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This thread on the For Sale board raises the possibility of putting a Conn/Pan American monster Eb bell on a 186:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=59846

Why would someone do that? I guess for a broader sound?

And what would be the unintended consequences? Would there be an effect on intonation?

talleyrand wrote:Why would someone do that? I guess for a broader sound?

I've seen a Buescher and a Conn Monster Eb belled 186.

The sound was probably broader than before, but I think the main reason for the swap was the original bell was wrecked and the Eb bell was much cheaper than a new Miraphone replacement.

I think... Wade put a York bell on a MW32, you could ask him about. Similar concept.

TheHatTuba wrote:..... I think the main reason for the swap was the original bell was wrecked and the Eb bell was much cheaper than a new Miraphone replacement.

+1. I've put about every kind of bell on a 186 hoping for a less expensive fix than an original bell. The 'clone' bells work very well. So does the Yamaha YBB-201-321 bell (which had an almost identical taper).

A bell with a larger flare, especially if the stack is longer... will make a Miraphone 186 flat and 'woofy' (lose it's focus).

Big bells on German 'stovepipe' horns have never worked for me. There's a reason why Miraphone went from a 17 1/2" to a 16 1/2" bell sometime in the 60's

KiltieTuba wrote:I taped on a King Monster Eb bell to a rotary tuba with great success - much more color to the sound.

What color was it?

TubaTinker wrote:The 'clone' bells work very well.

Haha. Yes. I've already got a clone bell on my clone, and I'm planning on sticking with it. I have thought about buying that Eb, but not to do this. This question was really just pure curiosity.