Song Of The Day.

[AwayWeGo]

 

[AwayWeGo]

 

[Amcbray2]

Hello sir, I saw on a post you made a few years ago that you are familiar with the Yamaha 561 horn. I am looking at purchasing one on eBay and wanted to get your thoughts

 

[AwayWeGo]

Hello sir, I saw on a post you made a few years ago that you are familiar with the Yamaha 561 horn. I am looking at purchasing one on eBay and wanted to get your thoughts

I regularly play a Yamaha YHR-666N, a model that Yamaha built between 1981 & 1985 -- i.e., about the same time as Yamaha YHR-561. The 666N is an example of excellent build quality & fine playing characteristics, typical of Yamaha horns generally & from that time in particular. If the YHR-561 that you're interested in is in good physical condition, then I think you can buy it with reasonable confidence. I got my Yamaha YHR-666N via eBay & have previously bought & sold other horns (including some Yamahas) through eBay. Before completing the eBay purchase, you might want to see if the seller allows returns (in case the horn does not meet expectations when you receive it). Good luck.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[AwayWeGo]

 

[Amcbray2]

I regularly play a Yamaha YHR-666N, a model that Yamaha built between 1981 & 1985 -- i.e., about the same time as Yamaha YHR-561. The 666N is an example of excellent build quality & fine playing characteristics, typical of Yamaha horns generally & from that time in particular. If the YHR-561 that you're interested in is in good physical condition, then I think you can buy it with reasonable confidence. I got my Yamaha YHR-666N via eBay & have previously bought & sold other horns (including some Yamahas) through eBay. Before completing the eBay purchase, you might want to see if the seller allows returns (in case the horn does not meet expectations when you receive it). Good luck.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

Thanks Alan! That is extremely helpful! I am actually looking to purchase it for my son who is going into 10th grade this year. I found one that looks to be in great shape for $900 +$67 shipping I’m sure with tax, I’m looking closer to $1050. Does this seem like a fair price? I only ask because you have experience purchasing horns via eBay. So many people try to detract from buying a horn unseen but I am a firm believer of finding a solid deal even if it is sight unseen.

 

[Amcbray2]

Thanks Alan! That is extremely helpful! I am actually looking to purchase it for my son who is going into 10th grade this year. I found one that looks to be in great shape for $900 +$67 shipping I’m sure with tax, I’m looking closer to $1050. Does this seem like a fair price? I only ask because you have experience purchasing horns via eBay. So many people try to detract from buying a horn unseen but I am a firm believer of finding a solid deal even if it is sight unseen.

The seller does accept returns btw. You may be familiar with him. His eBay name is ejaysbike, his real name is Edwin. He has several horns listed and is a long time horn player that has played on many Motown records. He seems like an honest guy that takes care of his horns.

 

[AwayWeGo]

The seller does accept returns btw. You may be familiar with him. His eBay name is ejaysbike, his real name is Edwin. He has several horns listed and is a long time horn player that has played on many Motown records. He seems like an honest guy that takes care of his horns.

I think I bought 1 of that guy's horns -- can't remember which horn, but I'm pretty sure I dealt with him as seller when I was still buying horns.

Since then I've (mostly) quit buying horns. Instead, I have been applying more effort to sell off the surplus.

Flipping horns slowed down lots during the covid-19 pandemic but now may be starting to pick up -- i.e., I turned over a few horns during the 1st 1/2 of 2024, but I still have a half-dozen or so to liquidate.

I have mixed feelings about using eBay to sell horns. On the positive side, I think eBay attracts more eyeballs than the other internet selling services. By contrast, eBay fees take a major bite that can be avoided by using Craig's List & FaceBook Marketplace instead.

Curtailing horn purchases does not mean going cold turkey on all instrument buying. In January, for example, I snagged a pre-owned but unused baritone saxophone that will be an outstanding graduation gift for my granddaughter, who has become a major serious saxophone enthusiast in high school. This week she is attending a week-long saxophone workshop sponsored by the music department of Stetson University in Deland FL. She already has tenor, alto, & soprano saxophones that she plays. A baritone saxophone in a few years will round out her arsenal.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[AwayWeGo]

 

[easyrider]

Claude Debussy Clair de Lune

 

[Amcbray2]

I think I bought 1 of that guy's horns -- can't remember which horn, but I'm pretty sure I dealt with him as seller when I was still buying horns.

Since then I've (mostly) quit buying horns. Instead, I have been applying more effort to sell off the surplus.

Flipping horns slowed down lots during the covid-19 pandemic but now may be starting to pick up -- i.e., I turned over a few horns during the 1st 1/2 of 2024, but I still have a half-dozen or so to liquidate.

I have mixed feelings about using eBay to sell horns. On the positive side, I think eBay attracts more eyeballs than the other internet selling services. By contrast, eBay fees take a major bite that can be avoided by using Craig's List & FaceBook Marketplace instead.

Curtailing horn purchases does not mean going cold turkey on all instrument buying. In January, for example, I snagged a pre-owned but unused baritone saxophone that will be an outstanding graduation gift for my granddaughter, who has become a major serious saxophone enthusiast in high school. This week she is attending a week-long saxophone workshop sponsored by the music department of Stetson University in Deland FL. She already has tenor, alto, & soprano saxophones that she plays. A baritone saxophone in a few years will round out her arsenal.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

That is very impressive! I love the sound of the baritone sax. I could definitely see the downside of dealing with fees through eBay. I think that is what makes me most hesitant, is that he has to mark it up in order to mitigate the cost of fees and I understand that. I just want to find something that will last my son a few more years of Highschool and possibly beyond. eBay is a hard medium to use when you are dealing with a high schooler(my son) who is more concerned with something shiny and new versus something a little scratched and tarnished but far more canorous.

 

[AwayWeGo]

The kids starting out on those shiny, new Chinese no-name instruments are beginning with a real disadvantage. Music teachers I know (from community ensembles) tear their hair over the frustrations of trying to teach beginners how to make music on those substandard "instrument shaped objects" that are hard to play & impossible to repair. A used French horn from Yamaha or Conn or Holton is greatly to be preferred over those shiny-new hunks of junk, even if they need some professional maintenance TLC when received & even if their looks are humble & worn in contrast with the brand-new el cheapo instruments.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[easyrider]

Samuel Barber Adagio for strings

 

[AwayWeGo]

 

[Talent312]

The origins of "Lion Sleeps Tonight"...
See the convoluted story of this song at

The Story of Solomon Linda & The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh)

The story of African songwriter Solomon Linda, his hit song The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh) and the publishing royalties he never received.

performingsongwriter.com

or

'The Lion Sleeps Tonight': The Ongoing Saga of Pop's Most Contentious Song

The release of a new 'Lion King' film has reignited the long and tangled royalty battle surrounding "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."

www.rollingstone.com

 

[easyrider]

Myles Smith Stargazing

 

[AwayWeGo]

 

[AwayWeGo]

 

[easyrider]

Rhiannon ... Fleetwood Mac

 

[AwayWeGo]

 

[AwayWeGo]

 

[AwayWeGo]

 

[AwayWeGo]

 

[AwayWeGo]

 

[Amcbray2]

The kids starting out on those shiny, new Chinese no-name instruments are beginning with a real disadvantage. Music teachers I know (from community ensembles) tear their hair over the frustrations of trying to teach beginners how to make music on those substandard "instrument shaped objects" that are hard to play & impossible to repair. A used French horn from Yamaha or Conn or Holton is greatly to be preferred over those shiny-new hunks of junk, even if they need some professional maintenance TLC when received & even if their looks are humble & worn in contrast with the brand-new el cheapo instruments.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

I agree Alan, the sub standard Chinese so called instruments, put students at a major disadvantage. I wanted to ask you if you had any horns that you might be looking to sell in the near future? The Yamaha I was looking at was recently sold.