List great 3 valve tubas

[Misterguru]

OK, thanks again! Mira 186 or King 1241 afterall.
Great input from you guys, thanks!

[tclements]

Here's MY list:

[J.c. Sherman]

BTW, Matt: one of my students has an old front-valve king with the slant valves - similar vintage to the one you're describing. I'd murder puppies for that thing. GREAT instrument (3 valves).

[iiipopes]

OK, thanks again! Mira 186 or King 1241 afterall.
Great input from you guys, thanks!

+1, if you don't find a Besson.

[Dan Schultz]

Tim... quit wasting time on The Internet. I have a Miraphone 186 and two King 1241 tubas (with both bells) here if you want to come and form your own opinion.

[opus37]

I thought the same thing, until I got a 4 valve horn. Now I don't know how I got along without the 4th valve. You'll save some money, but if you really get into playing you'll want that 4th valve in the future.

[Misterguru]

Tim... quit wasting time on The Internet. I have a Miraphone 186 and two King 1241 tubas (with both bells) here if you want to come and form your own opinion.

Dan! You know I am coming over to get one. I am just fighting my impulses. I will call you in the morning... maybe this PM if I get time and you are available between 3-6.

BTW - for those that haven't met Dan, you're missing out on knowing a good dude. I would NOT even be playing again without his inspiration and the community band he created here in our area.

[Dan Schultz]

.... Dan! You know I am coming over to get one. I am just fighting my impulses. I will call you in the morning... maybe this PM if I get time and you are available between 3-6.

BTW - for those that haven't met Dan, you're missing out on knowing a good dude. I would NOT even be playing again without his inspiration and the community band he created here in our area.

Thanks for your kind words, Tim. I'll be around this afternoon but have a rehearsal starting at 7. If you come around 4:30... that will give me time to get cleaned up. (I'm doing a little buffing today!)

A couple of hours isn't really enough time to evaluate a tuba. Since you are local... you can just take one with you for a few days.

Doesn't matter to me if you buy or not. This is just a good way to get you closer to knowing what you really want.

BTW... I TOTALLY agree with some of the guys.... three valves will cost less money but you will also have a tough time re-selling a three-valved tuba. You'll figure out what to do with the 4th valve in no time!

[Matt Walters]

So JC,
What would you do for the 4 front-valve USN King with slant valves that I also have? Yeah, it plays great too. That's a future project to restore.

BTW, Matt: one of my students has an old front-valve king with the slant valves - similar vintage to the one you're describing. I'd murder puppies for that thing. GREAT instrument (3 valves).

[Misterguru]

All over now!
Miraphone 186 FTW! I liked the rotary valves that I have never had before, the lighter weight vs the King, and it sounded great to me!
Thanks to Dan! He even had a case for the baby

[iiipopes]

Tim... quit wasting time on The Internet. I have a Miraphone 186 and two King 1241 tubas (with both bells) here if you want to come and form your own opinion.

All over now!
Miraphone 186 FTW! I liked the rotary valves that I have never had before, the lighter weight vs the King, and it sounded great to me!
Thanks to Dan! He even had a case for the baby

After you've had it awhile and have the receiver height and angle, and the paddles set to your personal ergonomics, you might even find a use for the fourth valve. My pinky is really short, and I played my 3-valve Besson I used to own for that reason. When I got my 186 and had all adjusted and set up to my ergonomics and physicality, then the 4th valve became viable. I daresay that now that you have it, it will for you as well. Dan can, of course, help you with that as well. Glad you found an instrument from him.