Marzan on eBay

[dantetuba]

This Marzan is in BBb or CC?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 500wt_1204" target="_blank

[Dan Schultz]

I'm pretty sure it's a BBb. It's difficult to tell on the piston Marzan horns. Here's a picture showing three CC ones. There are other pictures of both BBb and CC on my 'Marzan Page'.

[bort]

Neat, looks a whole lot like my old one, except the main slide wrap is different (one of two styles I've seen.) I would guess BBb.

[tclements]

JEEZ! What a piece of crap!

[tclements]

DP, is that our old friend, Joe?

[bort]

DP, is that our old friend, Joe?

Sure looks like him!

From Dan's web site:
Three students of Richard Barth's at the University of Akron sometime in the early 80's...

Phil Louden, Gary Adams, and Ken Blasczak




And this tuba doesn't look *that*beat up

[dantetuba]

I asked to seller and he told: " I really don't know"....
But I think it is BBb...

Dante

[dantetuba]

And this tuba doesn't look *that*beat up

pfft! I just blew milk out my nose!

well, lessee, tinker'll prolly grab it to add to the other dozen or so in his armory

sorry, dunno why I had to type that (or leave it in the post), I just spent all day shopping for camouflage lacquer and couldn't find any

hmmm you're right this horn doesn't look THAT beat up at all, nothing a little complete disassembly, de-denting, re-assembly and buffing can't fix...oh wait, new mouthpipe...some braces too? Finger buttons are common...oh...I bet if this tuba's been as badly-treated as it looks it'll need a valve job ... and dang it "great valves" is the one (secret) best feature of these old B&M's, if they haven't been thrashed or hack-replated... maybe 300 bucks worth of work, eh?

oh well....

What would be a fair value for the Tuba?

Dante

[bort]

I'm not denying that it needs a good bit of work, but as long as the bidding stays reasonable, it's not out of the question. Might not be a "deal", but if someone spends $3,000 all-told to buy and repair this adequately (wild guess), I don't see that as any worse (although maybe no better) than buying another tuba in that price range.

[Gongadin]

I don't know why this instrument is even being discussed here! It's not even a tuba! If you'll look at the listing, you'll see that it's listed in the trombone section!

[dantetuba]

I don't know why this instrument is even being discussed here! It's not even a tuba! If you'll look at the listing, you'll see that it's listed in the trombone section!

The first discussion was: what is the key?
Second, the main issue is not the mark of the horn, though it is difficult to find one out there, but its real conditions of play. Whereas the bids rise, may not be worth pushing to get it, or yes?

[Kevin Hendrick]

DP, is that our old friend, Joe?

Sure looks like him!

From Dan's web site:
Three students of Richard Barth's at the University of Akron sometime in the early 80's...

Phil Louden, Gary Adams, and Ken Blasczak

Ha! Thought that looked like Phil on the left when I first saw the pic.

[dantetuba]

A note of caution here. The listing states an ethereal "valves need work". The seller does not respond to a request for more information about the nature of this. Considering the valve buttons are also missing this might be a red flag that something of significance is going on with the valves themselves.

PS - The wrap of a Marzan CC vs. a Marzan BBb is distinct. There is no doubt this a BBb tuba.

I asked the seller what the problem with the valves and he did not answered! Maybe it's a big problem!

Dante

[Donn]

A note of caution here. The listing states an ethereal "valves need work".

Though to be fair - it would be a little foolish to expect anything else, as battered as it is and with, I guess, the intention for it to be a fine instrument. The seller probably knows, as they all do, how to push the pistons down and watch them spring back up. If they do: "valves operate quickly and smoothly", if they don't, "valves need work." The quick, smooth valves could be badly worn, of course, so in either case you may be in for an expensive repair job on the valves.

[bort]

Sold for $1,602.22.

(Not to me!)

[Dan Schultz]

A note of caution here. The listing states an ethereal "valves need work". The seller does not respond to a request for more information about the nature of this. Considering the valve buttons are also missing this might be a red flag that something of significance is going on with the valves themselves.

PS - The wrap of a Marzan CC vs. a Marzan BBb is distinct. There is no doubt this a BBb tuba.

What could be wrong with the valves that $500 or so wouldn't fix!

It needs a leadpipe, too. That's another $300 or so.

Dang! A little dentwork, lacquer stripping, some braces (and those nasty little dents that are sometimes found UNDER braces), etc., etc. .... why... a fellow could have a lot of money wrapped up is this horn before it's ready to play.