Advice about selling a tuba

[Alankay]

Hi everybody. I'm new here but have poked my head in the door many times over the years.

My wife wants me to pare down our musical menagerie, and it seems like my underused tuba is probably the most rational place to start as it takes up the most space.

I know how to sell a guitar (Craigslist), but it doesn't seem like the right avenue for a tuba. Nor does eBay, since shipping a tuba seems a little crazy. Additionally, I have no idea what I should be pricing it at. So, I'm humbly asking the fine tuba masters here to give me some guidance.

My tuba is a Meinl-Weston William Bell model from an unknown age. I bought it used at Best Music in Oakland around 1990. It does not have a detachable bell. On the front it states Meinl-Weston A division of Getzen Wm. Bell Model. I don't see a serial number, but I don't know where to look.

Its got some dings and scratches and signs of neglect, but functionally works fine. I had to have some of the tube connectors re-attached about 10 years ago, and the guy who did it didn't do the cleanest job.

OK, so with all this yapping... here's what I'd want to know. Should I spend some money to get it cleaned up and get the dings out of it before selling, or should I sell as is? And what kind of price range should I expect for such a tuba? And how should I sell it? Craigslist? eBay local? Deal with shipping it? Just take it down to my local music store and put it on consignment?

Thanks for your input,

Alan

[bort]

You'll probably get more if you sell it here, but you'll also probably have to ship it (which is really not a big deal, you just have to pack it VERY well).

If it's dirty, get it cleaned, and if there are any huge dents that affect how it plays, you'll sell it easier if you have it fixed. Also, if the valves are noisy, get that oiled or tightened before you sell.

For a Bell model in good shape, it's maybe somewhere in the low $3,000 range (very rough guess!), but if you search here, you will find other examples that are/were for sale (yeah, I know... a search for "bell" here is pretty useless!).

Search the archives, post pictures, and be willing to negotiate a little bit. Sales seem to go easiest when you have a number in mind beforehand where it's like "I have to have walk away with this much." I would not go the local music store route unless you need the money immediately. The store needs their cut, so you'll get less from the sale. I'm not saying they are out to screw you, but they need to make it worth their while too.

[PMeuph]

OK, so with all this yapping... here's what I'd want to know. Should I spend some money to get it cleaned up and get the dings out of it before selling, or should I sell as is? And what kind of price range should I expect for such a tuba? And how should I sell it? Craigslist? eBay local? Deal with shipping it? Just take it down to my local music store and put it on consignment?

Thanks for your input,

Alan

-Craigslist works well for inexpensive tubas (ie. less that $1k).
-You could give it a try with your tuba, but it might be in vain.
-eBay sucks because of the fees. I use in a last case scenario only. Prices on eBay will be lower.

-For a guess at pricing, look at former threads and see if you can live with the prices these sellers were asking:
http://www.google.ca/search?q=Meinl-Wes ... =firefox-a" target="_blank" target="_blank

Here is a great thread on packing a tuba for shipping: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=31654" target="_blank" target="_blank

Unless your local music store is one of the major brass stores (Dillon's, Baltimore Brass, etc), I wouldn't waste my time with consignment.
____
That said, you could list it on this forum, from what I read these models are not too common and highly regarded.

[Uncle Buck]

Based on your description, if you live near a repair tech that you trust, I think it would be worth taking it there and seeing what they can do to improve cosmetics. I think if you spend up to a couple hundred making it look better, you'll make that back in asking price, plus you'll sell it faster.

More than a couple hundred in repair work and, in my uninformed opinion at least, you're gambling.

[Ricko]

Posting your horn in the 'for sale' area here works extremely well - most folks here have an idea what you are selling, the horns tendencies and also tend to know of others looking.

Keep in mind that tubas do not sell quickly - regardless of price.

I do not think it is worth the money to have the horn chem cleaned and dents pulled prior to sale as the buyer may have a preferred repairman to do the work. However - give it a general cleaning, take some good, hi-res photos and post them in the ad, keep a bunch ready to e-mail to prospective buyers and share what you honestly know about the horn.

Shipping can be a challenge, but that's part of the tuba culture.

You might email similar info about the horn to all the local university tuba instructors.

Good luck!

Ricko

[pierso20]

Chances are, the buyer will take it to their tech for cleaning, etc anyway.

I wouldn't waste my time with it unless there are some seriously glaring issues. PLUS, there is a CHANCE that in the trip to the shop or at the shop something goes "oops" and now you're looking at asking for even less than you intended.

[taylorbeaty]

I like how the top two posts are testing new horns and advice about selling....

[pierso20]

I like how the top two posts are testing new horns and advice about selling....

I like how all someone needs to do is bump a different post and then your response becomes antiquated.

[Kevin Hendrick]

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