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Hey everyone, especially repairmen...
So, What would be the downsides of getting a larger leadpipe and 5th valve installed on an older Miraphone 186? Also, what would it set me back, approximately?
Thanks!

I don't know about the different leadpipe, but regarding adding the 5th valve, Dan Schultz has done exactly that. There is a page on his website thevillagetinker.com where he explains what and how he did it, with pictures:
http://thevillagetinker.com/miraphone%2 ... ersion.htm

Because the leadpipe is matched to the overall characteristics of the tuba, and unlike a 1291/1292 change which is basically only the leadpipe, I'm not so sure you'd run into intonation issues changing out the leadpipe.

I can understand the 5th valve, although the slots on mine are wide enough I don't need it, even for low Eb 1-4, which I just lip slightly. But why the leadpipe change? What are you trying to accomplish? Usually a leadpipe change will affect the "blow" of an instrument more than anything else, but may affect intonation or articulation adversely.

bloke wrote:I went through the 186-larger-leadpipe thing when I bought a new 186 in the mid-1970's. At that time (unlike the ones made earlier and later) they were being shipped with noticably smaller 'pipes.

The newer 186's are very nice instruments, but I miss the small-leadpipe, small-bell ones. I think the sound was "tighter", if that makes any sense. I don't think that it has anything to do with the "all-handmade" aspect of the old ones.

One of the reasons I shied away from Miraphone from so long was the "blow" issue, which is a leadpipe issue. I, for one, do NOT like the larger leadpipes. To me they just take too much air and make the tone tubby, and do not make for a more present, deeper, or any other adjective that describes a tonality goal, tuba tone.

But I believe the one I have, being a 1971, has the smaller leadpipe. And I'm damn glad of it! I can play without feeling like I need a third lung, and at last rehearsal, our director, who is not necessarily one to give praise from the podium, commented in the middle of rehearsal favorably on its tone and intonation. He likes it better than the other two Miraphones who set right next to me, a stock older model with the 16 1/2 conventional bell, and a newer one with the now standard 17 3/4 inch bell.

Want a 188 leadpipe? Buy a 188. Please consider leaving the 186 alone.

Hmm...cool...So, what about the fifth valve?

I'm wanting to get it done, due to the fact that I have a CC tuba (I know, it's a little odd to have one with 4 valves) and the low F is still a bit sharp even if I pull the first valve slide all the way out.

tubaguy9 wrote:Hmm...cool...So, what about the fifth valve?

I'm feeling like Rodney Dangerfield right now. Does nobody read my posts? I even gave the hyperlink to the exact page:

http://thevillagetinker.com/miraphone%2 ... ersion.htm