Miraphone Modification

Will · Post by **Will** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 12:29 am

I posted a few weeks ago about modifying the levers of my 188. Currently I have to bend my right wrist down in order to play. This has caused pain in my wrist and forearm. Although my horn is still for sale, I want to investigate every option.

Where would you advise me to go to have this done? I live in southwest Virginia. There is a repair shop near by that has done great work for me but should I have this done by a tuba player? How much would something like this cost?

CJ Krause · Post by **CJ Krause** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 12:36 am

Try contacting Dave Fedderly at his Baltimore Brass shop and see if he knows anyone in the area that can do that.

BBCTUBA@aol.com

Will · Post by **Will** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 12:42 am

any idea on cost?

Rick Denney · Post by **Rick Denney** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 12:38 pm

Will wrote:I posted a few weeks ago about modifying the levers of my 188. Currently I have to bend my right wrist down in order to play. This has caused pain in my wrist and forearm. Although my horn is still for sale, I want to investigate every option.

Where would you advise me to go to have this done? I live in southwest Virginia. There is a repair shop near by that has done great work for me but should I have this done by a tuba player? How much would something like this cost?

Why don't you have the thumb ring moved down? Unless I'm missing something, that would straighten a bent wrist. It may require modification to the fifth valve linkage if you have a thumb trigger, but I'll bet that would be easier than moving the other four valves north.

You can also solder silver coins onto the ends of the paddles to change the angle at which your fingers rest. I set up the paddles on my 186 to be nearly touching just by bending them (properly, of course, so that the tubes that run over the support shaft are not distorted).

Rick "who thinks adjustibility is a big advantage of rotaries over pistons for those with smaller hands" Denney

Will · Post by **Will** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 1:11 pm

It's not a matter of the position of the thumb ring. I've tried playing without it. It's a matter of the length of the 3rd and 4th levers. Their length and the angle I naturally hold a tuba at requires me to bend my wrist down.

By the way, after 2 months away from the horn the pain is gone! I play it every other day for about 5 minutes to make sure it's still in working order. I hold it straight up resting on one knee which is fine for the short amount of time.

I also play a YFB-822. That valve set works great for me.

Matt G · Post by **Matt G** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 1:21 pm

Seeing as though you only need to add lenth to the spatulas to correct your problem, you should call around and get a few quotes.

My guess is that someone could add some brass bar stock to your horn for about $100-200. The stock is pretty cheap and easy to cut and smooth to make it look kinda like the spatulas.

Go to a competent shop and tell them what you need and hold the horn for the tech so that he/she can look at it.

My guess is that you'll want to raise the height of those two levers after more inspection for comfort as well.

If you have a good 188, then there is no reason to sell it. I wish I still had my 188. Rotary valves are infinitely more customizable than piston valves. Lightening up those last two springs might help also. Find a really good tech to help you with that.

MartyNeilan · Post by **MartyNeilan** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 6:27 pm

If you live in SW Virginia, then you might not mind taking the trip to Atlanta to see Lee Stofer, a master repairman who could probably fabricate anything you wanted and even make it look good. Lee's email is tubameister1@juno.com

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Miraphone Modification

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