NEW BELL TREE PURCHASED

I finally managed to find a decent Chinese Bell Tree for sale on eBay.  This, after many months of searching, shopping, comparing, bidding and suffering auction loss comparable to the over-dramatized exploits of a reality show loser.

After extensive and exhausting research, I determined that there are four types of Chinese Bell Trees in the following [approximate] price ranges:

1.) Latin Percussion 26-bell trees @ $250
2.) Cosmic Percussion 14-bell trees @ $88
3.) Various import wood-frame 18-bell trees @ $180 - $280
4.) Various hand-held 14-bell trees @ $50 - $200

These are all rather pricey new items.  In the "used" department anything goes.  There's no telling what I might find.  It's every percussionist for himself.

The first bell tree I bid on was an antique wood-frame LP model formerly owned by Billy Cobham being auctioned off at the starting price of $20.00.  Needless to say, my initial low bids were quickly topped and I dropped out when the price jumped over $100.00.  Though a little dusty and worn, this would have been an interesting item to win, having been previously owned by one of my top 4 all-time favorite and inspirational drummers.  This tree also came with a case which would have been nice, but I wasn't willing to go over $100 for a used tree that needed a bit of restoration work.  The wood was weathered and needed refinishing, and all the bells were dark and smudged with patina due to age.

Later I found another used wood-frame model at a reasonable price, but lost out again when the going price got too high.  The bells on this tree were well-weathered as well, and a previous owner had foolishly painted the frame white!  For this reason I refused to go any higher than $50.00.  In addition to disassembling the whole instrument to polish all the bells, I would have had to strip down the frame and re-stain it, which was not a restoration project with which I was all that interested in getting involved.  So alas, I was foiled again.

Over the past six months I kept an eye on eBay, scanning and re-scanning the "Bell Tree" section of the Musical Instruments Department for additional auctions every so often.  It is rare for such an unusual and little-known percussion instrument to be found for sale in an acceptable used condition at a fair price, but I was determined to find one.

Finally I did.  By chance or the grace of God, I found a brand new LP 26-bell tree for the low, low price of $130.00.  Boohickey!  The even more pleasing aspect of this item was that the price was a "Buy It Now" price, meaning I could just click on it and purchase it without having to go through the fuss and stress of an open auction.  Double boohickey!  The tree is mine!

Now it is time to.....brrrrrring!.....turn the page and start figuring out where and how I'm gonna mount this baby when it arrives.

***BELL TREE UPDATE: SUSPECTED eBAY FRAUD!!***
DOGGONE IT!  The irritating and depressing setbacks just keep coming.  After getting my hopes up about this new bell tree, I now suspect the listing for this item was fraudulent.  I knew it was too good to be true!  Curtains!  Foiled again!  It doesn't look like I will be adding one of these unique percussion instruments to my set-up anytime soon.  I will add further updates as my case progresses and this mystery unfolds...

***FURTHER UPDATE***
I contacted PayPal and eBay Customer Service and they advised me to wait a couple of weeks before filing an "Item Not Received Case."  I can wait as long as 45 days and still get all my money back.  Here is the issue: I bought and paid for this brand new bell tree.  After a week, my PayPal payment had not gone through because the seller had not marked the item "Paid."  I contacted the seller and got a response back saying this guy's mother just died and he would be out of town for two weeks.  I would just have to wait until he got back in late January.

At this point I began to get a little suspicious. Although he has been a registered member since October, this seller had a Feedback Score of zero, no previous transactions buying or selling, and didn't have any other items up for sale or auction.  It looked very much like I had been scammed.  However, my worries were calmed after talking to customer service.  They said my payment has been processed, but the seller has not claimed the money yet on his end.  So if I never receive a bell tree, he will not be entitled to the money.  Even if he does claim it somehow, PayPal will refund it to me upon the filing of my case.

In the meantime, I have finally been contacted by old friend and fellow drummer Tracy Hollingsworth, who says he has one of those CP 14-bell trees that he is willing to give me.  I am currently attempting to contact him so that we can meet and complete the transaction.  So by February, I might actually have TWO bell trees!