Mystery Miraphone looking for identification

[eDoz]

Hey Guys,

I'm new the forum but not the tuba. I currently am looking at an auction for a miraphone tuba with no model details. I went and looked at this horn and played a few notes on it today but couldn't find any model information. Here are some pictures of it: http://imgur.com/a/KOVwe I believe it's BBb and has the "Presto" style linkage that miraphone used in the 90's for a little bit. Can anyone help me identify what sort of tuba this is and if it's a good horn to play? I'm a little worried about the presto linkage as I bet it'll be hard to find replacement parts if/when it breaks down. It definitely blew very open, however 2 of the rotors are seized right now from sitting up, so it's not totally playable. Sorry for the bad quality pictures.

Thanks!

[thevillagetuba]

I would contact Miraphone directly and have them check the serial number. It's probably the quickest way to get the most accurate information about the horn.

[eDoz]

Thanks for the advice. I've just fired off an e-mail to the support team at Mirafone. The S/N is 14689 I believe, although it is pretty blurry in the pictures I have.

I believe after some googling, it might be a 186-4U CC similar to this horn: http://sousacentral.blogspot.com/2011/0 ... -tuba.html" target="_blank

Thanks for the advice!

[thevillagetuba]

I would guess that as well, though it looks similar to the the 186 BBb that I used in High School.

[NCSUSousa]

Judging by the shape of the outer branches, I'd say it's a 186. 184 is smaller at the bell side of the bottom bow. 188 CC or 187 BBb is larger on the other side.

Based on the dogleg between the valve section and the tuning slide on the one in question, I'd guess BBb. CC versions don't have the dogleg shape, they have a simple 90° bend.

I would love to have the adjustable valve tension setup on my tuba. I've played one that had those and really like having that adjustability.

I'm no tech, but I don't trust nylon for linkages. Those should not be too difficult to change when the day comes that they actually need work.

Good luck in the auction.

[eDoz]

Thanks for all the replies. Mirafone responded this morning to tell me it was a BBb-186 with presto system built in 1992. So all of you were spot on.