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I had a Sanders Custom for a couple years. I bought it from a band director who sold it on eBay. She said she had bought it from Custom as a "prototype". It was a knock-off of the Miraphone 191. It played pretty good and had a good bottom end, but there were problems with the braces popping loose and the laquer didn't hold up very well.

I have to chip in 2 cents worth here. The Sanders tubas that Custom Music imported during the 1960's were good instruments. I played several of the BBb's (slightly larger than the 186) which were terrific tubas.

Neil Tidwell played a Sanders prototype with titanium valves for most of his career in New Orleans and then in Pittsburgh. It was a smallish CC but sounded big when he played it. Of course, Sanders was made by Cerveny then, too.

I haven't played or heard much or even seen the new stuff from Sanders but if it follows the quality of recent stenciled products, it wouldn't compare favorably with the old Sanders.

If you find one of the older Sanders, you should seriously consider buying it.

If you find an old Sanders but it's missing the final s... don't buy it but do contact me by PM.

There seems to be several varieties of Sanders tubas. I have a little experience with a Sanders 'Imperial'... which was imported from China and sold by Custom Music. Not a bad horn but somewhat of a departure from the European-made Sanders (Cerveny) tubas.