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Can a TNFJ member please measure this for me at the middle of the "U"? I am checking into a horn through Craigslist, but the seller does not know which model they have. (Bell diameter is known, but does not help since it is a non-Miraphone replacement bell.)

Thanks,
Eric "who has not held a 186 in BBb for c. 25 yrs." L.

My BBb 186 is @ 1971, and I believe the newer ones have a slightly larger diameter lower bow, but if I hold a yardstick level with the upper main tuning slide leg, it is about 15 inches across externally. And the length of the bugle from bottom of the bottom bow as it sits on your lap to the top of the top bow where you rest your left hand is about 26 inches.

Another way to tell, if there is no piano around to toot it, would be to measure the length of the second valve slide. Holding a ruler touching the near side of the valve casing between the two legs of the tuning slide, my second valve slide to the top of the arc of the tuning slide, pushed in all the way, not including the pull ring, measures about 6 inches. A CC tuba should be less than that, about 5 1/2 inches, or so or a tad less.

Thanks, iiip. To clarify, I am trying to establish if this is a 184, 185, 186 etc.: the key (BBb) is already known.

Thanks,
Eric

On a Mirafone 186.... the circumference of the bell where it enters the bottom bow is about 15 3/4". The bell on that horn could be one of my Asian replacements. There are quite a few of them out there. If so, the flare will be 16 3/4" diameter.

None of this would be necessary if you had not sold "my" Cerveny kaiser, Dan... hehehe

Here's a pic of the horn in question. The bell is a Buescher and it is 19" diameter at the business end.

WakinAZ wrote:None of this would be necessary if you had not sold "my" Cerveny kaiser, Dan... hehehe

Sorry. It's on it's way to Minnesota as I speak.

So, does the body look like a 186? Still waiting on the seller to get me the measurement...

Look at the dogleg from the block to the main tuning slide -- it's a 186. Very, very similar to mine. Also, measure the bore: 186 is @ .770 - .772 and the 184 & 186 are smaller.

I'd love to hear the good, broad tone that bell must give the tonality to that tuba as a contrast to my Russian large throat, small flare bell.

WakinAZ wrote:So, does the body look like a 186? Still waiting on the seller to get me the measurement...

Sure looks like my 186.

Have them measure the bore. It will be significantly easier for the person measuring. Even a tape measure or ruler will do, calipers would not be required. The inner bows are also in the way of measuring the bottom bow as is the fin (??) on the bottom bow guard.

If the inner dimension of one of the valve slides is over 3/4 of an inch, it's a 186 (.770).

If the inner dimension is just under 3/4 of an inch, it's a 185 (.740).

If the inner dimension is around 7 tenths of an inch it's a 184 (.705).


My guess is it's a 186, or less likely a 185.

I know that the 17 inch bell of a *small* Buescher E flat *just* fits on a 184.

That would appear to be a Buescher Monster E flat bell (or a BBb bell) if it is 19 inches in diameter. In other words, the bell is probably pretty big.

BBb 186s are very common.

BBb 185s aren't so much.

185s are pretty small.

The tuba in the picture would appear to be 4/4 based on it's relationship to the other stuff in the picture.

So I would say 186.

regardless, you should scoop up that tuba if it is a good price. Buescher bells sound great.


Christian, who of course, could be wrong.