Last week, I received the MACK BRASS version of the 186 clone from bloke, who had a used one in PERFECT condition...absolutely perfect.
Weird...how can a tuba inside a case inside a packed box seem so much lighter in the shipping box than just the tuba in the case? Very strange sensation.
But, as far as the tuba goes, wow. I'm using my old school PT 9 on it for now, until I get comfortable with, or give up on, the Blokepiece I also got. Pitch...dead on. Maybe better than that which it cloned. I have the 5th valve tuned to a 1.5 step, and it's like a compensating valve if I use BBb fingerings in that range. Or something. It makes sense to me, it seems easier and less stuffy than the b1. I haven't braved trying the 23 yet, I haven't played that configuration in better than 35 years.
The sound--Perfect. Just like a 186 should sound, IMO. Feel, look, identical.
I played an orchestra concert with Sam Bush yesterday https://youtu.be/Ojmgw_NTVxU Great concert and the tuba just felt amazing. First performance on a CC in 26 years. A couple of finger foibles but that's my fault. Yes, I'm tacet the first tune. I wish the audio quality was better, but hey, it's free.
Thanks, Tom, for the MACK BRASS instruments! This was too good a deal to pass up.