Posted by Gus Pratt on July 14, 2000 at 05:14:47:
In Reply to: tuba buying vs. burning money posted by Joey Silva on July 13, 2000 at 17:49:42:
The resale of horns depends on alot of things, but it is all just supply and demand. If what you're looking for is a horn with good resale, then the best thing to do is by a good used horn. It'll keep it's value, whereas a new horn has nowhere to go but down. Generally the higher quality of the horn, the better the resale for new horns. You can buy a $8000 tuba and sell it for $6000 or so, but if you buy a cheap student model horn for $4000 you'll only get $2000. Or you can spend $3000 for a fiberglas sousaphone and not sell it for $1000. In all 3 cases your loss is $2000. Resale of CC's is higher then BBb. A used Miraphone 186 CC will sell for approximately $1000 more then a BBb 186. Yet I believe the BBb costs more new. Similarly a used Besson Sovereign Eb will sell for more then a used Besson Sovereign BBb. Used horn prices are higher for those horns that are perceived to be better playing horns regardless of what the new horn may sell for. Additionally available options like silverplate or 5th valve may add more to the resale value then the additional new cost. A Yamaha 321 euphonium in silver plate goes for about $1400 used, but the same horn in lacquer will only fetch $1000. Other options may add to your loss. A new case with your horn may be $500, but it'll only add very little to the resale of the horn.