Did someone get a deal on this tuba?

LibraryMark · Post by **LibraryMark** » Wed Dec 16, 2020 9:31 am

This tuba was on a government auction website recently. It went for $3,545 - seems like a lot of money to me. Does anyone know what it is and what they go for usually? Is the winning bidder here on this forum?

: gov_tuba.jpg (87.99 KiB) Viewed 2234 times

KingTuba1241X · Post by **KingTuba1241X** » Wed Dec 16, 2020 9:41 am

Looks like a Willson 3050 and holy crap yes that's an insane deal, just hope they aren't going to ship it in that pizza box...

LibraryMark · Post by **LibraryMark** » Wed Dec 16, 2020 10:34 am

So here's the link to the auction: https://www.govplanet.com/for-sale/Shop ... ia/4437199

According to the sticker on the tuba, the government paid $4,416 for it so I doubt it's a Wilson, but it also calls it a "Bass, Upright" so who knows if that's correct. When I look at pictures of 3050's it seems to me that the 5th valve is a lot close to the 4th on a real Wilson.

bort2.0 · Post by **bort2.0** » Wed Dec 16, 2020 11:04 am

Definitely Willson. Could be a BBb 3100. Nice deal, but resale prices on the big Willson tubas is kind of in the crapper. Don't expect a mega flip on this one.

KingTuba1241X · Post by **KingTuba1241X** » Wed Dec 16, 2020 11:23 am

bort2.0 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 16, 2020 11:04 am Definitely Willson. Could be a BBb 3100. Nice deal, but resale prices on the big Willson tubas is kind of in the crapper. Don't expect a mega flip on this one.

Looks like different piping from the 5th valve than a 3100..

bort2.0 · Post by **bort2.0** » Wed Dec 16, 2020 11:28 am

Well, I didn't bother to pull up any pictures of other Willson tubas to compare. It's a 3050 or 3100, with a Rotax rotor.

BuddyRogersMusic · Post by **BuddyRogersMusic** » Wed Dec 16, 2020 11:30 am

A customer of mine won it.

LibraryMark · Post by **LibraryMark** » Wed Dec 16, 2020 11:42 am

Can you ask him/her to satisfy our curiosity? What is it?

BuddyRogersMusic · Post by **BuddyRogersMusic** » Wed Dec 16, 2020 12:03 pm

He hasn't taken possession of it yet but, from everything I can see, it's a Willson 3050 CC.

jonesbrass · Post by **jonesbrass** » Wed Dec 16, 2020 4:31 pm

That is definitely not the same as my 3050 . . . The rotor is indeed closer to the pistons on the CC version, and further away on the BBb. Looks like the 3100 BBb to me without question.

This is what my 3050 looks like. You can see the rotor position. Also, the top bout looks bigger on the CC and smaller on the BBb.

: IMG_0111.jpg (52.03 KiB) Viewed 2135 times

BuddyRogersMusic · Post by **BuddyRogersMusic** » Wed Dec 16, 2020 4:52 pm

I believe you are correct. I'm not sure when he's picking it up but we'll find out soon enough.

Dubby · Post by **Dubby** » Wed Dec 16, 2020 6:39 pm

Whatever it is, let us know how it plays. I’m always interested in those gov auctions. Never tried to buy anything though

Post by **matt g** » Wed Dec 16, 2020 7:42 pm

LibraryMark wrote: ↑Wed Dec 16, 2020 10:34 am So here's the link to the auction: https://www.govplanet.com/for-sale/Shop ... ia/4437199

According to the sticker on the tuba, the government paid $4,416 for it so I doubt it's a Wilson, but it also calls it a "Bass, Upright" so who knows if that's correct. When I look at pictures of 3050's it seems to me that the 5th valve is a lot close to the 4th on a real Wilson.

That’s likely the assessed value based on some generic depreciation schedule.

BuddyRogersMusic · Post by **BuddyRogersMusic** » Thu Dec 17, 2020 8:36 am

I've been out of the game for a bit but if I remember correctly, property is depreciated 15%/year based upon the life cycle of the property. Musical instruments used to have a seven-year life cycle but I believe that may have changed to ten. Doesn't really matter but there is a depreciation rate for all property.

bloke · Post by **bloke** » Thu Dec 17, 2020 9:21 am

I'm sure this (which will be typed below) sounds like "sour grapes"...It's not:

It occurs to me that shipping and (was there a "buyer's premium"?) could bump this up to $4K.

After $400 - $800 of slicking out (and factoring in C-tuba snobbery + the "China syndrome"), would this tuba (dent-free, cleaned, shiny, etc.) sell for much more than $5K?

Maybe I’m wrong… Maybe it is a C, and not a B-flat…??

If B-flat, how fast would it sell (all slicked out) for $5K?

tofu · Post by **tofu** » Thu Dec 17, 2020 11:46 pm

bloke · Post by **bloke** » Fri Dec 18, 2020 8:16 am

I'd say any thing less than $5000 I'd be happy.

...so (if a B-flat) the just-previous comment seems to promote my assertion that there was really no room (based on the final bid, plus shipping cost...or cost of driving r/t to go get it) for a dealer/reseller to make any significant money on this purchase.

the elephant · Post by **the elephant** » Fri Dec 18, 2020 12:08 pm

That is a nice playing, well-made Willson tuba, regardless of whatever key it is in. (I too am guessing it is the BBb 3100-FA5. The top slides look to climb too high against the top bow for it to be the CC 3050-FA5.) I would call the winning bid a good price to pay. It is not a great deal, but it is *very* fair, even on the low side. I would have paid that much sight unseen for this tuba. If it happens to be the 3050-FA5 CC then I would up that to a very decent deal.

If I were looking for a horn like that.

Which I am not.

tofu · Post by **tofu** » Sat Dec 19, 2020 3:46 am

bloke · Post by **bloke** » Sat Dec 19, 2020 6:57 am

Those who read my way-too-many posts know that I am the anti-ergonomics person, as I don’t have any trouble holding and playing most all tubas...except for these. They’re just way too top-heavy.

The version in C is more difficult to play in tune, with the lower D-sharp as sky-high as the Hirsbrunner D-sharp is gully-low. The combination of “top-heavy“ and “having to constantly work the #3 slide - in addition to having to constantly work the #1 slide“ defines these as (for me) very difficult instruments to operate, with serious struggles involving transcending "operation" on up towards "music creation".

The B-flat version is easier to play in tune, but – well - it’s not a “C tuba for kolij“...which is one of the main factors that hurts the selling value of tubas (whether end-user or reseller) built in B-flat in the United States.
Everyone enjoys posting “It doesn’t matter what key your tuba is built in“ when speaking out to teenagers, but – in reality – that’s just so much lip service, compared to what really happens.

bloke "who speaks truth to p̶o̶w̶e̶r̶ mostly, fat guys"

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