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Besides the backward bell in that one pic (what I assume you're referring to), I'm seeing:

- shiny (buffed to hell refurb?)
- rotten bows
- extraneous valve (do these 20Js really need that fourth valve?)
- no piston pics
- ridiculous price

I guess if it's in nice shape, the price isn't THAT crazy, maybe about 2X what it's worth instead of 10X, but a refurbished/really nice old Conn like this is such an odd duck. Not a desirable model (huge, top action, fourth valve makes it so heavy, front bell) but if it's in nice shape it should obviously fetch more, at a price point that makes it unattractive to most people who are looking for something like this.

I feel like every Conn 20J should be ugly, splotchy, dented, kind of brown, have only three valves, and made that way at the factory.

My problem with the 24J is the weight. Jeez, the 20J is bad enough, but the 24J is just heavy for the sake of heavy. The 4th valve is nice for the low stuff, but with the unwieldy weight, I just never really got to the part with the low notes. Meh.

But suppose it IS in original condition and hasn't been refinished. How much would that be worth? That's happened a few times this year so far... New or excellent condition examples of instruments that are not particularly popular, and who knows what that should cost.

I guess these tubas were all new at some point, though!

The problem of not hearing yourself kind of goes away, surprised it's not mentioned as a selling point in the description "unique bell angle improves feedback".

Conn designed those tubas to be used during the Civil War.

I don't know.. I think that bell position would give me a headache.

The Big Ben wrote: ↑Fri Apr 28, 2023 9:40 am I don't know.. I think that bell position would give me a headache.

sorta like leaving the tea spoon in the tea glass would make your eye hurt...??

This tuba makes my head spin...

Better idea, change up the wrap so it will clear and put a motor and belt on the bell similar to a Leslie speaker. Then make the bell spin!

Someone should offer $1,000 citing that all that red rot will costs thousands to repair...

bloke wrote: ↑Fri Apr 28, 2023 9:59 am

The Big Ben wrote: ↑Fri Apr 28, 2023 9:40 am I don't know.. I think that bell position would give me a headache.

sorta like leaving the tea spoon in the tea glass would make your eye hurt...??

"You're gonna put your eye out with that thing, kid..."

Is the red rot diagnosis a sure thing? The 3rd bow seems like an odd place for it to show up, and that's the only significant corrosion that pops out of the pictures for me.

Piston pictures are nice, but do those Conn short action pistons ever wear out?

That is probably not red rot. It is not in a normal area for dezincification to occur. I suspect the horn was poorly degreased prior to being shot with lacquer.

I was thinking maybe condensation collected in the big bows and it was lying down in the case while stored, so the water was standing in that spot for a while and caused some rot. But I could definitely be wrong. In either case, that's optimistic pricing.

I have a theory...(but it's top secret...)

arpthark wrote: ↑Sat Apr 29, 2023 5:51 pm I was thinking maybe condensation collected in the big bows and it was lying down in the case while stored, so the water was standing in that spot for a while and caused some rot. But I could definitely be wrong. In either case, that's optimistic pricing.

Places like a New England attic would be a great place to get water accumulation over time with some solid temperature cycling.