VMI 103 BBb $3,450 (Hurricane, WV/FB)

[arpthark]

https://www.facebook.com/share/1FJNN6Ht ... tid=wwXIfr

I can’t post FB pics from mobile, sorry.

[hrender]

[Ant]

Tell me about the horn. adziemian2024@gmail.com

[hrender]

Tell me about the horn. adziemian2024@gmail.com

The seller is the person who posted the FB ad, not @arpthark.

[DonO.]

I made the trip down to play this horn. Obviously I passed on it. There are several reasons. First of all, the condition is not as good as she says in her ad. There are a number of small dents and a lot of scratches and lacquer damage that did not show up in the photos. Secondly, the first valve I pressed down stuck. I had to work all the valves a few minutes to get them to move consistently. And when I tried to pull slides a number of them were stuck. I did not want to force them. When I got the valves to move I did toot on it a bit, meaning I ran my usual warm up routine. Very nice European tone and responsive too. Played nicely. Unfortunately it was impossible to test intonation because of the stuck slides. The slides and valves surprised her because she took it to a local guy who works on tubas”. I informed her that the valves and slides should all be working easily if that work was indeed done. She was very nice and listened as I explained everything and she said she was going to take it back to the guy and tell him what I said. In its present condition it has potential to be a good horn for someone who doesn’t care about the cosmetics and is willing to get the valves and slides worked on by their own repair person. But $3450 is way too much considering it’s present condition IMHO.

[hrender]

This sounds as if the owner has simply not played the horn or lubricated it lately. I wouldn't consider this a show-stopper. If I'm going to try a horn, I typically bring along some lube to make sure things are moving.

[catgrowlB]

Those are nice tubas, if somewhat inconsistent.

That tuba looks pretty much pristine in the pics, so if there are a few small dings and scuffs and lacquer wear, it must be in the bell or bottom bow? Or those pics were taken a while back when the tuba was pristine?

Getting the slides and valves lubricated and moving well isn't that difficult for a fairly modern horn like this.
Try doing that with some 100-year-old tubas....

[DonO.]

This sounds as if the owner has simply not played the horn or lubricated it lately. I wouldn't consider this a show-stopper. If I'm going to try a horn, I typically bring along some lube to make sure things are moving.

The owner said that it had been professionally serviced. If this were so the slides and valves should have moved freely afterwards. That they did not behave as they should was a red flag to me. She was not a player by the way. The instrument belonged to a late relative.

[DonO.]

Those are nice tubas, if somewhat inconsistent.

That tuba looks pretty much pristine in the pics, so if there are a few small dings and scuffs and lacquer wear, it must be in the bell or bottom bow? Or those pics were taken a while back when the tuba was pristine?

Getting the slides and valves lubricated and moving well isn't that difficult for a fairly modern horn like this.
Try doing that with some 100-year-old tubas....

The reason I decided to drive a 10 hour round trip is because the pictures look so good. For some reason it didn’t look nearly as nice in person. Most of the lacquer damage was on the back side, the side that faces the player.

I explained to her that plenty of players could not possibly care less about the cosmetic issues, but I was not one of them. So it was a no for me. The problematic slides and valves were another issue though.

[Three Valves]

I made the trip down to play this horn. Obviously I passed on it. There are several reasons. First of all, the condition is not as good as she says in her ad. There are a number of small dents and a lot of scratches and lacquer damage that did not show up in the photos. Secondly, the first valve I pressed down stuck. I had to work all the valves a few minutes to get them to move consistently. And when I tried to pull slides a number of them were stuck. I did not want to force them. When I got the valves to move I did toot on it a bit, meaning I ran my usual warm up routine. Very nice European tone and responsive too. Played nicely. Unfortunately it was impossible to test intonation because of the stuck slides. The slides and valves surprised her because she took it to a local guy who works on tubas”. I informed her that the valves and slides should all be working easily if that work was indeed done. She was very nice and listened as I explained everything and she said she was going to take it back to the guy and tell him what I said. In its present condition it has potential to be a good horn for someone who doesn’t care about the cosmetics and is willing to get the valves and slides worked on by their own repair person. But $3450 is way too much considering it’s present condition IMHO.

This may be you chance!

https://www.tubaforum.net/viewtopic.php?t=13023