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must be the victim of "young scholars":

https://www.ebay.com/itm/297265022833?_ ... R6qzj4WKaA

Wow. The serial number on there was a total flashback for me. The horn I played in high school was serial number 4122. Though, I can guarantee back in the 90s that it was in MJCH better condition than that one. I'm almost scared to reach out and see what the condition of it is currently.

1969 186-4U CC

These can be worth fixing up. I would not pay more than $1500 of it, and would try hard to get it for under a thousand because the work and cost of parts would be huge. But, again, it could be a fantastic tuba. The fact that it is in that condition tells me that it is probably nothing special.

North Richland Hills HS in the Dallas area had a band director who decided his high schoolers should play CC tubas, so he used part of his budget to buy about 12 or 16 of them. After he left, the new director tried to sell them off as fast as he could. Many of them ended up in the hands of undergrads at my school in the late 1980s. I nearly bought one.

Perhaps this is one of them. However, I think they were all purchased new in the late 1970s or early 1980s.

AggieDan wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2026 10:06 pm Wow. The serial number on there was a total flashback for me. The horn I played in high school was serial number 4122. Though, I can guarantee back in the 90s that it was in MJCH better condition than that one. I'm almost scared to reach out and see what the condition of it is currently.

Well, it looks to me like a situation where if you have to ask..................

That ones been there for a long time. No idea why they think they can get that much for something that clearly needs a couple grand in work and shipping to get that work.

Heavy_Metal wrote: Mon Aug 31, 2026 10:37 pm

AggieDan wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2026 10:06 pm I'm almost scared to reach out and see what the condition of it is currently.

Well, it looks to me like a situation where if you have to ask..................

Well, late last night I did ask. Looks like they've got a new band director at my alma mater. Not that my name directors have been there for 3 decades... I asked if they still have it and if there was a refresh coming up that I'd at least like to be able to offer a competitive bid, regardless of condition. So, we'll see. For THAT horn, I'd pay more than the price of a new 186 if it were available for a full restoration.