Posted by Lew on August 18, 2001 at 06:51:27:
In Reply to: Why are Tubas SO expensive? posted by confused on August 17, 2001 at 23:08:10:
Rick's comments, linked to below, contain a very good description of the components of tuba pricing, or pricing of anything for that matter. I am curious though, where did you come up with $5800? What did you include in that number?
What if a person hand makes 12 tubas a year? Assuming that they have tools that have to be paid for, and they need to make a reasonable living from the sale of these instruments, a reasonable price for these may be as much as $25,000, or more. If they are great tubas there may be enough demand to keep making them. If the demand isn't there they won't continue to be made.
Fortunately for you, there are many very good tubas available for significantly less than $5,800. You certainly don't have to pay more than $9,000, if you don't think it's worth it.