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Hi can anyone tell me the difference between the Wilson 3050 and the Miraphone 1291 and which one everyone personally prefers. Thank you.

I've never played the Miraphone, but I have owned Miraphones in the past and own a Willson 3050 now. One difference, I'd bet, is that the Willson is noticeably heavier.

Been a while since I've tried a Willson, but I remember it being bigger than the 1291 -- in size, weight, and in presence of tone. I also remember agreeing with other people's assessments of it feeling dull in my lap but projecting like mad out front. I also thought the valve section on the Willson was a little higher up the horn than I liked. Both are fine tubas, and neither will hold you back from sounding like you.

The Willson was just too much for me to handle comfortably... or at least my 5-minute assessment of it.

TYA wrote:Hi can anyone tell me the difference between the Wilson 3050 and the Miraphone 1291 and which one everyone personally prefers. Thank you.

I played the piston BBb versions of these horns side by side at the Frankfurt Musikmesse:

- The Willson has the best pistons.
- The Willson weighs a lot more, you can not play it marching or standing. (Forget about the weight if you have a BBC tuba rest like me.)
- The sound is in another league, the Willson's sound is A LOT bigger than that of the miraphone. It sounds like it had a Miraphone for breakfast...
- The Willson would not be my instrument of choice if I had to play solo recitals or small ensembles all the time.
- For supporting larger groups, I'd take the Willson without any doubt.
- The willson is the more expensive one sadly...

After this comparison, I also had the chance to play both rotary versions of the same horns (Willson 3100 RZ-4 and Miraphone 191)

- The same remarks as above are valid for those horns too.
- I liked both Rotary horns over their piston version, I have always been used to pistons but liked those rotors better immediately.
They feel a lot more responsive and resonant to me.

I own a Willson 3100 BBb RZ-4 now, and I have received a lot of positive response from directors, teachers and audiences.
I use it in symphonic wind band, brass band (british style, the rotors look weird but the sound matches wonderfully) and as a solo instrument in music school.

Wim

Apples and oranges.

I would not consider the 1291 a true 5/4; a "compact 5/4" at best. Maybe.
The Wilson is definitely a 5/4.

The Mirafone is a better do-all CC; the Willy is big.

How do the low register compare in these two horns?

I own a 1292 and I love the low range on the horn. I tried a Willson about a year ago but I honestly forgot exactly how it compared to the 1292 but I do know the willson had a much darker sound. I use the 1292 for everything from solo/chamber to big symphony/wind ensemble and it really fills any room up or plays light depending on the situation. I would say the 1292 is on the larger side of an all-round horn, the willson is a BIG horn

I have been playing my Willson for the past 15 1/2 years. I have played versions of the 1291, but not the 1292 (except in the elephant room in DC).

The Low register on the 3050 is fantastic! The intonation is very good, with only the Eb being high and the Ab above being slightly low. The instrument is very good. I agree that it is not an "all around" CC. That's why I have a 188. The Miraphone 188 would not keep up with some of the bass bone players I work with in orchestras. OTOH, the Willson (me, I guess) would crush the balance in either of my quintets.

As for the 1291, I feel clarity of articulation somewhat difficult to achieve. I, briefly, owned a 2165 and had a similar impression. Both have very good sounds but I found both to be too much work to get them to do what I wanted. YMMV.

I have heard people play the 1291 who sound great, so they should be on anyone's short list. Roger Lewis is probably the guy to talk to.

bloke wrote:These are both good tubas. Compare them with even more good tubas and answer your own questions. It's your dough.

I agree with you the cash is the hard part, but I already have the Wilson(Kurath) and It is giving me back pains because it is too big and heave so I'm looking to still go smaller

TYA wrote:I agree with you the cash is the hard part, but I already have the Wilson(Kurath) and It is giving me back pains because it is too big and heave so I'm looking to still go smaller

The best solution would be to use a tuba playing stand to get to the correct height and take the weight - assuming you enjoy the tuba otherwise.

If you move to smaller tuba there will undoubtedly be a sacrifice of breath of tone, so it depends on what are your priorities?

Neptune wrote:

TYA wrote:I agree with you the cash is the hard part, but I already have the Wilson(Kurath) and It is giving me back pains because it is too big and heave so I'm looking to still go smaller

The best solution would be to use a tuba playing stand to get to the correct height and take the weight - assuming you enjoy the tuba otherwise.

If you move to smaller tuba there will undoubtedly be a sacrifice of breath of tone, so it depends on what are your priorities?

Thank you for letting me know that I don't want to sacrifice any of the beautiful dark tone I get from the Wilson but it's just killing my back.

Hey Neptune how would the Meinl Weston 2000 compare to the Wilson 3050?

TYA wrote:Hey Neptune how would the Meinl Weston 2000 compare to the Wilson 3050?

I can't say having never compared them, but I would bet the MW2000 is a lot lighter being a handmade tuba!

Neptune wrote:

TYA wrote:Hey Neptune how would the Meinl Weston 2000 compare to the Wilson 3050?

I can't say having never compared them, but I would bet the MW2000 is a lot lighter being a handmade tuba!

Thank you Neptune. Sorry to be asking you so much questions but if you don't mind I just have one more tuba to know if you can compare it and that tuba is the Cerveny 601 CC 5v. I have heard the Cervenys kind of have a dead sound to it but I played a small on throughout high school and I loved it is the 601 in the same league as the 3050. Thank you and sorry again.

I have only ever played the Cerveny 601 BBb, not the CC. I very much liked how it played and personally preferred to a Miraphone I tried against - but we all have personal preferences and requirements, so only you can decide what is right for you by trying.

Thank you for your answer. That actually helps me and a friends who is just starting to look for a low costing tuba for college he is a education major. Thank you again.

TYA wrote:Thank you for your answer. That actually helps me and a friends who is just starting to look for a low costing tuba for college he is a education major. Thank you again.

186

MartyNeilan wrote:

TYA wrote:Thank you for your answer. That actually helps me and a friends who is just starting to look for a low costing tuba for college he is a education major. Thank you again.

186

A Meinl-Weston 32 would also fit the bill nicely. There was one for sale here (and maybe even still for sale) that lasted a long, long time... at a low price, with lots of extra "stuff." I owned one as my first non-school-owned tuba and thought it was nice. Sure, I ended up selling it, but it was good and if I still had it today, I'd be fine with that.

Im looking for a big horn to go along with my 186 Im a bigger guy(6'5) and the 186 is really small for me to play comfortably for a long time and I was wondering ergonomically is it a good horn, and would people agree it is a good large CC to go with the 186?

Bignick1357 wrote:Im looking for a big horn to go along with my 186 Im a bigger guy(6'5) and the 186 is really small for me to play comfortably for a long time and I was wondering ergonomically is it a good horn, and would people agree it is a good large CC to go with the 186?

I'm not really a 186 fan at all, but I think you'll need (as in, actually need) a smaller horn before you'll need a bigger horn (not to imply 186's are big horns).

Also, why not have a few of these .......

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I also think that unless you specifically want an 186, then you don't want one. Too hard to play, too tubby, too friggin tall,...
1291 vs. Willson contrabass- I like both ( have only played the Bb Willson), but I prefer the 1291. The 1291 Bb is the best big horn I've ever played, far better than the PT6's, Baer, Thor, PT7, Neptune, 2165,... The 191 rocks but pistons are easier for me.
Oddly enough, the Willson Bb is somewhat brighter than the 1291. I also had no physical problems at all playing the Willson.