sorry, here is the full message, I hit post too early....
Hi Helen,
Thanks for chiming in and I apologize if was the source of any misinformation or consternation..... Its good to see a flurry of details on the D&J horns get posted, even if it is at the expense of me being taken down a peg and looking a little like a doofus.
There is no question you know more about these than I do. When I was referencing material for this, your blog is the first
meaningful hit to come up about this. You are probably as big of expert as can be readily sourced on these instruments.
However, let me clarify my position, even if its still wrong.
*Obscurity : I had heard of D&J horns before, but didn't know that much about them, I don't think many people in our enthusiast "realm" even really do, do they? I call them "obscure" in this case given the likelihood that someone randomly dialing into this website asking for a value may have at least have heard of the list of the usual names of horns that trade on eBay, at least after their own research. I personally didn't know D&J were dedicated stencil makers. To me, that seems to make them especially "obscure" if they only operate behind the mask of brands that source from them. I'm actually curious, with someone having your level of knowledge, what sort of makes to you would be "obscure"?
*Comparison to Bundies.: Wasn't my intention to compare them as performers or mechanically, only as a baseline for perceived value. I've worked on a number of Bundy saxophones and my opinions on these are mixed, at best. These however are well known instruments that come up for sale often and readily. With instruments, not being a well-known make seems to work against things as far as value is concerned, at least from what I've noticed watching auctions over the years, even if they are great instruments. "Sleepers" as you put it.
Also, it has been my observation personal ads and personal auctions generate the lower returns on instruments compared to selling them at retail or from the hands of a well known repairer. As an example, I have a Yanagisawa that if I were to sell, eBay indicates I might get $1200 - $1400 out of it. If it were listed in the same condition at Tenormadness, Pmwoodind, junkdude, saxquest, i'm pretty sure they would ask for something around two grand. Is it possible you getting that return on your D&J horn based on your reputation as a seller as well as your ability to share knowledge of the instrument?
*Approved lists: Apparently, this does go on, though I confess, I don't know how widespread it is. I've seen such lists, even from schools around here. They make sense given that the first thing parents would logically want would to know is what they should show up with, and I'm sure schools are motivated to make sure students don't sure show up with something irredeemably subpar. I was working under the assumption that a D&J would default to the same category as the things people call "ISOs".
Sorry Helen, I'll try to be either clearer or better in the information I provide...