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233 Posts
I saved and waited over a year for the right deal to come along, finally found a 1936 6M on craigslist in what appeared to be excellent condition with crisp, clean engraving. I paid a fair price as it had original pads so needed an overhaul, and from multiple pictures and description (the owner was a drummer who received it as a gift 20 years ago) there was no damage and it looked almost new. Though it was play tested recently, I still carefully inspected photos of the tone holes and all scratches, and took the leap.
Now... my tech just received it and gave me the horrid news:
a) there are a few repaired dents that were hard to see in photos
b) it is an epoxy relac and there are a few red spots
c) the side key C and Bb, and F# tone holes were overbuffed as a result and lost half of the rolled rim
d) the original *%^$ idiot tech tried to cover it up by filing them nearly off though incidentally making the rim even sharper.
***!! Such heresy!! What a shame, that's what you get for relac'ing a fine playing horn, trouble... There's a tiny chance the seller knew, but more likely was simply ignorant so I'll just have to eat it. sigh.
Shouldn't cost too much more to fix but that's a pretty huge hit on resale value. I didn't intend to sell since I thought this would be my life partner (still has a chance if she plays well) but if I'm not happy, I basically got shot in the foot.
I'm no spring chicken buying used horns and I did my research and asked all the right questions, but when the seller is not knowledgable enough to notice these finer things then there's not much more you can do. It's always a gamble. My only comfort is that I probably couldn't have gotten a later non-RTH 6m for this cheap anyway.
So, just wanted to alert you all to not get complacent buying horns online (especially after the recent 82Z debacle), I'm still gonna hope for the best. I'll post an update and pics when I get the horn in my hands, she'll have white roos with flat metal resos.
Now... my tech just received it and gave me the horrid news:
a) there are a few repaired dents that were hard to see in photos
b) it is an epoxy relac and there are a few red spots
c) the side key C and Bb, and F# tone holes were overbuffed as a result and lost half of the rolled rim
d) the original *%^$ idiot tech tried to cover it up by filing them nearly off though incidentally making the rim even sharper.
***!! Such heresy!! What a shame, that's what you get for relac'ing a fine playing horn, trouble... There's a tiny chance the seller knew, but more likely was simply ignorant so I'll just have to eat it. sigh.
Shouldn't cost too much more to fix but that's a pretty huge hit on resale value. I didn't intend to sell since I thought this would be my life partner (still has a chance if she plays well) but if I'm not happy, I basically got shot in the foot.
I'm no spring chicken buying used horns and I did my research and asked all the right questions, but when the seller is not knowledgable enough to notice these finer things then there's not much more you can do. It's always a gamble. My only comfort is that I probably couldn't have gotten a later non-RTH 6m for this cheap anyway.
So, just wanted to alert you all to not get complacent buying horns online (especially after the recent 82Z debacle), I'm still gonna hope for the best. I'll post an update and pics when I get the horn in my hands, she'll have white roos with flat metal resos.