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It may be my imagination, or maybe i just havent been around enough, but does Miraphone not produce many silver horns? I can count on one hand the silver ones i have seen. I know lots have the silver trim, and silver around the top of the bell. anyone know more about this?

I've seen a couple of 1291 CC tubas in silver and one 186 BBb.

Siver Miraphones do seem to be rare.

My Nor Star is silver FWIW

Randy

tofu wrote:I seemed to recall being told that the reason you see so few silver horns is that in Germany there is a high tax rate on silver. I've seen very few silver Rudy Meinls, Meinl Westons or Alexanders as well for that matter. The few I've seen have been horns that were rebuilt/refinished. I seem to recall that Dan Oberloh rebuilt and refinished a bunch of 186's in silver a few years back. I've also been told that in Switzerland the taxation is lower for Silver and that is why most Swiss horns are silver and not lacquer.

I don't know about that, I've seen quite a few silver M-W's;
MW 25, owned by classmate
MW 2145, owned by classmate
buncha MW 2000's, owned by various friends

Miraphone builds tubas to order. Honestly, they'll build them however you like. I had a nice conversation with Christian Niedermaier last year when I visited the factory. I mentioned that I preferred the 4+2 arrangement of the Firebird with the valves opposite from the way they make them (ie, I like the B&S arrangement better). He was more than happy to let me know that if I ordered one, I could have the fifth and sixth valves reversed from the normal way they did it, I'd just have to order it that way. If they're willing to re-order valves, I'm sure they'd be willing to silverplate whatever horn they make at extra cost.

Somebody ordered what they're making. Silver costs more, so tuba shops probably order them more often in lacquer.

I have a 1290 in silver and my understanding is that all 6 of the prototypes of this horn were silver. Phil

The next 188 I see in silver (in good condition) will be owned me. Peer E Uhd.

I met a fellow in Pittsburgh many years ago named Todd Pascuzzi (sp?) who played a silver 184 CC. Very good player, very good horn. I have no idea what ever happened to either of them.

I have seen a silver 1292 and 186 BBb and both horns played like a characteristic Miraphone.

I've seen some silver Miraphones before, and the silver rotary horns look quite sexy. There's something about the usual silver accents and bell wreath blending in with the rest of the horn is just very stealthy and cool.

I can't say it makes it play any better, but it sure looks cool.