Craig's List and Patience Wins Again

[MineralMan]

I've been looking for an affordable euphonium for over two years, with daily eBay and Craigs List searches. Affordable means really, really cheap, in my case. No luck until yesterday.

And there it was. Mislabeled as a baritone and manufactured in the US in the 1990s by the E. K. Blessing company in Elkhart, IN. Looked good in the photos, and had a solid case and a decent mouthpiece. Priced at just $125. I emailed the seller immediately and made an appointment to meet with him at a community center about an hour from here.

I got there; he got there. I played the instrument a little, to the amusement of the seniors taking an exercise class and handed over the cash. Before I did, though, I told him that it was a euphonium, not a baritone, and that I thought he had priced it lower than he might have. I was giving him a chance to back away from the deal. He shrugged and said that it had been his horn in high school and that he needed the money right now, so I put it in my car and drove home.

It plays very well and looks more than presentable enough for community band use, despite a few minor dings. Now, I just have to get my chops back and find a local band to join.

Patience pays off on Craig's List. Every time. What you want will show up at your price at some point if you're willing to wait. Same goes with eBay, but you don't get to try things you find there.

I'm a happy guy, even though I haven't had time for DU today. I've been practicing scales.

[hifiguy]

1. Is that the Wagner Tuba, or is the WT a similar "low tenor" instrument?

I know the euphonium is a baritone voice.

What you need is a serpent. That's old school.

[lapislzi]

4. My husband is a serpent scholar.

One of the few. He specialized in Renaissance Brass instruments. And I thought my art history degree was impractical!

[hifiguy]

8. They sound rather, um,

digestive. Rather like P.D.Q. Bach's tromboon, a fusion of trombone and bassoon that combines the disadvantages of both.

[Major Nikon]

13. I listened to that and it worked better than two cups of coffee

I'm going to bookmark it for the next time I have a logjam.

[MADem]

26. Ha ha ha!

Would make a great musical interlude for a "Peter on the can" scene in Family Guy!

[MineralMan]

15. I've played a serpent in an early music

group, but it wasn't mine. The euphonium is between a cornet and a tuba. It's a baritone voice in the Brasswind group.

[safeinOhio]

2. I can't play, but if I find

a bassoon cheap I'd buy it.

[MineralMan]

16. Hard to find a cheap bassoon, but one shows up

Now and then on eBay. Generally they're school instrument - Bundy is one of the brands you might find.

[mnhtnbb]

3. Many years ago I worked in Los Angeles with a Canadian--who retired and returned to Canada--

who played euphonium with a Salvation Army Band.

Enjoy your new horn!

[elleng]

5. Right, a good resource.

Have found 2 residences on Craig's List, this, found last year, the BEST place EVER!

[grasswire]

27. found my place on the river on craigslist too

3,000 miles away from yours!

Every day I am grateful for it. Beautiful million dollar view. Great neighbors, including the Canada geese, the bald eagles, and sea lions and so on. Such a blessing.

Can you swim from that beautiful beach in the foreground?

[elleng]

29. Swimming is possible from 'my' beach, but

I've been told there are jellyfish around. Fishing and crabbing possible, though!

I have geese around too, but no sea lions. MIGHT be bald eagles somewhere.

These in the bird bath today!



Great that you have a 'similar' place!

[grasswire]

31. oh, you are on salt water?

My river is fresh water. No crabs.

Beautiful birds! Wow!

[elleng]

35. No, fresh water, Patuxent River + a creek,

grasswire, but I guess these blue crabs don't care!

[NewDeal_Dem]

32. You live there? It looks idyllic.

[elleng]

36. Yes, NewDeal,

it is idyllic! Have rented it for 1 year+, so spend most of my time here.

[NewDeal_Dem]

37. Lucky woman.

[elleng]

38. Very lucky!

A series of circumstances, not all of them happy, led to this.

[Logical]

6. It was nice of you to tell him that! nt

[MineralMan]

19. I'm not into taking advantage of people.

He wanted to sell it and that was the price he set. I told him, just in case he wanted to change his mind. but he seller sets the price.

[Logical]

22. I know, but most people would not. Still nice of you! nt

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. Congrats....

the thrill of a good bargain lasts a long time, doesn't it?

[logosoco]

9. Sounds like a great treasure!

I love Craigslist. There is some waiting for seeing just the right thing, but it's well worth it.
We have found many great things over the years (the PERFECT couch after so many crappy ones!).

It is also a great way to get rid of things for free!

[dilby]

10. Well hopefully it was really his to begin with.

I bought some Callaway golf clubs off craigslist that were almost like new and priced ridiculously cheap. I met the young man who looked to have seen better days at a gas station and asked why he was selling them. He told me they belonged to his father who passed away recently and he really needed the money. I don't know if I bought stolen goods and I am not going to question someone when they say their father passed but I should have paid more than $100 for the clubs and I told the kid he was selling them too cheap but he said he just needed the money now.

[MineralMan]

18. It was his. His name is on the case

in faded magic marker, and he played it for me. He's a trombonist.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

11. Wow. Those potential numbers are amazing

Now, would you let me know if you find a bass clarinet?

Dang, they're expensive!

[MineralMan]

17. I did buy a bass clarinet on eBay a few years

ago for just $100. The trick is to check daily for newly listed Buy It Now listings and pounce instantly. I didn't want one, but had a friend who did, so I passed it along to him.

[sendero]

12. Awesome!

.... I love Craigslist. I have bought and sold a boatload of stuff both big and small and have had almost universally great experiences doing so.

[MineralMan]

20. I use CL all the time, too.

[Freddie]

14. Terrific find!

DH (trumpet) and myself (alto sax) play in a community band too. Probably the best/most meaningful thing I do in life besides my family.
Haven't found any musical instruments yet but we got a beautiful oak wall unit and a nice dining room set from Craigslist, and most recently, my car. A "cream puff" 2001 PT Cruiser for $2200! Yes it's worth the time and patience to hunt.

[MineralMan]

21. I've missed playing with others.

I'm looking forward to it.

[marked50]

23. An idea

My brother-in-law and my nephew play a lot with these type instruments (brass) and they found a local group that formed a "Civil War" band. They have period costumes and use (as close as possible) period instruments ( pretty much all brass) and tour various locations that have some associated "theme" that can use their entertainment. Always a hit and they get to travel to all sorts of unusual places. Maybe something to consider. They love it.

[MineralMan]

24. There is a civil war band festval near here

every summer. I really enjoy that, but I'm not really into reenactment stuff as a participant.

[B Calm]

25. Bought a used chipper/shredder off Craig's List last year for a song.

[grasswire]

28. I have a friend who specializes in selling brass instruments.

He's a fine jazz trumpeter and travels to Europe often for gigs. He had his own band in New Orleans for many years. He buys and then sells on craigslist and ebay. It's fun to see what he digs up!

[davidpdx]

30. I'm glad you found one

I've bought a few things off Craigslist here in Seoul, mostly furniture. People leave and are in a hurry to get rid of stuff and maybe someone says they ware interested and back out and it provides a good opportunity to get stuff cheap.

[Electric Monk]

33. With the seller being unclear exactly what he was selling, did you suspect it might be stolen? nt

[MineralMan]

34. Not at all. Many people don't know the difference between a

baritone horn and a euphonium. As soon as I started exchanging emails with the seller, it was clear that it was his old high school instrument. He said so, and even explained where he got it (from his trombone teacher). When we met to make the sale, I asked him if he would play it for me, since I'm a rank beginner, and I wanted to hear what it would sound like eventually. He played it just fine, and it sounded great.

The case also had the guy's name on it in well-faded magic marker. I do worry about the possibility of stolen stuff on CL, but I do my homework. I also had the guy's name and cell-phone number and checked to see if someone of his name lived in that town. I'm simply not buying any stolen goods from anyone.