TubeNet

I currently play a Miraphone 186 CC 4V. I have been happy with it, but I'm looking for an instrument to use in the orchestra. I want a 4 piston / 1 rotary instrument. My budget is limited (under $7,000) and I would consider a good used horn. I am very interested in horns that are paterned after the Yorks. Hirsbrunner 21 and 50, Perantucci 606P, and Meinl-Weston 2165 are probably way out of my price range. What do you guys think of the Miraphone 1291 and the Kalison Daryl Smith model? I want an instrument with good response, tone and intonation in all ranges. Are there any other options you could suggest in addition to the Miraphone and Kalison?

You need to do more research.Before you spend 7k,get all the info. available on this and other boards.Scour everything on the "shops"section of tubenet.You CAN get a "york style" horn for 7k-plenty of them,if you do your homework.



Mike"cheap shot" Mason

Then again, just buy the parts from Mirphone and have a 5th valve added to your horn.

Thanks to all for your replies. They have been very helpful. What is the estimated cost of adding a 5th valve (parts and labor)? I'm wondering if it is worth the investment.

If it is significant, I would prefer to sell my horn because I would prefer a piston valve instrument anyway.

As someone once told me, adding a 5th valve is a $1,000 job, because that's the amount of value added to your tuba by doing this. On some tubas, it's much easier than others. In the case of a rotary Miraphone, it'd be easy.

You should check out Dan Shultz's 5th valve addition. See this link: http://www.thevillagetinker.com/mirapho ... ersion.htm If it doesn't work just go to Dan's page in the sponsor pages and find it that way.

I'm 37 and still waiting for my mom to buy me a tuba.

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Eric B wrote:I currently play a Miraphone 186 CC 4V. I have been happy with it, but I'm looking for an instrument to use in the orchestra. I want a 4 piston / 1 rotary instrument. My budget is limited (under $7,000) and I would consider a good used horn. I am very interested in horns that are paterned after the Yorks. Hirsbrunner 21 and 50, Perantucci 606P, and Meinl-Weston 2165 are probably way out of my price range. What do you guys think of the Miraphone 1291 and the Kalison Daryl Smith model? I want an instrument with good response, tone and intonation in all ranges. Are there any other options you could suggest in addition to the Miraphone and Kalison?

The Miraphone is a fine tuba but not in the same size class as the York. Neither are the HB 21 or PT-606P. Nor do they have the same sound characteristics. If you want that sort of sound, a used 2165 is probably your best bet. Converted Holtons are also a possibility.

Probably anything you find that is even remotely based on the 6/4 York design will exceed your budget at least by some, but to get close will require compromises. When searching for a York-style grand orchestral, 5-valve CC tuba, you are competing against people prepared to spend far more.

The Gronitz PCK can be found used and these were quite affordable until recently--a used one might still be close to your budget. You'll have to search harder than posting on Tubenet.

You might consider a large rotary CC tuba instead of a Yorkish piston model. The Neptune rotary tuba comes to mind as an example, or a used Rudolf Meinl 5/4 (which is really like a 6/4). It's a different concept, but it will fill a big-tuba requirement.

Another option is to get a Bb tuba in the grand orchestral size category. They are harder to find, but they are also far cheaper, and some of them are in the same quality category as their CC counterparts. And the better Bb examples might be better than the cheaper CC instruments.

As with everything, the less you want to pay for something really nice, the longer you have to wait, and the more aggressively you have to pounce when the opportunity appears.

Rick "whose Bb Holton BAT would serve in most orchestral situations at a price well below the stated budget" Denney

How about this?

Mel Culbertson

It's $6995 at Baltimore Brass.




There's also a Willson 3050S at The Tuba Exchange that is just 1K above your price range.

There are a couple of B&M tubas at BassClefBrass.com that you may wish to consider as well as a cheap King/Holton that looks interesting.

Look around in the for sale section here - go back a few months even. I'd give Baltimore Brass, Dillon Music and The Tuba Exchange a call while you are at it. Not everything they have is on their websites.