pricing question on used tuba PARTS

[arpthark]

What do you estimate would be a fair price for a 4 piston cluster, including slides and everything, from an old King 1241/2341? Assume good condition, typical lacquer wear, decent valves, Frankentuba-worthy.

I am just looking for a starting point. Feel free to PM me if you would rather do that.

Thanks!

[Rick Denney]

I asked this of Matt Walters once, and his response was that he was always on the lookout for those deals, and keeps them for projects rather than selling them. So if you want a valve cluster like that, you'll be competing with pros.

But check and see if Eastman will sell only the valve cluster for their 2341 clone.

Rick "expecting it to be into the low four figures if in directly usable condition" Denney

[bort2.0]

The problem is, those tubas are built like tanks and can take a lot of use and abuse and repairs before they end up being sold for parts. So even though it seems like a simple request for a valve block, it's also about it coming from a tuba that is getting parted out.

Another option, instead of waiting for something that's already getting parted-out is to just buy a functioning 2341/1241 and then harvest the parts you need yourself.

For example, here's one on eBay... the upright bell will command a premium, but that also gives you something valuable to sell and recover part of the costs.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/125694537013

[arpthark]

The problem is, those tubas are built like tanks and can take a lot of use and abuse and repairs before they end up being sold for parts. So even though it seems like a simple request for a valve block, it's also about it coming from a tuba that is getting parted out.

Another option, instead of waiting for something that's already getting parted-out is to just buy a functioning 2341/1241 and then harvest the parts you need yourself.

For example, here's one on eBay... the upright bell will command a premium, but that also gives you something valuable to sell and recover part of the costs.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/125694537013

Thanks, all good points.