What do you mean the Bundy just soared out of your price range? You can lease one off WWBW for $26/month. So that prolly means it's around $600 off WWBW (you have to call for a price). If you go any cheaper than that, you're looking at trouble. Any horn cheaper than that will NOT last you until you're a sophmore or junior. The metal on any horn that low in cost is prolly cheap and will dent easily; the pads prolly suck; overall the horn might feel crappy. I'm playing a Bundy II right now. Mine is pretty beat up from school use (it's a school horn) but I will tell you what, aside from the leak in it I can get a pretty groovin sound out of it; for even a student horn (by the way I'm a sophmore). Try to get a Bundy II. If you get anything lower, you might be asking for trouble. Good luck with your decision!