Original cost of 1974 3B SS

[Basie1955]

Hi,

I have a ‘74 3B SS that’s in near mint condition.
Case is also close to new. I’m curious about what
these typically sold for in a music store when new?
I had a brass bell ‘73 that I bought new but don’t remember the price.

Big thanks,

Basie

[GilBolster]

Not quite 1974, but there's a price list for king instruments dated 1976 here:
https://www.saxophone.org/museum/publications/id/676

Lists the "3B, Sterling Bell" at $710 on the 3rd page of the catalog. The dealer may take a markup (or a markdown if you're lucky!) but I'm not well versed in pricing new instruments so unsure what that markup would be if you were looking in store.

For the curious: $710 in 1976 dollars is about $3700 in today's money.

[Basie1955]

Thanks Gil,

That’s great of you to post that. Also, the ‘today’s dollars’ is
mind boggling, even with our current inflation rate.
From having a ‘73 3B and playing it hard day in and day out I know that era was really good for King bones. The slide on mine
was so good. Even with some neglect, it kept going phenomenally well. Thanks again!

Basie

[OneTon]

That’s about right. I bought an 88h for $400.00 in 1973 and a 42b for about the same after the 88h was stolen.

[Posaunus]

That’s about right. I bought an 88h for $400.00 in 1973 and a 42b for about the same after the 88h was stolen.

88H "List Price" in 1972 was $600. "Professional" discounts were available. (I purchased mine from John Coffey in Boston for $360 - 40% off. Perhaps last of the Elkharts. I still play it. Fantastic trombone!)

[Kingfan]

I bought my brass bell King 4B-F from the factory in or about 1973. Retail was $550, with my teacher's 40% discount (he played Kings professionally, helped demo prototypes, etc.) I paid $330.

[OneTon]

That’s about right. I bought an 88h for $400.00 in 1973 and a 42b for about the same after the 88h was stolen.

88H "List Price" in 1972 was $600. "Professional" discounts were available. (I purchased mine from John Coffey in Boston for $360 - 40% off. Perhaps last of the Elkharts. I still play it. Fantastic trombone!)

$400.00 was a decent discount. Shields Music was near Harvard on 11th Street in Tulsa. They were giving University of Tulsa students a discount I suppose. He would let us pay $200.00 cash and the balance in 90 days, on a handshake. Those days are gone.