Posted by Lee Stofer on May 23, 2003 at 08:17:04:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Thein tubas posted by Tabor on May 20, 2003 at 23:30:28:
You would not wonder so much about the pricing if you were to 1) see how the Thein brothers so painstakingly go about their craft, and 2) play a few of their instruments.
Yes, I have visited Max and Heinrich Thein's shop several times, and have played a number of their instruments. I have owned one of their bass trombones since April 1987, and every time I pull it out of the case I know it was worth every cent of the $3,000.00+ I paid for it. Their metal is not paper-thin unless you want it that way, and the quality of the metal is exceptional. For the same reason that some Jupiters have serious red-rot within 3 years, my Thein still looks like new, inside and out after 16 years of use. In fact, I have completely cleaned it only three times since I bought it - the metal seems to be nearly corrosion-proof. If my finances allowed, I would own a Thein tuba.
If you have any questions for them, contact them through their web site. One of them speaks English well, and they are very friendly folk.
Lee Stofer