Review of the new Miraphone Siegfried BB198-5V tuba.

[Matt Walters]

Disclaimer: Yes, I work at a music store that sells Miraphone tubas but you can order one from any Miraphone dealer. There is no link to my employer’s website or some other “buy my stuff” link in my signature. Now on to the tuba....
I finally got a Miraphone Siegfried that I could spend some time with. Sorry Roger Lewis, mine plays even better than your Miraphone display model. HOLY COW what a nice tuba!! Anybody playing BBb tuba that would like a 6/4 horn to play and sound like those expensive big CC tubas should try one of these. The branches are made of sheet brass and hand bent. The tuba feels alive in your hands. I can play so softly and yet can’t begin to max out the volume on this horn. The intonation is at least as good as those big CC tubas costing thousands of dollars more. Think typical BBb intonation tendencies but better in-tune than normal. A typical BBb player will fall in love with it right away.
I used a Conn Helleberg for my testing as that is about as middle of the road as they come and in fact is not a good mpc for me but when testing a tuba for my customers, I don’t want to make it easy on the tuba to impress me. Anyway, after 15 minutes of settling into this big tuba (slots are more subtle than on my 4/4, .690” bore York) I play all open harmonics except D in the staff to be within a 15 cents spread without lipping. D and Db work great using 1&2 and 2&3. The second space C was still 10 cents flat (again no lipping) with the 1st slide all the way in. All other notes worked with the 1st slide out about 1 inch. 2nd slide out about 1.2”. 3rd slide was barely pulled and 4th only needed 2” pull. Within a month’s time of practice I could be playing this tuba with minimal to no slide manipulation while playing.
CONCLUSION: This is a great tuba that is fun to play instead of just being a tool. The amazing sound just blows everyone (even non tuba players) away. If there is a BBb player out there that wants a big tuba that is fun to play while putting out a sound and response that puts it in the class of the Yamayork, or 6/4 Meinl Weston and Nirschl CC tubas while costing thousands of dollars less, this hand built tuba should be on your list. Miraphone is not expecting to sell many of these (hense the branches are being hand bent at this time) so you could end up with your own “Red Violin”.
I know this tuba is not for everyone or that everyone will love it but it is my opinion this Miraphone Siegfried is a WORLD CLASS TUBA that costs a lot less than the World Class CC tubas that have similarly impressed me.
My opinion and $5 is still needed to get a coffee at Starbucks .

[tubajoe]

I know this tuba is not for everyone or that everyone will love it but it is my opinion this Miraphone Siegfried is a WORLD CLASS TUBA that costs a lot less than the World Class CC tubas that have similarly impressed me.

Agreed. I played it while at the factory in Waldkraiburg and I thought it was wonderful. It still had an interesting bit of 'Miraphone soul' that I liked.

[Jess Haney]

I too am glad to see other manufacturers making large BBbs. When I bought my horn it was pretty much the only thing out within a reasonable price range that had the sound and feel I wanted. I liked the 1291 but Willson was a whole other animal. I hope to get to try some of these new big BBbs soon.

[williamp]

Very cool. I'd love to try it and compare it to my B&S GR55, which I have really fallen in love with (yes I'm a former CC player now playing BBb). I find it incredibly easy to play also. Thanks for sharing your insights.

[bisontuba]

Hi-
Matt is being quite modest when speaking of large CC tubas--the 6/4 CC he has (Dillon 6/4 CC) recently built that he had at NERTEC was just an incredible instrument! If I hadn't just bought a 6/4 CC that I was very happy with, I would have bought his in an instant. As usual, anything Matt creates is wonderful, but his current BAT is truly great! FYI....
Regards-
Mark

[burningchrome]

Matt, you should have this review on the Dillon website.

[KevinMadden]

Hi-
Matt is being quite modest when speaking of large CC tubas--the 6/4 CC he has (Dillon 6/4 CC) recently built that he had at NERTEC was just an incredible instrument! If I hadn't just bought a 6/4 CC that I was very happy with, I would have bought his in an instant. As usual, anything Matt creates is wonderful, but his current BAT is truly great! FYI....
Regards-
Mark

Agreed, I was at Dillon's a bit earlier this week and that Dillon CC is incredible. What Matt says about the new big Miraphone BBb is completely true, what a sound!

[BrassBandBass]

Thanks Matt for the great review of this nice tuba , it has answered alot of questions i have had about it . I want to try one for myself .
thanks again !