Original cost of 1974 3B SS
- Basie1955
- Posts: 91
- Joined: May 15, 2018
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
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
- Posts: 5
- Joined: May 14, 2018
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.
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
- Posts: 91
- Joined: May 15, 2018
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
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
- Posts: 757
- Joined: Nov 02, 2021
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
- Posts: 5018
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
[quote="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.[/quote]
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!)
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
- Posts: 1371
- Joined: Apr 11, 2018
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
- Posts: 757
- Joined: Nov 02, 2021
[quote="Posaunus"]<QUOTE author="OneTon" post_id="180791" time="1655140613" user_id="13549">
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.[/quote]
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!)
</QUOTE>
$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.
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.[/quote]
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!)
</QUOTE>
$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.