NJ Facebook: early PT-6

[arpthark]

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 036662082/

Very nice looking.

[bloke]

Looks to be priced to sell.

Any pt6 is going to sound big, but comparing the rotary version, the piston version, and the MrP rotary version, the pt6 rotary has the most zing in the sound.

Turning up the treble sure is easier than turning up the air, as far as being heard in the mix.

[Sousaswag]

Great price on that tuba. Really great. Someone snatch it up. @bort2.0 ?

[bloke]

Great price on that tuba. Really great. Someone snatch it up. @bort2.0 ?

He'll find a reason to reject it in favor of some oddball thing.

[bort2.0]

Hey, that's really cool!

I'm probably going to pass though.

I've realized that at this point, it doesn't make a lot of sense to spend that much money, even if it's a good deal, on something that will barely get used. Merely owning this will not afford me more time or opportunities to play it. As much as I want it, I truly don't need it.That's a lot of money to spend on something that doesn't get used.

And not that this is my plan, but if you compare it to spending the same amount of money on a used Rolex, that's not exactly practical either. You can tell the same time with your phone, or with a $20 Timex. But if I bought an 8K Rolex, I could wear it every hour of every day for the rest of my life. And on average, that's a much much better deal in terms of dollars versus usage. Not to mention, it could be handed to my children's children and beyond, much more reliably, and frankly, more desiredly. Different type of usage, and different enjoyment during usage, but you get the point.

[arpthark]

Hey, that's really cool!

I'm probably going to pass though.

I've realized that at this point, it doesn't make a lot of sense to spend that much money, even if it's a good deal, on something that will barely get used. Merely owning this will not afford me more time or opportunities to play it. As much as I want it, I truly don't need it.That's a lot of money to spend on something that doesn't get used.

And not that this is my plan, but if you compare it to spending the same amount of money on a used Rolex, that's not exactly practical either. You can tell the same time with your phone, or with a $20 Timex. But if I bought an 8K Rolex, I could wear it every hour of every day for the rest of my life. And on average, that's a much much better deal in terms of dollars versus usage. Not to mention, it could be handed to my children's children and beyond, much more reliably, and frankly, more desiredly. Different type of usage, and different enjoyment during usage, but you get the point.

So...

Great price on that tuba. Really great. Someone snatch it up. @bort2.0 ?

He'll find a reason to reject it in favor of some oddball thing.

ended up being correct -- because the PT-6 doesn't have a clock in it?

[bort2.0]

Side note, which will also completely talk myself into a circle, based on inflation, I think spending real money on durable goods that you plan to keep and use, is a smart move right now.

When I sold my PT6, I think I also sold it for $8,000, and I think it was 2019. Inflation calculator says that in today's dollars, that's about $9,800. That tuba isn't "worth more" now, rather it "takes more dollars today" to buy the exact same thing.

I don't expect that our money will ever be worth less than it is now. Use your 2024 while it still has value.

The big caution, is that durable goods like this are not investments. And I cringe when people use the word investment to talk about them. I think people are just using the word wrong, because there's no expectation that it will actually increase in value, unless it was just priced wrong to begin with. I believe what people expect, is that items hold their value relatively well over time. That gets weird with inflation, but I think the effect is, a tuba of this age and in this condition has basically fully depreciated, at least to the point where further devaluing will happen based on mechanical wear and failure over time.

Dont count on actual value inceasing because of intrinsic value either. Unless it's the CSO York, I doubt any tubas are going to be "worth" significantly much more just because they are what they are. Even for "so and so's tuba", I don't see that as a value boosting factoid. It'll help it sell faster, but it won't boost the price like some people tend to believe.

Short version, spend your money on things you will use. If you do it now, you'll get more for your money than you will in a few years. Probably.

[bort2.0]

ended up being correct -- because the PT-6 doesn't have a clock in it?

"Clock" :facepalm:... you mean Timepiece...

But hold up, isn't "don't spend any more money than necessary" the most bloke-y reason possible?

[bloke]

When I sold my PT6, I think I also sold it for $8,000, and I think it was 2019. Inflation calculator says that in today's dollars, that's about $9,800.

I ignore lying-@$$ government bullsh!t statistical pollyannaish reelection propaganda.

I use the *food/fuel/utilities index, which - going back to 2019 - the 2024 equivalent of $8000 is $17,262.44

_____________________________________
*ex's: 10 lb. pkgs of chicken thigh quarters, 30% fat ground beef, cheapest gasoline, replacement car parts, shipping costs of most anything, piped-in natural gas to keep my rear-end warm - at least up to 58° F or so in the winter, electricity to keep my air conditioner running enough to keep the indoor temperature down to a maximum of 82° F or so in the summer...

[jtm]

Which thing on @bort2.0’s checklist does this not check? Or, in other words, why would it barely get used?

My Scherzer is cheap enough that not using it all the time wouldn’t be so bad, but it doesn’t have 5 valves, so I understand it not checking the boxes.

[bort2.0]

Which thing on @bort2.0’s checklist does this not check? Or, in other words, why would it barely get used?

My Scherzer is cheap enough that not using it all the time wouldn’t be so bad, but it doesn’t have 5 valves, so I understand it not checking the boxes.

It checks all the boxes, but there's just no time to use it. Could be the world's most perfect tuba... and it will sit in the corner of the room. That seems like a foolish way to spend money, and I'm realizing that I just don't want to do that again. I did that for too long, and mentally, it's exhausting. That's why I sold all my stuff in the first place -- it hadn't been used it in years, the next several years seem no different, and the money was needed/better spent elsewhere.

Last time I tried joining a group was 2 years ago... I loved it and had the best time. But 1 hour/week for rehearsals was too much and was constantly a problem. Other time commitments/rehearsals/gigs... didn't work out. Everyone liked coming to see me play at the concerts, but it was like they wanted that to happen, without allowing the time needed to make it happen. So, I had to quit. And since I quit, I sold all my stuff, too. Some right away, some I held onto for a while longer. I don't have much left, and do hope to buy something more serious again. But I think I'd better have a "home" first before I go spending serious money on a serious tuba.

Latest evidence -- a couple weeks ago, my younger son asked "hey dad, can I see your tuba?" So I got out my Martin Eb... and realized that it was still packed up from when I finished playing at TubaChristmas in early December. It hadn't been touched in over 5 months... and I didn't know! If I hadn't been asked to get out the tuba, I'm not sure how much longer it would have stayed there either. The tuba was played for about 5-10 minutes before it was time to move on to something else.

Years ago, I always wondered why community bands/orchestras rarely had any people who were in their 30s/40s with kids. Pretty much everyone was in one of these categories:
1) Young people recently out of college
2) DINKS (double-income no kids)
3) Adults with grown children (or high school aged)
4) Retired people

I'm no longer in category 2, and not yet in category 3. Nothing in-between, so I'll have to wait it out, I guess. But I don't plan* to buy an $8k tuba and let it collect dust for the next 10 years.

*Plans subject to change.

[bort2.0]

PS -- my PT-6 was s/b 270xxx

So a bit earlier than this one, but not by a whole lot. I bet this is a very nice tuba.

[BramJ]

Years ago, I always wondered why community bands/orchestras rarely had any people who were in their 30s/40s with kids.

I am just below the middle of that category and have kinds aged (almost) 2 and 4
...and I am in 2 community bands

And I am not alone in the bands

[jtm]

...
It checks all the boxes, but there's just no time to use it. Could be the world's most perfect tuba... and it will sit in the corner of the room. ...

Completely understand that. I didn't start trying to play again until the kids were nearing high school, and didn't bother to buy a tuba until even later. Guess I'd just assumed that a WTB post was at least a little bit urgent, rather than long term WTB planning.

[bort2.0]

...
It checks all the boxes, but there's just no time to use it. Could be the world's most perfect tuba... and it will sit in the corner of the room. ...

Completely understand that. I didn't start trying to play again until the kids were nearing high school, and didn't bother to buy a tuba until even later. Guess I'd just assumed that a WTB post was at least a little bit urgent, rather than long term WTB planning.

I guess I don't know what the hell I want.

[jtm]

I guess I don't know what the hell I want.

You should keep a Scherzer C around as a placeholder while you decide. Easy to play, sounds nice, pretty handy.

[bort2.0]

Years ago, I always wondered why community bands/orchestras rarely had any people who were in their 30s/40s with kids.

I am just below the middle of that category and have kinds aged (almost) 2 and 4
...and I am in 2 community bands

And I am not alone in the bands

That's the strangest thing I've ever heard.

[MN_TimTuba]

It can be done. When our kids were toddlers both Sandy and I were in the band. We brought the kids with us, one sat by me and one sat by Sandy, they had books and were extremely well behaved. They liked to hear us play, both went on to join band in school. Worked out really well for us.
Tim

[MiBrassFS]

Lots of stuff gets rotated in and out during various times of life. These are bort jr and bortette’s (I don’t know if there is a little girl, just guessing) wonder years. They are fleeting. Clearly bort knows this. Mine is now of an age and ability to join in with us in a community band as a family activity. He sounds interested and we’re hopeful we find a good situation. I think that if bort kept an acceptable tuba around it would benefit the little borts and much as it would dad. It doesn’t have to be his ideal, just serviceable.

[arpthark]

Lots of stuff gets rotated in and out during various times of life. These are bort jr and bortette’s (I don’t know if there is a little girl, just guessing) wonder years. They are fleeting. Clearly bort knows this. Mine is now of an age and ability to join in with us in a community band as a family activity. He sounds interested and we’re hopeful we find a good situation. I think that if bort kept an acceptable tuba around it would benefit the little borts and much as it would dad. It doesn’t have to be his ideal, just serviceable.

Even in the years I wasn't playing a whole lot, except for a period of maybe 1 year after I sold everything for a house down payment, I always had a tuba in the house. Usually a Dillon/Mack/whoever 410 CC, which is the best 5v CC tuba-for-the-money you can get, especially back then when they could regularly be had for $1,000-1,200. Chinese? Yes. But it was a small investment in the grand scheme of things, and prevented me from losing touch with music completely when I could pull it out and honk out a few vocalises every now and then.