TubaForum.net

Aspirational pricing $5,000

https://www.ebay.com/itm/366427081674

amazing condition...
I've never been impressed by those (when playing them).

I would like to pick that one up, mess with it a little bit, set it back down, and thank the owner for letting me examine it.

gocsick wrote: Sat May 23, 2026 2:17 pm Aspirational pricing $5,000

I was wondering what model that was. Not in the market, but it looks like a cool instrument. I've got this irrational fantasy about a 188. Not that I've ever played one. It just looks like it should sound bad ass. If I've learned anything from going around with tbones, it's that you've gotta play it first. Looking bad ass doesn't often mean much.

Bassboner wrote: Sat May 23, 2026 2:45 pm

gocsick wrote: Sat May 23, 2026 2:17 pm Aspirational pricing $5,000

I was wondering what model that was. Not in the market, but it looks like a cool instrument. I've got this irrational fantasy about a 188. Not that I've ever played one. It just looks like it should sound bad ass. If I've learned anything from going around with tbones, it's that you've gotta play it first. Looking bad ass doesn't often mean much.

I'm a big fan of the 188 for orchestra. For band ... I always felt like I was pushing it too hard too often. The bore of the 188 isn't huge (and it's not graduated), so it's more "classic style" in the low range.

bloke wrote: Sat May 23, 2026 2:35 pm amazing condition...
I've never been impressed by those (when playing them).

I would like to pick that one up, mess with it a little bit, set it back down, and thank the owner for letting me examine it.

I like them myself. For my 50th birthday next year I will be looking for an old 183, MW 40, it Alex 154 Eb.. But in the$2,000-$3,000 range not $5,000.

gocsick wrote: Sat May 23, 2026 3:17 pm

bloke wrote: Sat May 23, 2026 2:35 pm amazing condition...
I've never been impressed by those (when playing them).

I would like to pick that one up, mess with it a little bit, set it back down, and thank the owner for letting me examine it.

I like them myself. For my 50th birthday next year I will be looking for an old 183, MW 40, it Alex 154 Eb.. But in the$2,000-$3,000 range not $5,000.

I believe they made those in two sizes over the years. I'm thinking the later larger size was .709". The smaller size not only featured a smaller bore, but I'm thinking the smaller size also featured a bass trombone size mouthpiece receiver.

gocsick wrote: Sat May 23, 2026 2:17 pm Aspirational pricing $5,000

drop one zero and send it to Wade to make a 180 f out of it.

dp wrote: Sat May 23, 2026 5:41 pm

gocsick wrote: Sat May 23, 2026 2:17 pm Aspirational pricing $5,000

drop one zero and send it to Wade to make a 180 f out of it.

I didn't know this was possible. Is the result better than the 183?

gocsick wrote: Sat May 23, 2026 3:17 pm

bloke wrote: Sat May 23, 2026 2:35 pm amazing condition...
I've never been impressed by those (when playing them).

I would like to pick that one up, mess with it a little bit, set it back down, and thank the owner for letting me examine it.

I like them myself. For my 50th birthday next year I will be looking for an old 183, MW 40, it Alex 154 Eb.. But in the$2,000-$3,000 range not $5,000.

I played a new St. Petersburg rotary Eb at the Midwest clinic about 15 years ago that was excellent. Played like a piston horn sounded like a rotary horn, wonderful low register and a fantastic sound. Supposedly they can be inconsistent but I suspect no more so than 60 year old Alexanders. Might be another option to look for used.

jose the tuba player wrote: Sun May 24, 2026 9:06 am

dp wrote: Sat May 23, 2026 5:41 pm

gocsick wrote: Sat May 23, 2026 2:17 pm Aspirational pricing $5,000

drop one zero and send it to Wade to make a 180 f out of it.

I didn't know this was possible. Is the result better than the 183?

sorry I said anything

Well I guess it wasn't so aspirational after all.. It sold.

But not necessarily at the original asking price (notice the strikethrough on the the original price):

@Mary Ann plays one.

The 183 I have is modified -- leadpipe angled up, modern receiver, paddles squashed together, all of which work very well for me. Its intonation is a bit more difficult than the 283, but the low end is more open, so it is better for oom pah than the 283. Way more open than any rotary F I have ever played. Very playable once you settle in, and the October thing I did with it a few years ago, they thought it was a BBb.
If this link works, you can hear it here, and see the condition, which ain't like the haha $5k one:

https://replay.dropbox.com/project/pid_ ... zdxZ3aq1MJ


Aspirational pricing seems the norm after the last five years. Funny, I don't think the pricing on the Alex 163 BBb I'd like to sell is ridiculous, but still it sits in my garage on the pallet. Pristine shape as opposed to looks like your great grandfather might have stored it in the barn.

Someone on Reddit bought it. They paid $3900 thinking it was a 186 BBb.

gocsick wrote: Wed May 27, 2026 7:54 pm Someone on Reddit bought it. They paid $3900 thinking it was a 186 BBb.

Yeah, that was me that bought it.. I feel so stupid right now, currently in talks with the seller of getting a partial refund or I am just going to return it

Oh that would cause one to kick oneself very firmly for quite a while.
It wasn't identified as being in any key, just serial number, so -- a person would have had to be able to look at the wrap and figure it out. I bet that was a bit of a surprise when the buyer tried to play it.
I have been that kind of fool on occasion, and don't like to admit it.

Seller does accept returns though, so a smart buyer would be out shipping cost instead of the whole shebang. Or who knows, maybe they really like it!

Mary Ann wrote: Thu May 28, 2026 7:46 am Oh that would cause one to kick oneself very firmly for quite a while.
It wasn't identified as being in any key, just serial number, so -- a person would have had to be able to look at the wrap and figure it out. I bet that was a bit of a surprise when the buyer tried to play it.
I have been that kind of fool on occasion, and don't like to admit it.

Seller does accept returns though, so a smart buyer would be out shipping cost instead of the whole shebang. Or who knows, maybe they really like it!

I managed to talk with seller to where I am only out 2800 for the horn. I really enjoyed how it played just was super mad at myself for paying so much for A: a horn I wasn't expecting and B: Overpaying on said horn. I haven't been in the market for that long and when I had looked at horns in the past it was for college a few years back when I was absolutely obsessed with horns. now not going to school for music and being an engineer I haven't been playing much and sold my horn I had for college. and recently any time I've played a horn has been for either Indoor or Drum Corps so I haven't really had a need for a concert horn

I hope that one plays as well as mine does, and glad you like it.

Mary Ann wrote: Thu May 28, 2026 10:37 am I hope that one plays as well as mine does, and glad you like it.

From what I had briefly done yesterday on it while testing it seems to be pretty good. I was planning on bringing it to a repair shop early tomorrow, anything that you recommend I have them look at, fix, etc.? for sure going to have them work on the rotors because the 2nd is sometimes locking up or something. I put a bit of rotor oil on it and it was a bit better but want them to check it out just in case