The Best of the Worst (Cheap Horns)

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 12:50 am

I recently finished working on an Allora 186. Other than playing too flat (remedied by shortening a slide), it wasn't bad--not a Miraphone 186, but not too far off.

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 1:21 am

If you're considering a Dalyan, consider this:

Cerveny.

There are many different models offered, many of which actually retail for the same price or less than the Dalyan copy.

For example, Dalyan makes a piggy copy for about $3,600.
You can get a "real" piggy from Cerveny for about $3000.

BUT...the price of the Dalyan includes a case. Cerveny (and most others for that matter) do not offer this.

With Cerveny having been mentioned, I've read great things about the Dalyan CC and F tuba in reviews posted here. The consensus seems to be that they are well built and play well. Bloke had one of the Dalyan CC tubas posted on ebay with great pictures. I will not post the link here, but will rather ask that you search for "Dalyan" on ebay and check out the one offered by Mid South Music.

I don't know much about Allora other than that they are (were?) the house stencil at WWBW and that they offer Miraphone copies. I'm sure more on them can be found in the archives.

Dylan King · Post by **Dylan King** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 5:57 am

Tubas have been made in China for a long time.

I think now that they're actually making them out of metal, they're really coming into their own.

Chadtuba · Post by **Chadtuba** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 10:13 am

I've got an Allora 186 and really do like it a lot. It does have a couple of flat tuning tendancies in the upper register, but is easily overcome by using alternate fingerings or as stated above by shortening one of the slides. It is my daily player and would happily buy another for my band program at that price point. They are a little heavier gauge metal than the Miraphone, but for a school program I find that comforting.

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 7:41 pm

`Let's see:

From WWBW, a Miraphone 186:

Our Price: $5,895.00
List Price: $10,859.00

Allora 186:

Our Price: $2,499.00
List Price: $4,149.99

Doesn't look like the prices are separated by only a thousand or so. Looks more like you could buy two of the Alloras and have enough left over to pick one of the 4-valve Chinese knockoffs of the YEP-321.

For the price, the Allora's pretty hard to beat. With the Euro at $1.33+ and headed north, the price comparison's only going to get better.