Old vs. New Miraphone 188

[bort]

Have any significant changes been made to the Miraphone 188 over the years?

I used to own a 188 from the mid-1980s, and have tried several new ones over the years. The only differences I can recall are:
-- the new one has a much thinner kranz, more like 1 inch instead of 2 inches (guessing at the sizes here, I never measured them)
-- the new one actually says "Miraphone 188" on the bell, instead of having just the triangle logo

Has anything more significant been changed on this model over the years? Thanks!

[cjk]

I think the newer ones have thicker brass and are heavier.

I think the current linkage is an improvement over the nylon sockets.

Ph > f

I prefer newer over older. Lots of folks will disagree.

If i were ordering new, I'd probably order one with a bell made of thinner brass with a kranz.

[bort]

Thanks guys!

So that's an option, to order one with thinner brass for the bell?

[TheHatTuba]

Thanks guys!

So that's an option, to order one with thinner brass for the bell?

They do it for the 381 so perhaps. Sounds like a great combo.

[cjk]

Thanks guys!

So that's an option, to order one with thinner brass for the bell?

Miraphone builds tubas to order. They are more than happy to change things for customers. When I visited the factory a number of years ago, I asked Christian Niedermaier why the build their 4+2 F tubas with the 5 and 6th rotors backwards. He said that they are happy to make them the way I would like them, I need only order it that way. I expect that they would be happy to build a 188 with a lighter (more-1980's-like) bell.

When you go play a Miraphone at a tuba shop, that tuba has already been ordered (by somebody else who orders instruments which they think are desirable and will sell) and built as requested. I'm sure that someone like hornguys.com or dillon music could assist you with ordering a Miraphone tuba to your specification (within reason), but I wouldn't be surprised if you had to pay for it in advance and I doubt the dealer would consider it to be returnable. I would also expect it to cost extra.

[bort]

Thanks! Yeah, I'm aware that Miraphone accommodates custom requests, I just didn't know that thinner brass was "on the list" of options.

The last time I tried a group of 188's was probably about 5 years ago. I remember liking them all -- old, new, yellow, gold... but can't remember if there's anything I liked (besides the price tag) that was significant between the old and new models that I tried.