Chinese quality - anyone got any experience.

[JLD]

For a while I've been thinking about buying myself a flugelhorn, but don't want to be spending a lot as it will only get used at home (the band I'm playing with has a good flugel player).

With a decent British or American instrument costing upwards of £1000, I looked at fleabay and noticed that the chinese have loads advertised at silly prices. Apparently though, the postage charged on these is several hundred pounds (I know of someone who was told by the seller that postage would be just over £500).

Being curious, I wouldn't mind trying one of these (especially at the price they seem to be on fleabay) but aren't going to pay that sort of postage.

An example of what they are is here.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rare-musical-instrument-Nickel-Plated-S-flugelhorn_W0QQitemZ130095811911QQcategoryZ64374QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem.

If there are any good I can see if Elaine can get hold of one (at that sort of price) at the end of the year (she may be going back to Dalian).

Otherwise it will take a lot of saving.

[Jerry]

If I can help John - any outlets in Hong Kong.

I know of a huge music shop off Nathan Road - stuff is cheaper there so my musician friends tell me.

Carriage will be FOC! VAT will have to be added though!

[JLD]

Not sure if any of these chinese instruments are available through retail outlets. I (along with a lot of others) suspect that they are priced this way (very small cost but huge P&P) as fees are only payable on the purchase price, not on the postage.

[hallo84]

Chinese instuments are a steal. They produce good quality instruments at a fraction of the price of competitors but I would becareful since quality varies with different brands and place of production.

Typically I'd choose a model made in Beijing or Shanghai as they produce better quality. Something like 民耀 at around 1000 Yuan or >200 dollars and quality wise it's similar to Beth.

I'd be weary of instruments that are too cheap to purchase though...

[Jerry]

I occasionally night stop in Shanghai so can have a look there.