Grand Rapid Band InstCo Tuba

[poppinfresh]

Hello! I have a Grand Rapid Band Instrument Company Tuba currently in my possession from a family friend. It's a 3 valve and silver plated. It's tarnished and has quite a few dents in it but nothing major from what I can see. I was wondering if anyone knew anything about this company, it's quality of instruments, and what this instrument might be worth? The serial number is 1987x. I can provide pictures if needed.

[The Big Ben]

Hello! I have a Grand Rapid Band Instrument Company Tuba currently in my possession from a family friend. It's a 3 valve and silver plated. It's tarnished and has quite a few dents in it but nothing major from what I can see. I was wondering if anyone knew anything about this company, it's quality of instruments, and what this instrument might be worth? The serial number is 1987x. I can provide pictures if needed.

Do post a few pictures. Value varies depending on configuration and condition. When you take some pictures, take the valves out of the casings and lay them out on a cloth so the condition of the valve surfaces can be seen. This is pretty important in judging a horn. Taking pictures of the slides out of the horn is less important and not really necessary. It is important to know that the slides are able to move, though.

[poppinfresh]

With the help of a few people, I was able to figure out a few things (I'm a woodwind guy so I know very little about Tubas). It is a BBb Tuba. The bell size is 19 1/4'' and the bore size is .656.

[poppinfresh]

More images

[The Big Ben]

A high reserve auction with a low starting price will tell you more. If the reserve is, say, $5000, which would be waaaay high for this instrument, and the highest the bidding in a 7 day auction was $500, you have a pretty good idea that you could get about $500 in an auction designed to sell the instrument. Looking at values of completed Ebay auctions might also give you an idea of worth.

[iiipopes]

A high reserve auction with a low starting price will tell you more. If the reserve is, say, $5000, which would be waaaay high for this instrument, and the highest the bidding in a 7 day auction was $500, you have a pretty good idea that you could get about $500 in an auction designed to sell the instrument. Looking at values of completed Ebay auctions might also give you an idea of worth.

Um, I don't want to spoil the fun, but isn't setting an artificial reserve a violation of Ebay selling policies?