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Hello everyone,

I have a Miraphone 186, and a friend of mine wants to exchange it for a King 2341 with detachable bell and the exchange would be without money, tuba for tuba.

Do you guys think it's worth it?

My idea with the tuba King would be to replace the detachable hood with a fixed bell (from Holton or York Eb)

Thank you.

Obviously, condition is a big factor. But I'll say that I'm much happier with my King than I ever was with my 186. I mostly play sousaphone so I think I'm just more comfortable with pistons.

The real reason I'm chiming in, though, is to point out that what is right for one person, may not be right for another. Don't let perceived value interfere with choosing the right instrument for you.

Play them both side by side. Do a trial period where you get to use the horn in the setting(s) where it'll be most often used. Just be clear with your friend on the terms.

No. I did replace my detachable 186 that had both a recording bell and an upright bell, but only because I really wanted the tone of the Besson bell I replaced it with. See my thread on the "Bessophone."

It is not cost effective, and there are many more risks to intonation, which I luckily avoided. King detachable bell tubas were "matched" from bell to bugle at the factory and will not necessarily function as well when swapped around.

This is one way to do it and put it in BBb.

Miraphones sell high and sell fast, is that King the exact tuba you would buy with the money if you sold your miraphone? That is the only situation where this trade makes sense.