I will likely be downsizing in the next year, and I'm going to need to clear the stable, so to speak. I'm planning to keep my F and CC tubas, and my Sterling euph. The rest....probably will go, including my most-loved Schmid horn, because I simply cannot play it any more (sob.) So that would be three horns, two of which have little value, and three baritone-euphonium type instruments, and one very old 3-valve Eb tuba.
So; while ebay may appear to be the best option, it has problems I don't want to deal with. Based on my experiences as a buyer, ebay is pretty far down the list of possible venues.
Trying to sell locally gets zero response even with extremely good prices; I'd have to almost literally give these instruments away. Tucson just is not a city with people who are interested in this kind of thing. In the past, I've had to sell horns in Phoenix. I suppose I could use the Phoenix Craigslist with local pickup only, cash, and lots of very good pictures.
Another option is to just put them on consignment with someone whom I trust, and who wants to do that. Someone like that could advise me on realistic prices for the times we live in.
Suggestions? Please do not suggest ebay!
MA
Clearing the Stable
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Be kind. No government, state, or local politics allowed. Admin has final decision for any/all removed posts.
Be kind. No government, state, or local politics allowed. Admin has final decision for any/all removed posts.
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MaryAnn
- Occasionally Visiting Pipsqueak
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Donn
- 6 valves
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Re: Clearing the Stable
Consignment sounds like sense to me, for the more valuable items. Anything else means throwing the thing out there and trolling it past the market for a couple weeks to see if anyone will bite, which is fine except for the time limitation - the serious buyer who has finally rounded up some funds and is looking for your horn, is going to show up too late - so economically, represents a different market. A consignment in the right place for a long time can reach that market. Maybe.
For the other end of the scale ... are there any local schools or educational initiatives of some sort that could use the stuff, if you were to just give it away? Of course this strategy is not very lucrative, but maybe you get fewer headaches and more good karma. The Eb tuba for example.
I suppose this raises a semantic question - can donate and inflict refer to the same act, or are they mutually exclusive? Instruments can be useful for arts and crafts kinds of things, if they're too awful to really play.
For the other end of the scale ... are there any local schools or educational initiatives of some sort that could use the stuff, if you were to just give it away? Of course this strategy is not very lucrative, but maybe you get fewer headaches and more good karma. The Eb tuba for example.
I suppose this raises a semantic question - can donate and inflict refer to the same act, or are they mutually exclusive? Instruments can be useful for arts and crafts kinds of things, if they're too awful to really play.
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djwesp
- 5 valves
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- Joined: Sat Nov 27, 2004 11:01 pm
Re: Clearing the Stable
Mary Ann,
I have an extremely interested and potential buyer for the Schmid. This young lady has literally spent years being enamored with them and searching for a used one to her liking.
I'll be working out contact between you two in the coming days.
I have an extremely interested and potential buyer for the Schmid. This young lady has literally spent years being enamored with them and searching for a used one to her liking.
I'll be working out contact between you two in the coming days.
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iiipopes
- Utility Infielder
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Re: Clearing the Stable
Why not post pix and try to sell them in the "for sale" section here?
Please PM me and tell me more about the Eb. Thanks.
Please PM me and tell me more about the Eb. Thanks.
Jupiter JTU1110
"Real" Conn 36K
"Real" Conn 36K
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scottw
- 5 valves
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- Location: South Jersey
Re: Clearing the Stable
I, too, might be interested in the Eb for Civil War-era band use. Please tell us about it?iiipopes wrote:Why not post pix and try to sell them in the "for sale" section here?
Please PM me and tell me more about the Eb. Thanks.
Thanks,
Scottw
Bearin' up!
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MaryAnn
- Occasionally Visiting Pipsqueak
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Re: Clearing the Stable
Those of you who want to contact me, *please* use email as I generally do not access Tubenet except on weekends, today being an exception.
The Eb is an upright 3-three banger with the name McClellan on it (I'd guess it is identical to Conns of the same vintage.) I got it from Lee Stofer back when I was making a first foray into tubas. He said he could play it in tune, but I don't seem to be able to; the high range is, when I play it, sharp with respect to the low range. Maybe now I could get it to work, but then I could not. It takes a small shank mouthpiece, has a nice, spreading, tuba-like tone, great big bell, and fabulous false tones that *easily* give it the bottom octave above the pedal. It may be a 3/4 size, as it's not very tall.
It is really old (1920s?,) discolored, but not all that banged up. It has a cheap gig bag but no hard case. The problem with selling it non-locally is that the shipping is going to add a significant percentage to the cost, since the thing is worth probably $400. I have thought of giving it to a school, but around here they do not start kids on Eb. A band director who is not a tuba player probably can't even give them the correct fingerings for Eb, and will accuse them of having no talent.
I find it impossible to upload pictures correctly with my dial-up; it always messes itself up and bits get lost. Otherwise I would have uploaded pictures of everything already. Anyone interested in that price plus shipping to wherever you are, please email me and I'll find a way to get pictures to you.
MA
The Eb is an upright 3-three banger with the name McClellan on it (I'd guess it is identical to Conns of the same vintage.) I got it from Lee Stofer back when I was making a first foray into tubas. He said he could play it in tune, but I don't seem to be able to; the high range is, when I play it, sharp with respect to the low range. Maybe now I could get it to work, but then I could not. It takes a small shank mouthpiece, has a nice, spreading, tuba-like tone, great big bell, and fabulous false tones that *easily* give it the bottom octave above the pedal. It may be a 3/4 size, as it's not very tall.
It is really old (1920s?,) discolored, but not all that banged up. It has a cheap gig bag but no hard case. The problem with selling it non-locally is that the shipping is going to add a significant percentage to the cost, since the thing is worth probably $400. I have thought of giving it to a school, but around here they do not start kids on Eb. A band director who is not a tuba player probably can't even give them the correct fingerings for Eb, and will accuse them of having no talent.
I find it impossible to upload pictures correctly with my dial-up; it always messes itself up and bits get lost. Otherwise I would have uploaded pictures of everything already. Anyone interested in that price plus shipping to wherever you are, please email me and I'll find a way to get pictures to you.
MA