Hi John, What are you more interested, sound or looks? Would it sell for at least what you paid for it when you find a better one? Answer these two questions and it will be easy to make your decision. Steve >> Min has those repairs about 3/4 of the way around. It is true that the repairs are perfectly smooth and seem to be of the same age as the rest of the horn. I mean as far as grain patterns, etc. In person the horn is not shiny at all, and has a couple of repaired seams, but all that patched in veneer is well done and not hokey.> Actually, re the auction, it was up ten days and I was the only bidder, and did a buy-it-now. Perhaps I should have wondered why no one else snapped it up at that price....> J>