Re: Buying a new St. Petersburg Tuba


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Posted by Rick Denney on December 04, 2003 at 17:01:53:

In Reply to: Buying a new St. Petersburg Tuba posted by Neil on December 04, 2003 at 09:18:17:

Here's what you do. Call one of the shop guys listed on the Shops page, and ask them for catalogs showing photographs of the following instruments:

VMI 2103
Miraphone 186 (write "used" under the picture)
Jupiter 582
King 2341 (write "or at least most of this one" under the picture--it's a few hundred bucks more than that $3000 St. Pete)

Go to cheaptickets.com and buy a round trip for your friend to Washington National Airport in the third week of January, and let him attend the the US Army Band Tuba Euphonium Conference (which is free). Or schedule a road trip. The conference is January 28-31 at Fort Myer, in Arlington, VA. Nearly all competing options will be on hand for trying out at the exhibition, plus, he'll get a good dose of fine performances.

Put the brochures and tickets in a box with a certificate that says: Good for $3000 towards the purchase of a tuba, or whatever amount you have in mind.

Trying out all the tubas is most of the fun, and the conference is free (except for travel expenses, of course) and I guarantee he will enjoy it. So, this is a two-fer sort of Christmas present. If after playing all the above instruments, he still prefers the St. Pete, then it's his money after you give it to him, right?

Rick "who thinks St. Petes are overpriced but at least they play decently if properly cared for" Denney


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