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They are called Mandolas. Are instruments in good condition are of value to play, if you like to play alone. Finding other people to play that style of music is an other thing but do not effect the value of the instrument.
As to consignments, I have bought and sold through Wally's. They fix if needed and then take 30% but the price is adjustable with the permission of the consignee. I bought my Marzan for a thousand off the asking price.

Still have two toys at Wally's right now,

CCC

Charlie C Chowder wrote: Sun Jun 22, 2025 9:32 am They are called Mandolas.

Um, No. Mandolas are pitched between Mandolins and Mandocellos.

Edit: I may have misread who you were responding to. After reading Donn's post below, I realized this.
The nomenclature for Mandolas is crazy. It varies by country and genre.

Baltimore Brass! You’ll have to ship them, but we have plennnnty of consignments. 20% cons rate, and we do chems on everything that comes through - both come out of the check once the instrument sells.

Reach out to me at manager@baltimorebrasscompany.com if you’d like to do that!

GrecoTrombone wrote: Sun Jun 22, 2025 9:54 am Baltimore Brass! You’ll have to ship them, but we have plennnnty of consignments. 20% cons rate, and we do chems on everything that comes through - both come out of the check once the instrument sells.

Reach out to me at manager@baltimorebrasscompany.com if you’d like to do that!

This!

Mary Ann wrote: Sun Jun 22, 2025 8:35 am I guess there are mandoviolas out there, but only Schlitzz would know.

Charlie C Chowder wrote: Sun Jun 22, 2025 9:32 am They are called Mandolas.

I believe that is correct - in English. In other parts of Europe, that may be called alt-mandoline or mandoliola. So says wikipedia, anyway.

The next lower thing, octave mandolin (or mandola in some parts of Europe), is tuned somewhere in between, typically an octave below the mandolin. That's the way the strings were, what was left of them, on the mandocello I received, and I believe that's a common way to make something kind of playable out of a mandocello.

I think you all are suffering from Mandola Effect…

GrecoTrombone wrote: Sun Jun 22, 2025 9:54 am Baltimore Brass! You’ll have to ship them, but we have plennnnty of consignments. 20% cons rate, and we do chems on everything that comes through - both come out of the check once the instrument sells.

Reach out to me at manager@baltimorebrasscompany.com if you’d like to do that!

They have already been ultrasound cleaned and totally made ready for sale. When I say pristine condition, @bloke will tell you I do not BS. Nothing would be required by a consignment shop except to sell it. I'm not selling stuff that is below par and keep being surprised when people assume that is the case.

Make sure you understand the terms of consignment. You’ll want your lawyer to review it and advise you. It gets tricky if for instance while your instrument is on consignment and the shop goes into bankruptcy etc. Receivers will swoop in some times and seize everything and sometimes sell it all including stuff not owned by the business. You might have to prove you actually owned these things. And even that is problematic as you are acting as an agent for somebody else. You might even be held liable by them for the loss of their asset. I know seems far fetched - doesn’t it - until it happens and as they say sh@! happens. Things like who is responsible if your horn is damaged while on consignment or gets stolen while at the shop. Fees that will be deducted upon sale such as the person here who responded for a shop and said it would be chem cleaned at the shop and that would be deducted from the sale proceeds. How long is the consignment period, can you end it at any time, if you decide to terminate the consignment, what will they charge to box and ship it back to you. What if you find a buyer yourself while it’s on consignment - do you still owe the consigner their full fee - a lesser amount or no fee. Chem cleans aren’t cheap. Even though you stated it’s been done some shops may insist on doing it as they are telling the customer it has been done and the shop can’t just rely on your say so. It could be a liability issue for them. Is the consignment fee based on sale price or net of any shop fees. Is it based on sale price plus sales tax or just sales price. How will funds be remitted back to you and how quickly upon sale and in what form. Even goofy stuff like potential buyer drops instrument on foot and breaks foot - are you the consignee in any way responsible for liability if customer files a lawsuit for negligence etc. What will the consigner do to market your instrument for the consignment fee. Will there be a marketing plan - a social media component or will it simply sit in their place of business waiting for somebody to wander on in and buy it. I believe consignment laws vary by state so you will want to know the rules for the state the consignor is operating in.

If you’re really leaning to consignment you can probably figure you are going to pay 30% or so of the price all in between shipping and consignment fee etc. Why not drop the price now by that amount and see if it sells. Avoids the risk of shipping, time in consignment, avoids a lot of potential pitfalls and the net to the seller is still the same. And consigners if it doesn’t sell quickly will start leaning on you to lower the price as they are in the business of moving merchandise asap and the bulk of the lower price point comes out of your end.

It's late and I'm sleepy.
Rather than one of my protracted trolls, I've only got the energy - at this time - to post this heavily truncated message:

"words".

bloke "with apologies"

Years ago, I sold an excellent condition silver MW 45slp on consignment at the Tuba Exchange. I think it finally sold after 5 or 6 months, and a lowered price adjustment for $6k, if I remember correctly. It was over 15 years ago. Anyway, Vince got his cut of about $1000, and I got my $5000 check after a 30 day wait after the sale.
I live less than 2 hours away, so it wasn't a big deal.
Tuba Exchange has since changed ownership, so I dunno if they do it the same now.

I'd only do consignment if it is cost effective and if you can drive by and drop it off. Otherwise, do it yourself like you are doing. Either way, expect to wait a while...

donn wrote: Sun Jun 22, 2025 11:31 am

Mary Ann wrote: Sun Jun 22, 2025 8:35 am I guess there are mandoviolas out there, but only Schlitzz would know.

Charlie C Chowder wrote: Sun Jun 22, 2025 9:32 am They are called Mandolas.

I believe that is correct - in English. In other parts of Europe, that may be called alt-mandoline or mandoliola. So says wikipedia, anyway.

The next lower thing, octave mandolin (or mandola in some parts of Europe), is tuned somewhere in between, typically an octave below the mandolin. That's the way the strings were, what was left of them, on the mandocello I received, and I believe that's a common way to make something kind of playable out of a mandocello.

One of my bandmates - I’ll call him Mr. Mandolin - has most of the mandolin family - everything but the mando-bass. In our group he mainly plays mandolin, octave mandolin (coursed and tuned GDAE, an octave below the mandolin), accordion, and guitar. But we have a few tunes that sit well on the mandocello (also coursed and tuned CGDA, heavier strings and shorter scale than guitar - nothing else sounds like it though), and a couple he plays on the mandola (coursed and tuned CGDA, a fifth below the mandolin and violin). He’s played in a number of different groups over the years - anything from bluegrass to klezmer to belly dance to a Filipino mandolin orchestra. So you can play these things in public.

catgrowlB wrote: Sun Jun 22, 2025 11:26 pm Years ago, I sold an excellent condition silver MW 45slp on consignment at the Tuba Exchange. I think it finally sold after 5 or 6 months, and a lowered price adjustment for $6k, if I remember correctly. It was over 15 years ago. Anyway, Vince got his cut of about $1000, and I got my $5000 check after a 30 day wait after the sale.
I live less than 2 hours away, so it wasn't a big deal.
Tuba Exchange has since changed ownership, so I dunno if they do it the same now.

I'd only do consignment if it is cost effective and if you can drive by and drop it off. Otherwise, do it yourself like you are doing. Either way, expect to wait a while...

How much time do you think it would have taken to sell it and get your money had you advertised it for $4,995 and sold it yourself?

.

Sorry Craig, we must have been posting at the same time. I was responding to the "mandoviola". I have all three here.

CCC

Charlie C Chowder wrote: Mon Jun 23, 2025 9:01 am Sorry Craig, we must have been posting at the same time. I was responding to the "mandoviola". I have all three here.

No problem, just a little mix up.

Mary Ann wrote: Fri Jun 20, 2025 9:48 am This outta go on the FS forum, but more people will see it here.

Where, in the US, are there stores that accept consignment of tubas? I do not know of one in either Tucson or Phoenix, and it may come to that with these Alexes. I meet with the owner tomorrow with a translator and will get a better idea what she wants to do. I want to present her with the possibilities as I see them, given the lack of the level of interest I would have expected, especially for the F.
The only store I know of that accepts consignments is Baltimore Brass. I haven't talked to them but plan to call today -- hoping they answer the phone.

Baltimore Brass
Dillon Music
Tuba Exchange
Maybe Horn Guys in California
There may be others too.

bloke wrote: Mon Jun 23, 2025 1:31 am
How much time do you think it would have taken to sell it and get your money had you advertised it for $4,995 and sold it yourself?

I dunno. I posted a link to it on the old board in the 'For Sale' section. Noone seemed too interested at the time -- most seemed to be going after rotor F's.

So for me, I'm glad I took it in for consignment and had a place that deals with tubas relatively close. Vince told me there were a couple colleges/universities interested in it. And at least one pro in the area was interested. So I guess one of them bought it