Thoughts on Selling an Instrument Online - Miraphone 56A

[Warfdog]

Hi TubeNet'ists,

I am new to the forum. I am interested in your thoughts on selling a Tuba/Euphonium online and how to put a value on a specific horn. Also plan to stick around a while so hello to everyone on the forum!

I have a Miraphone 56A Bb Kaiserbaraton (at least I believe that is the model) that is virtually new and possibly rare. I bought it several years ago to resume playing Tuba/Euph, but have instead focused on playing a larger bore trombone that I really like.

I sent an email to Miraphone in Germany to get more information on the specific horn since it is apparently of 70's vintage, but I have not heard back from them yet. If it is really a rare horn I am torn between keeping it vs. selling it since we can really use the money right now. But I like the tenor range and feel of this horn and it's a very pretty instrument.

I have not taken any photos of it, but it is almost identical to this horn from the Miraphone DE website:


http://www.miraphone.de/produkte_3.asp?M=070056A

Mine is nickel silver wreath / material of mouthpipe: gold brass / lacquered

What is the best way to sell this if I have to - eBay, TubeNet, consignment locally, or consignment somewhere specializing in these kinds of horns (like Ferguson's aka Horn Guys in So.Cal.?).

How do you accurately convey condition and details online, does it require a survey from an expert?

Are there any rules for ensuring that you get paid and settle any issues via TubeNet?

Thanks to all,
Joe

[bort]

There aren't many of these around, but partially because they're not really what most people need/want.

I first saw one of these about 3 years ago, when someone sent me an email trying to sell it thinking it was an F tuba. It was in nearly new shape, though an older instrument (i.e., not used very much). I think the price was $3300 or something like that. *NOTE* -- I have NO CLUE if that is a good or bad price, I lost interest when I learned it wasn't an F tuba.

If you want to 100% guarantee payment, protection, etc., you will have to go the consignment route or eBay.

TubeNet is just a Web site. You're responsible for the sale, the posting, the advertisement and everything. No fees, and you have to live by gentlemen's agreements. Build your trust and have others build trust in you, and you'll be fine. I'm not sure if anyone has gotten burned here before (or how badly), but I've bought and sold $xx,xxx of tubas and other "stuff" and have never had a bad experience. No guarantees though.

[bort]

Out of curiosity, what is the serial number? 11998? (I dug up some old emails, and 11998 is the one I am referring to from a few years ago)

[Warfdog]

Serial number on the Bell is 13529 and the tag (yes, it still has a tag) is ...

047-70-0_13529

[bort]

Ok, not the same one then.

Here's one that sold recently. Not sure what the final price was, but might be a starting point for you:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=35690

[TUBAD83]

If you want to sell fairly quickly then ebay is the way to go...alot more people will see it sooner. Having said that, there are a number things you need to know before listing your horn such as:

Shipping--where are you willing to ship, knowing how to properly pack the tuba, what carrier are you going to use, etc.

Payment--what forms of payment are you willing to accept, learning about ebay's fee structure, will you require immediate payment, etc.

Having plenty of photos of both the horn and the case (if there is one)

The key is planning everything out BEFORE you list your horn--PM me if you have any questions about ebay.

JJ

[Michael Bush]

What a perfect instrument! I didn't know these existed. Do I understand correctly that it plays in Bb in the range of a bass tuba?

If I were looking to drop that much money on a horn, I'd be all over it.

[Warfdog]

That's right - it plays an octave above a BBb tuba. Known sometimes as a tenor-tuba, elsewhere as a large euphonium -- or by Miraphone as a kaiserbaritone. It's size and tone appealed to me a great deal when I found it, though I don't know where it is typically used or on what repetoire exactly. Seems like it would be interesting in a variety of music from Jazz to Classical. From the pictures djwpe's 56A is a 5-valve and mine is a 4-valve both 56A variants. Otherwise they are similar. Mine has a hard case and a Miraphone mouthpiece, lyre, tools and accessories that are all original and a fingernail sized dent in the bell that will be easy to take out. Enough here though - I will let the forum know where I advertise it when I decide what to do next...

[jeopardymaster]

I have one - can post a shot or 2 of me playing it at some point. I got it because I finally gave up trying to figure out how to use an F when I really don't have a lot of time to practice. For most "bass tuba" apps I use my 983 and it's mostly fine, but there are some cases where it's just too heavy - some Mendelssohn and Berlioz, for instance. That's where I hope the 56A will become useful. Hasn't happened yet. I have a Bobo TT mp for that environment - works very well in the practice room.

Plays great, useful as a regular euph when I want the bell to point opposite of where my Besson does. I use a 5G bass trombone MP then - very responsive, but the intonation takes some getting used to, though.

[Michael Bush]

I have one - can post a shot or 2 of me playing it at some point. I got it because I finally gave up trying to figure out how to use an F when I really don't have a lot of time to practice. For most "bass tuba" apps I use my 983 and it's mostly fine, but there are some cases where it's just too heavy - some Mendelssohn and Berlioz, for instance. That's where I hope the 56A will become useful. Hasn't happened yet. I have a Bobo TT mp for that environment - works very well in the practice room.

Plays great, useful as a regular euph when I want the bell to point opposite of where my Besson does. I use a 5G bass trombone MP then - very responsive, but the intonation takes some getting used to, though.

This is what I was thinking, it would be a great alternative to an F for an amateur such as myself who has a hard time keeping two sets of fingerings straight with limited practice time.

I'm already fully committed to an F purchase, though.

[Alex F]

Steve Ferguson, http://www.hornguys.com" target="_blank, has a 56A for sale on his website for just under $6k new. As mentioned, they are rare over hear but quite common in Germany, Austria and Eastern Europe.

I recently adopted a Mirafone (yes, with the "f") Model 47W tenorhorn, also from the '70s. Based on the SN you stated, your horn is newer than mine. Mine is the "oval euphonium" with an 11" bell (more or less) and a stated bore of .563" (more or lesss). 4 rotary valves. It's a fun horn to play. Right now, I'm playing it with a Bach 5G tenor shank mp but Roger Lewis promised to steal me a TH10 mp when he was at Miraphone this week (JUST KIDDING ROGER!) The horn is pretty free-blowing and has a nice-mellow sound. As to intonation, it can be a bit squirrely in places, but it is getting better with practice. It is also quite light and, on those days when the back is acting up, sure beats the Sterling comp at rehearsals. To me, the tone sound more "horny" than "tubaesque".

[Warfdog]

I just got a message back from Miraphone in Germany. They are great at responding to little inquiry like this. I was trying to find out if they knew anything unique about this horn. They said,

"...we do not have too much information on this instrument other than that we know that it was built in March of 1987 and sold to our California distributor. We have no trail for the instrument beyond that point. The model is a 56A as you assumed."

So it's a little newer than I thought (not from the 70s) and is in fact a 56A just like the current model. Strange that it doesn't have any engravings describing the model specifics. And being from this era it has "Mirafone" spelled with an "f"...