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I played this on a few recent gigs and have decided I am not yet ready to sell it. Perhaps this summer.

Oh, yeah — some additional things…

FIRST: I forgot to add the location. I would meet a potential buyer in Jackson, MS at one of three locations with rooms that are good for tuba testing.

LAST: It was pointed out to me about half an hour ago that you can get a brand new Eastman 836 for this price.

Yes, you can.

It is a choice potential buyers will have to make. This horn is well worth the price. I assure you. I cannot help where importers of Chinese-made instruments set their prices. I think the 836 can be a fantastic horn. I really liked mine — for the month I owned it. But the section liked the Holton a lot better than the Eastman in the orchestra.

However, they like the Yamaha a little better than the Holton.

With the definite weight difference (and again: I cannot emphasize enough to you how important this factor is for me) and the positive feedback from the trumpets and trombones, I decided to sell the Holton.

So, the old issue raises its ugly head once again: shiny and new, or a superior, but used horn. How will you decide to use your filthy lucre? As Karl Malden used to say: What will you do? What - WILL - you do?

I did not mean to exclude mature, non-kids who will actually take excellent care of this tuba while using it regularly.

After re-reading my post I realized I had opened this up to a rather narrow band of people. I *do* need to sell this tuba. I refuse to sell it to anyone who I think might trash it because — to them — it is just a thing. I do not want to see pics of this tuba in ten years that show it trashed by someone who does not consider it one of their most valued possessions.

If you want this horn, PM me. Sorry for the off-putting ad copy; this horn means a LOT to me. I want it in the hands of someone who will use it daily, and who appreciates it for what it is.

In an alternate timeline - where I had discovered and managed my attention deficit early enough to have had my s*** together enough to have gained traction in the tuba world - I could have offered to buy your 345 to carry on it’s legacy, but instead I’m broke and penny pinching while waiting for a used chinophone to appear near me, as I prepare to give tubuh kolij one last go. In another alternate timeline I would have kept your old pig when I quit, because it was a good pig. Oh well

GLWS. Hope it finds another orchestra hall

Wow. Just wow.

As you may know, I’m having a proper 345 built, and understand the allure of these tubas. You can’t find something like this anymore.

To anybody who thinks an Eastman is the move over this, think again. Look through Wade’s thread. This is ABSOLUTELY better put-together than any of those Chinese made York copies.

These Holtons also have a special character to them that you just can’t get anymore. I would 100% pick this rebuilt from the ground up tuba over something shiny and new.

The right buyer will come along. If I wasn’t having (really, two) 345’s built alongside a 2165, I would want this tuba.

I hope you find a loving buyer who understands and cares about just how much work, time, and effort you put into it. I know everyone who reads your build threads understands.

I was going to post earlier. I even typed it out, but decided I should wait for others to comment first.

My comment?

The name “FrankenTUBAs” strongly suggested a certain (high?) degree of haphazardness in their design and construction. I have seen and played a number (even owned one...) “FrankenTUBAs.” This is not what I would call a “FrankenTUBA” or “FrankenBAT.” That name does not do this instrument the justice it deserves. It may have started out a bit (a lot?) “Frankie” with the first builder, but after the refinement process that has occurred and final results, I really think and feel it deserves something more along the lines of “CustomBAT.”

Well, there it is.

Yes, this particular tuba has certainly had more research and development done than most tubas that come from a factory.

Just adding that this is horn has certainly been a labor of love and all of that love and care is not reflected in the price. If someone did the accounting for how much of Wade’s time was spent building this horn into what it is today, I’d hazard (even at discounted labor rates) this tuba would break even at 3 to 4 times the listed price.

Having recently sold a similar 6/4, I do think these have a different character of sound in comparison to the Eastman and similar “squat” 6/4 tubas. Not better or worse, just different.

I hope the right buyer is out there and can help this transaction go smoothly. Not many tubas like this left out there and I don’t know if anyone is interested in copying the Holton style bell and bows (like Melton did for the 2165).

Wade, I love your post! There are a lot of tuba players in the world, but there are few great musicians who happen to express their artistry on the tuba. IF you consider yourself a "sound artist" - this Holton color is rare, and it just might be the sound you have in your soul. When I was 16 (1975) I bought a Miraphone 186 and played it for 17 years. Then, I sold it. For 29 years it was gone, but a few years ago, I bought it back, but it wasn't very well taken care of. It was a great horn then and a great horn now. In 38 years of playing in professional orchestras, I've NEVER asked the other brass what horn they like better. I own 4 CC tubas, and no one in the orchestra notices I'm playing anything different. I sound the same on all of them because the sound in my head is so established (see A. Jacobs) Someone is going to be very happy with this rare and amazing instrument.
Ted

Okay, so some examples of who I will NOT sell to:

• high schoolers asking me to give it to them for free because they feel that they "really need it" and that I don't, and to their way of thinking that just isn't fair (three requests like this so far)

• high schoolers who set up GoFundMe accounts simply mooching for money for a tuba with no reason other than that they *want* one but don't have any disposable money right now (one little cretin asked me for a donation just this evening — to help him buy my own horn from me)

• high schoolers who "have no money" but who drive a Dodge Hellcat that mommy's boyfriend got him for his 17th birthday "Dude, imagine the director's face if I strolled into a pep rally with this tuba!" (one asked me on Facebook about a month ago, and the car is proudly on display in his Cover Photo)

• high schoolers, period

Kids: This tuba is not for you. It will never be for you.

the elephant wrote: ↑Thu Aug 15, 2024 9:12 pm Okay, so some examples of who I will NOT sell to:

• People looking to upgrade from a Chinese cimbasso

(with apologies to TubaBaja. The timing was too perfect for me to not make the joke! )

Well "The Brute Squad" hit the nail on the head.
The tuba I want is this 6/4 Holton 345. I saw it was listed last December on Marketplace.
I wanted it then, and I'm still trying to figure out how to come up with the money now!
I've been saving for over a year for an Eastman 836, but only because I thought this Holton had probably sold already.
Btw I'm over 40 and play principal tuba with an Orchestra on my 4/4. Been planning an upgrade for some time now.

I bought the Chinese Cimbasso a few months ago on a whim. It's basically brand new and sounds fantastic too be honest.
If I could somehow sell that for close to what I'm asking for it, I'd have enough for the Holton.
And I'm only a 6 and a half hour drive away!

I completely understand the dislike of Chinese instruments, but I also don't see myself paying full price for a professional model Cimbasso that I will probably get to play twice (optimistic?) with an actual group in my entire life. So for someone like me, who is not a professional, but is also active in several groups all year round, it serves as a fun option if the occasion were ever to rise. I'd keep it, but I'd rather have the money right now.

Sorry to make such a long post on your thread Wade. If I manage to come up with the cash, I'll send you an email separately.
Cheers,

@TubaBaja

I Facebook-stalked you and saw you're a Navy vet, so I would definitely be willing to sell it to you. (I was in an Army band many moons ago.) So good luck selling your cimbasso and getting the funds.

To help, I would be willing to meet you in Marshall, Longview, or Kilgore if you could find a way to get us a space like an auditorium or band room at a local school so you can try it out. (A little extra money to cover my gas costs would be a very nice gesture, too, but not a deal-breaker if you can't.)

A folding chair and a shady spot at a Home Depot parking lot will work, too. But you will get pretty sweaty sitting in the Texas heat for an hour, shady spot or not. A parking garage also works and has better sound characteristics, but again, you would need to bring a folding chair. And find a parking garage.

Your coming all the way out to me means you will probably have access to an air-conditioned, large room. I think. I can't guarantee that but I don't see what would prevent it.

Whatever.

If you get the money hit me up. I'm easy to work with.

Wade

Thanks Wade!
I was in the Navy Fleet Bands in Great Lakes IL, and Millington TN for a combined 5 years. Back when I was a full-time Bass Trombone player.
I don't mind driving to Jackson MS, especially if it means staying out of the heat.

I'm going to throw some pictures up on my Cimbasso post and make a Marketplace listing later.
I'll let you know if I make progress.
Thanks again,

If I were nearby I'd just ask to have my picture taken with it.

And here I was just making a joke....

We got your joke. We liked your joke. In fact, one might say that "Yuh done right good, bwah."

Mr. Data wrote:He will need to be fed once a day. He prefers Brute Supplement #25.

And he will require water.

And you must provide him with a sandbox.

And you must talk to him. Tell him he is a pretty brute… and a good brute…

the elephant wrote: ↑Mon Aug 19, 2024 9:00 am We got your joke. We liked your joke. In fact, one might say that "Yuh done right good, bwah."

Mr. Data wrote:He will need to be fed once a day. He prefers Brute Supplement #25.

And he will require water.

And you must provide him with a sandbox.

And you must talk to him. Tell him he is a pretty brute… and a good brute…

Oh My God!!! That video just showed up on my Facebook feed and I was about to send it to you.

Bumpity-bump…

I'd rate it at about thirty levels above "franken"...
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