Mirafone 186 BBb

[Tabor]

I am considering offers on a "pro model" BBb 4 valve Miraphone 186 Tuba in lacquer with nickel trim. The Mirafone is in remarkable condition for being 11 years old or so. It is a pretty horn and it plays well. I am asking $4,500 obo for the tuba, PT-88 mouthpiece and the Mirafone hard case.

This one is a little different (and I think better) than the new ones. It has easy-tension adjusty knobs for the rotors, the fourth valve slide is wrapped to the back for easy moving with thumb while playing (not that it needs it) and the bell garland is different than either the new or old Mirafones, but it is new enough to have the synthetic cork.

The digital camera to which I have access doesn't take clear photos, but near the end of May/beginning of June, I'll be moving (along I-80) from South Dakota to New York. PM me if you're interested.

I'll try to borrow a good digital camera and get a few shots...then try to figure out how to get photos on here.

[Joe Baker]

... near the end of May/beginning of June, I'll be moving (along I-80) from South Dakota to New York...

Now THAT's a change of scene!



So what's taking you to the big Apple?
___________________________________
Joe Baker, who wishes Tabor a safe trip and a prosperous life in NYC.

[Tabor]

There are a lot of things prompting the move. It is time to go when living in an area begins to feel like being in an abusive relationship.

Where I live now, property values are high, although the land is not good. (the not-quite-as-badlands) crime is horrible and laws aren't enforced, I took a pay cut of $1500.00 to stay this last year (in South Dakota, mind you...not the best teacher pay in the world), the schools are imploding (head start was shut down on the neighboring reservation and a college went bankrupt). The pay cut hurt because we drive a 500 mile round trip when we need to buy supplies (groceries, clothes etc) and then the price of gas went up.

I think the last straw wasn't the pay cut, the drive or even when a neighbor kid was beaten and hung in front of his house by local gang members after being beaten by a family member. It was probably when my neighbor poisioned my dog and left the evidence sitting right there. The state law calls that a felony, but state law isn't enforced here. So...that about sums it up. I really enjoyed upstate New York when I was there and I'm getting too many white hairs for a 29 year old to stay here.

I'm looking forward to the move


P.S. That pic looks a lot like here, except too much green and not enough garbage floating around. Also, no gang graphitti.

[Joe Baker]

That's a damn shame. I've got a feeling you're just the kind of teacher they need, but if they don't want to be helped there's not much you can do.

Your I-80 reference made me think NYC, but upstate ought to be a nice place to live (for someone who's already used to winters bazillion degrees below freezing, anyway!). Are you planning on living in the city or the country?

Oh, and email me any pictures you want posted, and I'll put 'em up.
_______________________________
Joe Baker, who cringes to think of an involved teacher being unappreciated.

[MaryAnn]

What area of upstate? The finger lakes region used to be quite nice. I found the culture a bit cold when living in Albany (compared to the SW which I finally have gotten used to.)

I don't imagine Albany would be the best place now....even when I was there in late 70's I had the wonderful experience of having someone roll down a car window, point a gun at me, and say "I'd like to shoot you."
Ick. Hope you find a better place then where you're at.

MA

[bort]

I had no idea there was a rough side to South Dakota. Sounds like you should get out while you can.

[Tabor]

Hey Joe, thanks!

I'll try to get some high res photos. It really is a nice BBb. I hope that someone who is looking for one of these will consider mine. It almost looks new and plays very well. I'd like to get something heavier and possibly uncomfortable that costs more and might also play the wrong notes for the fingerings I know.




Mary Ann:

I'm planning to move to Herkimer or the surrounding area. Albany isn't what I'm looking for but when I was there it seemed like cake compared to here. One bad thing about New York that I don't think SD has...terrorist targets.

Joe:

New York usually has way more snow than South Dakota. The temps here are usually about as cold, but the windchill is usually worse... We have tons of wind. Sometimes an inch of snow becomes a blizzard becuase of the wind...this place could literally power the world.

Bort:

yep, South Dakota has rough spots. The two poorest counties in the United States are right next to each other here...and both are reservations. I was actually very surprised when the shooting in Minnesota made the news, because nobody heard of the kid being beaten and hung in front of his house, even in the neighboring towns. I probably have hundreds if not thousands of true tragedies stuck in my head. Horrible things happen every day and what seemed to me (before I lived here) like minor political decisions deeply affect the daily lives of the children. After a while, it can get to a person, and if it doesn't, I think something must be wrong with that person.

There is the unstable school system, 98% unenployment, alcoholic, drinking and driving (even worse), no laws enforced, FAS, strange resistant illnesses, crack baby, child mortality, playground gang initiations, homeless, hairspray huffing, lysol drinking, drugged, armed like a small militia, angry at the world, would have more guns if the funds were there, abuse of every kind imaginable, racism from both sides (and there are really only two here) place that I call home for a short while longer, but then there are times that make me want to stay. My fifth graders sounded really good on their final concert...like a real children's choir. They memorized their recorder pieces memorized and were very accurate with articulations, dynamic contrast and the cutoffs.

Today, for their last class with me, a second and third grade classroom decided to surprise me when I came to their room. They were standing in a v and asked me to stand in the middle. They then sang a song they had written for (and about) me, and why they loved to learn in music class. They even sang about my tuba. I was floored that while giving me such a warm send-off they demonstrated what they'd learned. I'm going to miss that class.

[Tabor]

Hey Joe, thanks!

I'll try to get some high res photos. It really is a nice BBb. I hope that someone who is looking for one of these will consider mine. It almost looks new and plays very well. I'd like to get something heavier and possibly uncomfortable that costs more and might also play the wrong notes for the fingerings I know.




Mary Ann:

I'm planning to move to Herkimer or the surrounding area. Albany isn't what I'm looking for but when I was there it seemed like cake compared to here. One bad thing about New York that I don't think SD has...terrorist targets.

Joe:

New York usually has way more snow than South Dakota. The temps here are usually about as cold, but the windchill is usually worse... We have tons of wind. Sometimes an inch of snow becomes a blizzard becuase of the wind...this place could literally power the world.

Bort:

yep, South Dakota has rough spots. The two poorest counties in the United States are right next to each other here...and both are reservations. I was actually very surprised when the shooting in Minnesota made the news, because nobody heard of the kid being beaten and hung in front of his house, even in the neighboring towns. I probably have hundreds if not thousands of true tragedies stuck in my head. Horrible things happen every day and what seemed to me (before I lived here) like minor political decisions deeply affect the daily lives of the children. After a while, it can get to a person, and if it doesn't, I think something must be wrong with that person.

There is the unstable school system, 98% unenployment, alcoholic, drinking and driving (even worse), no laws enforced, FAS, strange resistant illnesses, crack baby, child mortality, playground gang initiations, homeless, hairspray huffing, lysol drinking, drugged, armed like a small militia, angry at the world, would have more guns if the funds were there, abuse of every kind imaginable, racism from both sides (and there are really only two here) place that I call home for a short while longer, but then there are times that make me want to stay. My fifth graders sounded really good on their final concert...like a real children's choir. They memorized their recorder pieces memorized and were very accurate with articulations, dynamic contrast and the cutoffs.

Today, for their last class with me, a second and third grade classroom decided to surprise me when I came to their room. They were standing in a v and asked me to stand in the middle. They then sang a song they had written for (and about) me, and why they loved to learn in music class. They even sang about my tuba. I was floored that while giving me such a warm send-off they demonstrated what they'd learned. I'm going to miss that class.