Star Light Miraphone 383?

[djwesp]

Has anyone played one of these (not the bigger Nor Star), have any ideas of a release date. Price range?


I'm looking to get a smaller bass and wanted to try one before I moved on to the standard F tuba options. How much smaller would one of these be than my Bess 983, and how do they compare in size to the yamaha F or firebird? Definitely not trying to start the usual debate, just curious.

[Steve Inman]

The Miraphone site lists the bell diameter as 15" -- or the same as the NEW 184 CC. The OLD 184 used to have a 14.1" bell, iirc. Since this is still an Eb tuba, with a 15" bell, I'm guessing it's not so small as to seem euph-like.

I used to own a Besson 220 Eb with a 12" bell -- it could have been mistaken for a euph, unless you were a eupher, and then you'd know in a minute it was all wrong. One might mistake the small MW F (182?) for a euph, as it's bell is under 14", I believe. Yet up close, it's clearly too big for a euph, but you'd sure think it's too small for a tuba.

It seems the 383 Eb is larger still -- so I'm ignoring the comments that say it's like a euph -- until I can actually see one up close.

(But it might be in that size category like the MW F, that causes you to wonder if it's really a tuba ....)

Cheers,

[Steve Inman]

Hi Steve,

Yes my information is second hand. I simply heard that it has some pitch and response issues that they are fine tuning. The person that played it said it had a difficult low BBb like low C on an F tuba and some of the pitches were difficult.

The guy also said that the horn is very very small. The euph like comment may have come from someone who is used to playing larger tubas. My Eb tuba is rather large among Eb tubas so if I were to see play it I might say the same thing. I think it will be a while before they ever make it over here.

I don't doubt for a minute that this horn could have some low BBb issues -- it's almost as small as the Cerveny 641 Eb, which (based on a sample size of one) appears to be rather weak from BBb and below. I also bet it will seem small compared to your Willson Eb as well. And depending on the wrap, it COULD be mistaken for something other than a "real" tuba as well! (I'm guessing it will look significantly larger than the Besson 220 Eb I used to have, however .... )

I would enjoy a small rotary Eb arriving on the market, **IF** the low BBb was as good as the Firebird F. Otherwise, I'd probably buy the Firebird for my "small" F, although it isn't all that small.

Cheers,

[MartyNeilan]

but the old small Eb I just picked up has a very blastable Bb and A. It's a small horn, but wrapped kinda biggish. The tubing is pretty small throughout.

You finally bought a horn
Do tell Bob, do tell!

[Oystein Baadsvik]

Hi,
Here is an image with both the Star light and the Norwegian star.
Star light in silver to the left, Norwegian star to the right.

Some measurements of the Star Light:
Height = 91.5 cm (36 inch)
Bore = conical 18.00 mm ( 0.701 inch)
Bell = 38 cm (15 inch)

The fifth valve comes standard as thumb trigger for the right hand, but can be positioned to be used by the left hand.
5th valve length is as a long whole step, but other lengths are possible.
Leadpipe comes in different materials – nickel silver – yellow brass – gold brass. Gold brass is standard.
Bell comes in gold brass and nickel silver.

Some personal notes that might be useful:
I've used a prototype of the Star Light for all my work the last couple of years. This includes the recording of five solo CD's.

The bore of the tuba is smaller than on the Norwegian Star. It also has a cylindrical valve section. This is all done to secure the clearness of the tone that is so important to a soloist. This affects the whole register, also the low. You don't get the kind of broad 'TUBA' sound as you will on the Norwegian Star or other bigger tubas. But again, that is done on purpose.
On the other hand, it is very very capable of producing low notes. In my recent CD release of the Kalevi Aho tuba concerto the extreme low range is used frequently. I am hoping to be able to present some clips from that recording very soon on my web page.

I hope that this enlighten some questions!

Best regards,

Øystein Baadsvik

[Steve Inman]

Thanks very much! Nice pictures!

Star Light Looks bigger than a euph to me ....



Cheers,

[Wyvern]

Øystein, You previously mentioned that the Star light might have shorter valve stroke and new faster action valves. Did that happen, or are they the same design as the Norwegian star?

Thanks.

Jonathan

[hugechunkofmetal]

Are the Rotary Eb Hirsbrunner's still available or not?

[Oystein Baadsvik]

To answer a couple of new questions: The shape of the new Norwegian Star and the Star Light from Miraphone has similarities with the Hirsbrunner I used to play. It has to do with ergonomics. Since I like to play resting my left arm over the top bow that can't be to high. I also prefer to have the bell somewhat close to the ear to be able to hear direct details in the sound better. This means the whole tuba can't be to high. Another aspect was that the tuba with case should fit into most taxi trunks (!). You should have seen the look on the engineers face when I mentioned that. Fortunately we did not have to sacrifice anything sound wise to achieve that. It went hand in hand with the previous wishes.
The Star Light now has a 16 millimeter stroke. We have not yet implemented the new valve design that I have mentioned earlier. It is still under development. But the short stroke secures fast action.
A difference from the Hirsbrunner is the intonation. I have been fortunate to work with very good recording producers that never let you get away with bad intonation. When recording with the Hirsbrunner I occasionally had to correct the intonation between takes. With the new Star Light it is just easier. On my last two recording projects with Singapore Symphony and the Norrköping Phil. it took days between any comments on intonation. The voice from the control room could say: "I know that you can give more at letter G !!" or "Stiff, loosen up!", but that's hardly the tubas fault.

Øystein