TubeNet

After FINALLY receiving this week the chunk of money I was expecting in July, I gave Roger Lewis a call to order a Miraphone 188. I thought for a while about getting a used one, but my wife convinced me to just go ahead and bit the bullet and get a brand new horn.

Roger was, of course, extremely helpful and friendly. I had no problems with my bank authorizing my funds, and Roger supervised the sale process over the phone. I ordered the horn on Tuesday afternoon, and the horn arrived at about 11:30 this morning.

The horn was very well packed, and there wasn't the slightest hint of any damage. I pulled my new axe out of the box, popped in the TU23 mouthpiece that came with it, and just started playing. Like butter. Just like I remembered it from when I tried one out at WW&BW back in May. I was amazed, though, at the fantastic sound that little mouthpiece gets in the low register on this horn! I have pretty big lips, so I was apprehensive about using such a small 'piece. But so far, I'm liking it a lot. I can't WAIT to hear what I sound like after I've had a week or two of "getting acquainted" time!

Incidentally, the pictures on all the websites I've seen show the 188 with the old spatula 5th valve key, but that's not the way mine is. Roger informed me that all the new 188s come with the bar-style 5th (like on the 1291). The thumb ring is also detachable now. I really like these changes. They allow you more freedom in how you position your hand.

Here are a couple of pics:

Here's me with my new baby



Here's a picture of the 5th valve mechanism


Well, time for me to get back to playing!!!

Congratulations, Ryan. You have purchased one of the all-time great tubas. The Miraphone 188 has a long and distinguised history. Thanks for your post and photos.

Ace

Wow! Congratulations on your new horn. It is beautiful. Have fun and happy playing!

Yay!

I love opening a present and gett'n right to it!

Major congrats! I bought my 188 from Roger Lewis over four years ago, and I still love it. Mine was shipped from Germany (unopened at WWBW) with a TU-31 mpc. I assume that was a mistake, as the Miraphone website has never listed that mpc. with the horn. After trying a number of different mpcs, I've settled on the GW Baer. As for the fifth valve linkage, I play-tested a new gold brass 188 belonging to hornguys.com last January at SEATEC. The new linkage is superior to the older version. Dan Oberloh vented valves one thru four for me. It does slur more easily now. Enjoy playing a really fine tuba!

LJV wrote: BTW, that TU23 is a surprising mouthpiece. Very versatile. I have a couple of them that I had the rim changed to something less wide. One has a Lasky 28H rim and the other a Schilke Helleberg II rim. Very handy both...

LJV,
Did you have the wide rim re-machined to a shape you like better or did you have the wide rim cut off and the rim to another mouthpiece attached in its place? Who did you have do the work? I have a couple mouthpieces where I'd like to have the rims re-machined to something I like better. feel free to send me a PM if you have a minute.


Thanks,

Christian