He says it is a 'meiml'?!

[vintage7512]

I emailed the seller to ask what this was and he says 'meiml' - a one-word answer. What do y'all tuba players think? http://cgi.ebay.com/tuba-16-inch-bell_W ... 48395c870d" target="_blank

[UTSAtuba]

Stolen?

[Bigmanontuba]

going to have to agree that it is a Mienl. I have played on one like this, and the lay out look remarkably like it.

[vintage7512]

Good price for a decent model 20 needing a bell repair? Or a scam.

[Dan Schultz]

Yup... it's a Meinl 20. If it needs valve section parts... those are pretty common. However, have fun finding a bell to fit it!

[Mike Ferries]

That's odd. I asked the same question, and the answer was "Westen".

[vintage7512]

Why would someone deliberately (for that's what it is) misspell the two words? What could it avail him to be so obtuse? Something must be up.

[bort]

Well, I wouldn't jump straight to "obtuse."

The description in the listing is brief to begin with. He might not know much about it. The engraving might be hard to read, especially for someone who might not know what he's looking at. Or, he might not be a good speller/typer. There are a few people on this board who have trouble with spelling and typing -- and it is NOT an indicator of a lack of intelligence.

Or, yes, it could be a scam.

[Dan Schultz]

That's odd. I asked the same question, and the answer was "Westen".

Actually.... the bell will most likely read "Meinl Weston division of Getzen" or a reasonable facsimile thereof.

[vintage7512]

I didn't mean to impugn someone's lack of intelligence, I just don't think it was an accident that both words were misspelled. More of an intelligent move by someone looking to scam. I just can't come up with why the misspellings would help. Unless, as you say, the writing is difficult to read because of wear.

[bort]

I didn't mean to impugn someone's lack of intelligence, I just don't think it was an accident that both words were misspelled. More of an intelligent move by someone looking to scam. I just can't come up with why the misspellings would help. Unless, as you say, the writing is difficult to read because of wear.

No worries, I didn't think you had bad intentions! Even here on TubeNet , there are some pretty poor for sale ads for real live actual tubas.

Kind of like about 5 years ago, if you'd read real estate ads -- the market was so hot, they could be written terribly if it was a nice (or well-priced) house!

[Kevin Hendrick]

The engraving might be hard to read, especially for someone who might not know what he's looking at.

Some engraving is "fancy" enough to be difficult to decipher -- remember the "Y M Dork and Sons" listings a while back?

[Wyvern]

With a feedback score of 100% for 206 I would not think this a scam. And look he is a dealer for Vintage Recorders and Turntables. My guess is he knows nothing about tubas and just mis-read the engraving.

[Cameron Gates]

With a feedback score of 100% for 206 I would not think this a scam. And look he is a dealer for Vintage Recorders and Turntables. My guess is he knows nothing about tubas and just mis-read the engraving.

I agree. I had no whiff of scam on this one. Maybe I am wrong.

The reason I did not bid was the condition of that bell. I have (as others have) rolled out 1000's of bell dents. Those pics just screamed WEAK material. I can't really describe it, I just had a feeling on that one. I've seen too many like it to not be concerned. When they go, they really go.

If the bell will hold I think that was a good buy.

[vintage7512]

I sent him one last question; "read to me, or send me a picture of, what it says on the bell." He replied "w Meinl Weston a division of cetzen." I could hardly believe it, and I am hoping someone got a decent horn. I am quoting directly.