TromboneChat

cb56 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 22, 2023 11:56 am Fine tales, I saw those horns but was a bit concerned about buying from Japan.
Here in the states if I get scammed I can always track them down. Not so much in Japan

Mailing and Shipping Goods - Customs Duty Guidance

Unaccompanied purchases are goods you bought on a trip that are being mailed or shipped to you in the United States. In other words, you are not carrying the goods with you when you return. If your unaccompanied purchases are from an insular possession (IP) or a Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) country and are being imported within 30 days and sent directly from those locations to the United States, you may enter them as follows:

Up to $1,600 in goods will be duty-free under your personal exemption if the merchandise is from an IP.
Up to $800 in goods will be duty-free if it is from a CBI or Andean country.
Any additional amount, up to $1,000, in goods will be dutiable at a flat rate (3%).

Fujiifilm17 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 10:28 am Adding on to what Finetales already mentioned, I bought a yamaha 8440 from a similar eBay seller based in Japan. Since it was little over $800 after sales tax, I ended up paying about $40 in customs duties after it was delivered, which honestly I didn't really mind considering the overall price of the instrument.

AnthonyGTrombone wrote: ↑Fri Sep 22, 2023 12:21 pm I can also point out that "soccer-1611" sells tons of stuff on ebay. And while I have never purchased from them personally, they've sold bunches of stuff with good reviews, and I see the name pop up a lot. Ebay also has pretty decent purchase protections. Additionally if you pay with a credit card through paypal as well, you've likely got a lot of avenues to be able to get your money back in the event of a bad purchase.

Yamaha stuff can be had really cheap from Japan as they're pretty abundant in their home country, so I wouldn't knock it right away.

Weirdly Soccer seems to also be selling a shires tenor that has no serial number and allegedly is one of the first ever made. It's even got a dark black patina.
There's tons of unique horns this guy sells.

cb56 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 26, 2023 1:01 pm Thanks for all the help and offers everyone.
I went to Brass Exchange in St. LOUIS and picked out a nice 1952 Conn 78h in great shape. Doug gave me a great deal and is a great guy. Played a few exercises with me that will help me get my chops back in shape.
I played the Carol brass and a Conn 6h but the 78h was/is the right horn for me. Played a nice Bach 36 but it was beyond my budget.
I highly recommend Brass Exchange if you're looking to buy a horn.

bassclef wrote: ↑Tue Sep 26, 2023 9:32 am

AnthonyGTrombone wrote: ↑Fri Sep 22, 2023 12:21 pm I can also point out that "soccer-1611" sells tons of stuff on ebay. And while I have never purchased from them personally, they've sold bunches of stuff with good reviews, and I see the name pop up a lot. Ebay also has pretty decent purchase protections. Additionally if you pay with a credit card through paypal as well, you've likely got a lot of avenues to be able to get your money back in the event of a bad purchase.

Yamaha stuff can be had really cheap from Japan as they're pretty abundant in their home country, so I wouldn't knock it right away.

Weirdly Soccer seems to also be selling a shires tenor that has no serial number and allegedly is one of the first ever made. It's even got a dark black patina.
There's tons of unique horns this guy sells.

I had a bad experience with that seller a month or two ago.

I bought a YBL-813UG for $2500. A little more than a week goes by and I finally get Fed-Ex tracking info. Turns out the tracking info was for an envelope-sized package which was delivered to an address in Indiana and I'm in Ohio.

I reached out to the seller about this. He lied and said it was a Fed Ex problem with some elaborate story. It wasn't remotely true, a shipping label with my address as the destination was never even created. I confirmed this with Fed Ex. They did eventually refund my money without PayPal forcing his hand.

A couple days later, the seller reached out to me with "great news" that he acquired another 813UG but at a higher price. He relisted it with different photos for $3800. Listed it on I believe 5 other seller accounts with the same photos also. The horn and case had some very distinct marks/imperfections which were also visible on the newly photographed and listed horn. It was undoubtedly 100% the same instrument.

If you look at the negative feedback on that seller account, you can easily see that what I described above is somewhat of a common practice for him. You can see the same on the other seller accounts he uses as well.

He obviously delivers some of what he sells...but just don't get your hopes up until the horn arrives on your doorstep.

AnthonyGTrombone wrote: ↑Sat Sep 30, 2023 3:50 pm I wonder what goes on that makes these kinds of sellers so inconsistent.

cb56 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 21, 2023 3:34 pm Changed the title because it's not so much about the CarolBrass horn (although I might end up with it) than it is getting a horn in my budget.
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Been away from playing for 10 years. I'm 67 yo. used to play a 70s King 3b amoung other horns.
Looking to get a decent playable horn to jam with my 75 year old trumpet playing friend (mostly jazz)
I've got a LOW budget of around $600. I know it's slim pickins at with that budget, I also HAVE to be able to pay with credit card.
So far I've come across a used CarolBrass 508 bore, A used yamaha YSL354 500 bore and an old Reynolds model 70
500 bore. I also came across a Holton 65 for less than my budget but I'm afraid it's too small plus the guy wants cash.
I'm not a high note lead player. In big bands I'd usually play 2nd or 3rd chair and was the go to improve jazz solo guy. Also played a lot of dixieland jazz back in my day. Think Bob Havens and Teagarden just not as good.
Any reviews on the CarolBrass or other suggestions?
I don't have enough posts yet to search or I'd do that.
Thanks
cb56

AnthonyGTrombone wrote: ↑Sat Sep 30, 2023 3:50 pm Gutted to hear that!
I'll keep that in mind.

I'm glad you were able to recover your funds. I wonder what goes on that makes these kinds of sellers so inconsistent.
Nothing truly can replace buying something in person.

Oslide wrote: ↑Fri Sep 22, 2023 5:39 am The Yamaha YSL-354 would be quite alright for your purposes and you could probably get a decent one for half of your budget.