Tuba Financing???

[achmiedl]

Does anybody do financing on horns?? Personally or whatever? I really want the Willson Eb Erickson model... My Unit doesn't seem willing to support the idea of ordering the willson... They want to stick with the MW 2141 Eb. An ideas on how I could obtain one.. I could afford to buy a used one in about a year full out.... but I want/need one now... I play my Yamaha Eb in my quintet but it is not really cutting it... I can't trade any of the horns I play, the king Bb is mine, the Eb belongs to my school, and the rest are uncle sam's... Any advice here would be great.. I am sure people ask this all the time... and if it matters I live in Birmingham Al... thanks

[ken k]

are you a full time student? i would think you could justify it as a an educational expense if you are a music major and a full time student. i used one to buy a tuba when I was in grad school. That was back in the 80's, but I would imagine you could still do that now. Is there any GI bill or anything like that available since you are int he reserves? i do not know how that works at all.

ken k

[achmiedl]

I have a gi bill but can't obtain it to next year and truthfully need most of it to cover school...

[Bob Kolada]

If your TA covers your whole or at least most of your tuition, you might see if you can use your approved Sallie Mae to get a horn. I will be trying that soon.

I personally did not feel right with the idea of my reserve band ordering an expensive tuba for me. I use a unit 187 for large group playing, and my small King Eb for brass quintet and tuba quartet. If I needed to use an Army horn for those 2 groups, I would play a bass trombone in quintet and play the 4th part in the tuba quartet on the 187.
A lateral transfer of one of the Bb's you play the least might help with getting the tuba you would like, though I have no experience with that.

How is the 321 not cutting it? I have used a three valve Eb in quintet many times with no problem. I think the 2141 will work better than the 3400 in a quintet. Though the 3400 is my personal choice for a modern Eb, I think the slightly smaller 2141 has a slightly better range.

A FANTASTIC cheaper bass tuba is the Cerveny 653/5. I played one at the SOM this summer and it was wonderful! Not wanting to learn F is a lousy excuse.
http://www.dillonmusic.com/HeleoCart/Pr ... 3-5PX.aspx

[achmiedl]

the yam is to small for the larger church gigs and outdoor weddings we play and the upright valves aren't great for me... Salie Mae is a no go.. And you the willson was... just awesome.

[Bob Kolada]

the yam is to small for the larger church gigs and outdoor weddings we play and the upright valves aren't great for me...

For the Army or school?

[achmiedl]

no i play in freelance quintet in b'ham

[gilmored]

Do some busking. Hell, I'll join ya.

[achmiedl]

explain that to me tomorrow....

[achmiedl]

haha googled that... Street performing in Bham is not legal... Good though...

[gilmored]

Says who? The old flute hippie plays in 5 points all the time. You could also gather a collection of horn dorn, make a magazine out of it and sell it a playhorn or hornboy ( I couldn't decide on what I liked better.) Sell it here, you'll make lots of money.

[GJDavis1]

I had my private teacher write a letter to my financial aid office saying that my horn was essential to my education. It is now considered a student loan and I won't start paying it until I get out of school.