TubaForum.net

hello everyone, sorry for suddenly creating several posts here on the forum, I'm new here and I wanted to learn more from you on the forum, one question I have is about the value of Conn tubas... do you think a tuba from Conn brand and 2xj series is it valid to pay up to what amount on these tubas? What is the maximum price limit that these tubas can be worth? In your opinion, is it beneficial to pay $4300 for a Conn 21J tuba? Is it expensive for this price? (the tuba is renovated!) What is the average price of these tubas? Again, sorry for so many questions here on the forum, I'm really inexperienced in this area.

You will NEVER get $4300 out of that tuba. Ever. 2XJ’s are probably worth at maximum, to me, $2,000 in good shape.

The fact that this tuba has been “overhauled” still doesn’t make it a near $5,000 tuba to me. It looks to be in great shape, but if the valves haven’t been replated/honed, it’s not worth that. Even if they HAVE been, it’s not worth that.

Just my 2 cents. I’d purchase something else with that kind of money.

Lee Stoffer recently had a 20J with original lacquer listed for about $2000. You know if Lee went through it it has to be good.

I was was set to pay $3500 for a silver 25J (with a Kanstul bell instead of original) that was in mint condition. I backed out because I really didn't have a good use case for an upright bell 2XJ (other than it was cool).

That is I think the upper limit for what I would spend. I only really have the 20J because it was given to me on perpetual loan from a friend. We both pretend he might want it back one day. It is fun, but I don't really need the sousaphone and the bell front 20J.

Sousaswag wrote: ↑Mon Jul 01, 2024 10:02 pm You will NEVER get $4300 out of that tuba. Ever. 2XJ's are probably worth at maximum, to me, $2,000 in good shape.

The fact that this tuba has been "overhauled" still doesn't make it a near R$ 5,000 tuba to me. It looks to be in great shape, but if the valves haven't been replated/honed, it's not worth that. Even if they HAVE been, it's not worth that.

Just my 2 cents. I'd purchase something else with that kind of money.

I understood perfectly, but this $4300 I made a direct conversion, this tuba is currently in Brazil, today it is being sold for that amount, converting directly. The seller probably paid $2250 +60% (tax) + $700 in repairs and painting. Unfortunately, I was the one who was naive when posting here, I was the one who didn't include all the details. Here in Brazil, this tuba costs on average between $4,000 and $4,300.

gocsick wrote: ↑Mon Jul 01, 2024 11:08 pm Lee Stoffer recently had a 20J with original lacquer listed for about $2000. You know if Lee went through it has to be good.

I was set to pay $3500 for a silver 25J (with a Kanstul bell instead of original) that was in mint condition. I backed out because I really didn't have a good use case for an upright bell 2XJ (other than it was cool).

That is I think the upper limit for what I would spend. I only really have the 20J because it was given to me on perpetual loan from a friend. We both pretend he might want it back one day. It is fun, but I don't really need the sousaphone and the bell front 20J.

Thank you for helping me, it's a good answer. it helped me a lot.

Igor wrote: ↑Tue Jul 02, 2024 6:26 am

Sousaswag wrote: ↑Mon Jul 01, 2024 10:02 pm You will NEVER get $4300 out of that tuba. Ever. 2XJ's are probably worth at maximum, to me, $2,000 in good shape.

The fact that this tuba has been "overhauled" still doesn't make it a near R$ 5,000 tuba to me. It looks to be in great shape, but if the valves haven't been replated/honed, it's not worth that. Even if they HAVE been, it's not worth that.

Just my 2 cents. I'd purchase something else with that kind of money.

I understood perfectly, but this $4300 I made a direct conversion, this tuba is currently in Brazil, today it is being sold for that amount, converting directly. The seller probably paid $2250 +60% (tax) + $700 in repairs and painting. Unfortunately, I was the one who was naive when posting here, I was the one who didn't include all the details. Here in Brazil, this tuba costs on average between $4,000 and $4,300.

So it seems you have your answer already! I've often wondered about the economics of the tuba market in places like Brazil (where it seems like a lot of people are doing cool stuff to tubas, making custom tubas/frankentubas, and where there seems to be a very active amateur scene from what I've seen posted online) versus the USA. You will find that this forum is very USA-centric, with a few members from Canada, the UK and continental Europe, so gauging prices in Brazil will be tough for us. Certain tubas that are more common in Europe are cheaper there but fetch a higher price in the USA, and vice versa. I am guessing the same is true in Brazil, to an extent, especially for these big American models like the 2xJ horns.

arpthark wrote: ↑Tue Jul 02, 2024 6:42 am

Igor wrote: ↑Tue Jul 02, 2024 6:26 am

Sousaswag wrote: ↑Mon Jul 01, 2024 10:02 pm You will NEVER get $4300 out of that tuba. Ever. 2XJ's are probably worth at maximum, to me, $2,000 in good shape.

The fact that this tuba has been "overhauled" still doesn't make it a near R$ 5,000 tuba to me. It looks to be in great shape, but if the valves haven't been replated/honed, it's not worth that. Even if they HAVE been, it's not worth that.

Just my 2 cents. I'd purchase something else with that kind of money.

I understood perfectly, but this $4300 I made a direct conversion, this tuba is currently in Brazil, today it is being sold for that amount, converting directly. The seller probably paid $2250 +60% (tax) + $700 in repairs and painting. Unfortunately, I was the one who was naive when posting here, I was the one who didn't include all the details. Here in Brazil, this tuba costs on average between $4,000 and $4,300.

So it seems you have your answer already! I've often wondered about the economics of the tuba market in places like Brazil (where it seems like a lot of people are doing cool stuff to tubas, making custom tubas/frankentubas, and where there seems to be a very active amateur scene from what I've seen posted online) versus the USA. You will find that this forum is very USA-centric, with a few members from Canada, the UK and continental Europe, so gauging prices in Brazil will be tough for us. Certain tubas that are more common in Europe are cheaper there but fetch a higher price than in the USA, and vice versa. I am guessing the same is true in Brazil, to an extent, especially for these big American models like the 2xJ horns.

You are right in your answer, here in Brazil we really like tubas, especially to play in churches, concerts... but the prices are quite high, but those who love the instrument save some money and little by little they get it. to buy, my first tuba was a conn 15j, I still have it here, now I managed to buy a conn 21j, for me it's a dream, I love the shape and sound of the conn tubas, there are certainly better tubas on the market, but here in Brazil they cost a lot of money... I noticed that on the forum there are more Americans, Europeans... I'm really excited to get to know and understand what each of you likes are like, to get to know the instruments that are most successful there... Very thanks for your answer. (sorry for my english, I'm using the translator)

The view we get on youtube of the amateur music scene in Brazil is ... different, and maybe somewhat misleading, but there are for sure some guys who play in the big church wind ensembles who love their big brass. A scene that has funded some experiments with oversized saxophones that wouldn't likely be economically feasible in other local markets. Who knows what the value of a big old iconic American tuba would be, there.

donn wrote: ↑Tue Jul 02, 2024 7:53 am The view we get on youtube of the amateur music scene in Brazil is ... different, and maybe somewhat misleading, but there are for sure some guys who play in the big church wind ensembles who love their big brass. A scene that has funded some experiments with oversized saxophones that wouldn't likely be economically feasible in other local markets. Who knows what the value of a big old iconic American tuba would be, there.

I understand you perfectly, here in Brazil we have a very high number of amateur tuba musicians and this number tends to grow more and more, there are certainly professional musicians with training at a music university and some additional specializations on their CV, but the majority are amateurs . The reason why this vast majority are amateurs is due to churches that offer music as if it were in American schools... members can choose the instrument they want to play... Brazilian amateur orchestras, especially in churches, have more than 50 tubas per event, as we can see on YouTube, although 95% of the musicians are not professionals, when played seriously, the “orchestra” sounds very good. So here there has always been this demand for tubas.
I'm not a professional yet, but I already have 2 tubas at home, two American Conn, a trumpet and an electronic organ, I think this culture is very beautiful, it's difficult for a person who isn't a music professional to have many instruments. This is due to amateur orchestras, they provide this desire to own an instrument.

I view Brazil as being less connected to the United States in comparison to Europe, even though it's not much farther away. Even the numbers of flights between the United States and Brazil are surely way less than between the United States and Europe. I can see how pricing - even today with the internet - can be disjunct on certain types of things, but I would also keep in mind - were I Brazilian - that there's a "world price" for something, and it's probably a pretty good idea to be aware of the world price in comparison to the Brazil price, when deciding on whether to purchase something that's locally available.

OK...sousaphones: (analogy)
In Europe a couple of decades ago, good condition or even sort of okay condition American sousaphones went for more than they went for in the United States, but from what I'm seeing now I believe that pricing has become closer to level. Another factor might (??) be that there are some darn good Chinese made sousaphones which are available to the European market as well...

back to discussing buying that Conn:
and I don't know how well distributed the good Chinese six quarter size B flat tubas are in Brazil. (??)... but admittedly, most of those are probably going to start in the $5,000 good/used range... but they are all going to also feature four valves.