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I *may* have a tuba budget ... it will be quite limited. I've been beside myself/sick-to-my-stomach about all of the excellent tubas that I've had to sell over the past year or two... in particular, the last ~7 months of not having a "real" tuba have been pretty soul-crushing at times. Hoping that getting a full-sized contrabass tuba back in my life will help things get back to normal. I'm not expecting or able to afford perfection, but "pretty good" will get me through until situations and budgets improve even more.

I'm generally aware of what's listed online at the usual stores, but curious if there are other things like FB ads, CL posts, or long-running FS ads here that have been forgotten but are actually still available.

Here's my list of requirements and preferences... and I know that basically nothing is going to tick all the boxes... but #1 and #2 are must-haves.

1) Not Chinese (non-negotiable). Really not interested in Czech either.
2) Must be under $4k all-in (including shipping, taxes [if a store], etc...). I know that's a TOUGH budget, but that's what it is. And this isn't "If you save a little more..." or "If you can stretch up to..." This is "I've already stretched as far as I can -- and maybe have already stretched too much -- and $4,000 is IT."
3) Fixed upright bell
4) REALLY prefer to be back on CC; BBb could work, but it depends. No Eb or F.
5) At least 4 front action valves.
6) Rotary valves preferred, but would consider pistons
7) Must play well and be in excellent mechanical condition (no projects).
8) Can be a little ugly re: finish and a few dents... but not look like it's been destroyed
8) At least 4/4 size, and the bigger the better.

Please send me a PM if you have anything in mind, or anything to share.

Oh, goodness. My Scherzer ticks all your boxes. Unfortunately, I'm still fond of it. I had no tubas at all four years ago, but now I'm spoiled and kind of like having a backup. Besides that, it plays in tune and sounds really sweet.

Someone will have what you need, though.

There's that Böhm and Meinl at Dillon, but I've heard it's a bit of a dawg from a previous owner.

arpthark wrote: ↑Fri Mar 24, 2023 4:56 pm There's that Böhm and Meinl at Dillon, but I've heard it's a bit of a dawg from a previous owner.

A fully trustworthy source refered to it as "old world intonation problems" and difficult to hold. Pass.

There is that Rudy in California. A bit of a budgetary stretch from $4K, though.

Brett,
Lee has a 4/4 B&S BBb on his in progress list, and he'll be in Minneapolis in 3 weeks.
Happy hunting.
Tim

jtm wrote: ↑Fri Mar 24, 2023 4:20 pm Oh, goodness. My Scherzer ticks all your boxes. Unfortunately, I'm still fond of it. I had no tubas at all four years ago, but now I'm spoiled and kind of like having a backup. Besides that, it plays in tune and sounds really sweet.

Someone will have what you need, though.

Unfortunately nothing! I'm glad you have it and like it!

There's also a Scherzer for sale on the board here, which I am interested in... But seller doesn't seem to come by here too often.

MN_TimTuba wrote: ↑Fri Mar 24, 2023 9:36 pm Brett,
Lee has a 4/4 B&S BBb on his in progress list, and he'll be in Minneapolis in 3 weeks.
Happy hunting.
Tim

Thanks -- I'll have to ask Lee about that. He's the first person to say though, that his site needs to be updated but I'll ask!

bort2.0 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 24, 2023 4:01 pm 2) Must be under $4k all-in (including shipping, taxes [if a store], etc...). I know that's a TOUGH budget, but that's what it is. And this isn't "If you save a little more..." or "If you can stretch up to..." This is "I've already stretched as far as I can -- and maybe have already stretched too much -- and $4,000 is IT."

Unfortunately, the asking price on this MW 30 only barely misses your cutoff, but you'd have to pay NJ sales tax and shipping anyway:

https://www.dillonmusic.com/used-meinl- ... sn-c4-222/

Maybe ask 295 of your closest friends to chip in a dollar each...?

edit: I am not sure if they charge tax for online orders. I've only ever bought from them in-store.

Well, there is my Mirafone 185 BBb. Kind of an obvious choice, really. See here:

viewtopic.php?p=52108#p52108

$3400 for the horn and the Forest Green Superfine gig bag seen in the photos
$3100 for just the horn.

Shipping with UPS would be $300 tops....

Dan is rebuilding a 186....js

LargeTuba wrote: ↑Mon Mar 27, 2023 8:28 am https://www.baltimorebrasscompany.com/p ... -tuba.aspx

Flashback to Brett's old Marzan!

Thanks, everyone! I'm starting to get more options than I can filter through, so I'll pause for a bit and start to work through all that.

The best option out there is just slightly out of reach, and I'm trying to find a way to make that work.

I've been in touch with Dan Schultz, thanks.
That CB/Willson is pretty cool, reminds me of the ultra-rare Willson 4400 CC. By specs, that's the same bore and bell as my old Marzan... but I think this one might have a larger bell flare and the bows are not as big? I dunno... seems like a pretty normal size, but the description (and inherent intended use as being a CB-branded instrument) make it seem like it's a small 4/4 size. My old Marzan was all around a larger horn (small 5/4-ish).
The Dillon MW-30 would be a flashback too, the first tuba I ever bought (right after college) was a VMI stencil of a MW-30 (B&S valves on an MW-30 body/bell). Really solid tuba! Although that's the tuba that I owned when I first played a Miraphone 188, and from the very first note on the 188, I knew the VMI was over.

I was just at Tuba Exchange last week. They have a number of St. Petes that were in or awfully close to that range. I really liked the CC 210 piston. Played effortlessly and smooth with a nice sound. They're made in Ukraine, which is not the Czech Republic. I understand from Todd that their plant in Ukraine is still making tubas while the war goes on.

...and just like that, the tuba budget is right back to $0.

Thanks for your help, everyone!

That's pretty cheap, let me know if you find one.

arpthark wrote: ↑Wed Apr 05, 2023 10:01 am That's pretty cheap, let me know if you find one.

The real kick in the teeth is that now I can't even find one at twice my budget

LargeTuba wrote: ↑Mon Mar 27, 2023 8:28 am https://www.baltimorebrasscompany.com/p ... -tuba.aspx

Played it. HARD PASS. It's a dog.

kingrob76 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 06, 2023 10:03 pm

LargeTuba wrote: ↑Mon Mar 27, 2023 8:28 am https://www.baltimorebrasscompany.com/p ... -tuba.aspx

Played it. HARD PASS. It's a dog.

Say more...? I've tried one of these -- LONG long ago, and it played horribly because it was in desperate need of a valve alignment, as in, visually unaligned and different height pistons, just a wreck! But I was able to find some combinations of valves that made it aligned enough to play normally, and it was a nice sound.

Have also long ago played one of the smaller Marzan CC tubas, and thought it was a really nice tuba.

No money anyway, but still, curious.