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Seeing the miraphone sousaphone at the messe really got me thinking about what I would want from a new sousaphone. I am interested to see what people would want from a sousaphone if you could have one built to your specs. I'll start off.

I would want...

3 piston valves of either .687 or .710 bore

20 inch bell (would be lighter and have less "wind sail" effect)

Smaller branches like a king (I don't want or need a huge Sousa)

A usable top 1st tuning slide or a 1st valve or main tuning slide kicker for the thumb.

Vented valves

Key of BBb

There would be my dream sousaphone. What would you want?

goodgigs wrote:I looked on Miraphone's web page and didn't find any description other then 3 or 4 valves ...........
So what are the dimensions of the new Miraphone model 130 sousaphone ?
I would be satisfied with: bell size, bore, and price.

On Twitter they write that it's a prototype. Maybe that's why you didn't find more about it on their website.

On their Facebook-site there are two pics of the new sousaphone.





Butch

butch wrote:

goodgigs wrote:I looked on Miraphone's web page and didn't find any description other then 3 or 4 valves ...........
So what are the dimensions of the new Miraphone model 130 sousaphone ?
I would be satisfied with: bell size, bore, and price.

On Twitter they write that it's a prototype. Maybe that's why you didn't find more about it on their website.

On their Facebook-site there are two pics of the new sousaphone.





Butch

Hey that's me, bottom picture. They were very interested in feedback as this is a prototype.

Here's mine:
Basically like a Besson 200, but with a few changes:
-giving the 1st and 2nd slides a little more pull
-re-routing the 3rd valve tubing to be more compact and fit within the branches of the main slide. This would give the player more room, make the slide easier to tune and allow it to be braced tightly to the main slide.
-a top and bottom 3rd slide
-re-positioning the main slide slightly to gibe the player more room
-a smaller bell to reduce weight, after ring, wind catching, etc...
-different locations for the braces
-a larger bell throat and bows for a more 'concert tuba' type sound.
-a horn-esque screw on bell (though this may be impractical)
-maybe a trigger for the main slide
If it could be done, you'd have a sousa that has interchangeable pistons, a good tone quality, good durability, is easy to tune and has extra space for the player. Of course, I'm no expert in instrument design, so this could be a bad/impractical idea and I'd like to hear what some of the more experienced members of the board think about it.

This isn't the first time miraphone has made sousaphones, in high school i played on a 3 valve model.

I'd like one made of carbon fibre.
There is a company in Switzerland that produces trupets of carbon fibre. But they cost 4500€!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbOiwl-4 ... ata_player

Butch

bububassboner wrote:Hey that's me, bottom picture. They were very interested in feedback as this is a prototype.

How did it play?
Did they say anything about prices?

Butch

Though I personally would no longer need or want a Sousaphone, I am sure that there are other CC tuba players that would like to have one pitched in CC with four valves.

If I could carry it on an ongoing basis, and probably could, but, I'm not supporting a large trad-jazz ensemble or a large concert band singlehandedly, it would be a 38K as is.

Now, I want light weight, but a broader tone, so a Reynolds 'glass Wrap (sorry - no pun intended) and a little bit larger bore, .710 to .720, with a direct-in leadpipe like on a Conn or Reynolds (not down-and-back like King or Jupiter), and the better attachment hardware, would be great.

But the Reynolds, as is, will do well for quite a while. Especially with it's 6 1/2 inch tenon, half-way between a King or Conn 14K and a Conn 20 - 22K, and its near perfect intonation and movable with left hand upper 1st valve slide that I prefer.

I'm still looking for a CC sousaphone or helicon for playing traditional jazz, or any other funky music. I wish somebody would make one.

Bill Troiano wrote:I'm still looking for a CC sousaphone or helicon for playing traditional jazz, or any other funky music. I wish somebody would make one.

Ask bloke.

First of all, it's GOT to be HUGE, like the old "monsters." Like the one Tony Kniffen played on "Mr. Grinch." 4 valves (either flavor) and a tuning jigger on the main slide. BBb or CC.