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Came up with this Mirafone 186 BBb:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... &rd=1&rd=1

It's an older one (1968 by the number) with s-links. Most of the lacquer is gone and there is a wowee in the bell but generally it is in good shape- few dents other than the bell. Lots of pictures. The seller is Quinn the Eskimo and I can pick it up from him, saving me $100.

So, this horn could go from $1500 (starting bid) to $1800 (BIN). A hundred or so to get the bell straight and I'd have an older, kind of ugly but hopefully good playing 186.

Thing is, a Dalyan 186, new, is about the same price at WWBW right now. With case, all shiny and new.

Which would the Members of the Freak Jury buy? Or would they wait to get a nicer Mirafone? I have a couple of decent tubas to play but could pay for either this Mira or the Dalyan by selling them both. Might be a better move to wait until my skill and pocketbook could better afford a nice Miraphone (or something else...) I doubt the Miraphone would ever lose any more value than what it is worth now.

Jeff "I should be banned from e-bay" Benedict

And ask yourself:

What are the chances that the Miraphone will play as well as a Dalyan vs. what are the chances a Dalyan will play as well as the Miraphone!?

In my opinion, the Dalyan is a pretty good tuba, just not a Miraphone.

Since you don't mind doing some repairs first, you could buy this Miraphone off of eBay and have something a little newer.

Mirafone Tuba # 15715 4 Valve with Case made in Germany

The Big Ben wrote:Came up with this Mirafone 186 BBb:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... &rd=1&rd=1

It's an older one (1968 by the number) with s-links. Most of the lacquer is gone and there is a wowee in the bell but generally it is in good shape- few dents other than the bell. Lots of pictures. The seller is Quinn the Eskimo and I can pick it up from him, saving me $100.

In my personal opinion, a Mirafone of this age is BETTER than the later one that is currently running on fleabay. As far as whether the Mirafone or Dalyan is the best buy??? well... you should ALWAYS be able to get your money back out of the Mirafone provided you do not destroy it. Just make sure the bell isn't full of cracks. A new Mirafone bell can cost more than half what this horn is selling for. Even at the buy it now price, this could be a good deal. Note that the newer Mirafone that is listed is all brass.... no nickel slides or garland. It's the MUCH cheaper student variety. There are those who swear by the smaller bell, too!

Bandmaster wrote:Since you don't mind doing some repairs first, you could buy this Miraphone off of eBay and have something a little newer.

Mirafone Tuba # 15715 4 Valve with Case made in Germany

In my opinion, newer is not always better.

The Big Ben wrote:The seller is Quinn the Eskimo and I can pick it up from him, saving me $100.

If you can pick it up, will he let you play test it also? This would influence my decision somewhat, even with the very consistent 186 series.

Eric "bird in hand" L.

I have a 'small-bell' 186 that is a hair younger than your 1968 vintage and have been very pleased with it. The resale value of the Dalyan, at least for the next several years, will definitely be below that of a classic Miraphone.

Well, the discussion is moot.....

Someone did the "Buy It Now" and owns a decent horn for $1800. A little more for cleaning it up and straightening the bell and it's good to go.

I would have had to stretch and sell to get it and I guess that's why I didn't "Buy it Now" myself. That newer but 'non-pro' 186 isn't something I want.

A rule to remember especially with E-Bay is that 'another will always come along'. Something like the copper Marzan of a couple of months ago breaks that rule but, with all of the Miraf/phone 186s that have been made, another will come along.

Thanks for the input.

Jeff "Putting the checkbook away" Benedict