the neck" is in fact a bit that has been replaced. It might not even be a replacement, it might have just been put there to lower pitch.


Without seeing the valves closer I don't think many people will be able to help you out very much. He says they are playable, but it doesn't look they have been refurbished at all, they may be bare brass in there---or close to it.


The Tubenent Freak Jury Repair Department should be able to tell you a lot more than I can.



Wes "not a repairman, but loves old helicons" pendergrass

[Chuck(G)]

Looks like an old Henry Distin horn made in Williamsport, PA. These can be very good, but are rather lightweight, but bidding on this one without having more detail on general condition is a crapshoot.

[Dan Schultz]

I am of the opinion that $799 is too high a start price for a 'pig in a poke'.

[Kevin Hendrick]

Well, properly prepared, it's probably very tasty (and chock-full of minerals!).

[Kevin Hendrick]

Exactly!

[WakinAZ]

or maybe this one: viewtopic.php?t=21345

I do like the custom cheat sheet fingering chart written directly onto the eBay horn though.

Eric "who would rather buy a tuba from a tuba player" L.