I've seen a rather battered one listed locally at close to $1K. Not saying it's going to get that. But if someone were checking it out and a web search led here, the way thread after thread here heaps praise on this tuba, it could start to look like a pretty precious item.
sousaphone68 wrote:Is that tarnish near the thumb ring or red rot?
If it was red rot.... that's about where it would be. However... that's spread out enough to make me think it's just where the lacquer is missing and you are seeing surface tarnish.
However.... new leadpipes are available for not much money.
Dan Schultz
"The Village Tinker" http://www.thevillagetinker.com" target="_blank
Current 'stable'... Rudolf Meinl 5/4, Marzan (by Willson) euph, King 2341, Alphorn, and other strange stuff.
My only qualification for discussion of red rot is having had a couple of horns where I replaced the leadpipe because of it. (great opening sentence...)
The red rot I've seen has always been on the bottom of the leadpipe, as in playing position, unless it's in a different part of the horn. Even then, it's generally on the bottom (in playing position) of the valve connector tubes.