Marzan

Mike Finn · Post by **Mike Finn** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 10:05 pm

Man... I really want that Marzan... could one of you repair gurus buy it and fix it up for me?
http://cgi.ebay.com/1970s-Marzan-BBb-4- ... dZViewItem
let me know when it's ready...
M

F

Mike Finn · Post by **Mike Finn** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 7:06 am

I think that might actually be the original bell, except the tape is the wrong color!
Actually, I was thinking of one of Tuba Tinker's "Miraphone Replacement Bells"... any chance the ferrule is close enough? Dan?
MF

ASTuba · Post by **ASTuba** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 8:43 am

Well with the person who is leading the bidding, I'd guess that it could be repaired/replaced.

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 10:16 am

Mike Finn wrote:... I was thinking of one of Tuba Tinker's "Miraphone Replacement Bells"... any chance the ferrule is close enough? Dan?
MF

Dunno... but I'm sure I can come up with a bell.... or maybe the one already on the Marzan is fixable. The bell is really the least of my worries. It's hard to tell by looking at a few pictures. This seller auctioned another Marzan a couple of weeks ago for about $3,000!

... waaay too much money, I thought. I spoke with the seller about the previous Marzan. Beleive-it-or-not, the two Marzans came out of a school district in (or near) Chicago. I always worry a little about bidding on horns that are auctioned by antique dealers. There could be lots of things wrong with the horns that can't be seen in a picture. I would hate to spend lots of money on THIS horn just to find out that the valves are in terrible shape or contain mixed parts. I've never played a Marzan and will only bid high enough to try to settle my own curiousity.

Mike Finn · Post by **Mike Finn** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 7:13 am

I was thinking of the bells (the origin of which is not divulged) that Dan can use to replace the Miraphone bells, not an actual (pricey) Miraphone or even Yamaha bell. Of course, you're right Bloke, it wouldn't be the same horn with a smaller bell. And I'm sure the price will be nudged up and up by folks who care more about the name on the bell than the condition of it. Guess I'll just go ahead and buy that George Roberts P-22 at the pawn shop for now, and start saving for a new King 2341. Will they still be around in a year or two?
MF

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 12:11 pm

What Bloke said about the bell--the bottom end is pretty large. An American 5/4 BBb belll cut down a bit (the bottom bow has rather long "legs") might work and look right. But a 16-17" Miraphone bell (it would work, I just checked) would look very strange.

I think tubanurse had a lead on some 20" bells. You might drop him a line.

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 10:35 pm

bloke wrote:
Chuck(G) wrote:I think tubanurse had a lead on some 20" bells. You might drop him a line.
I cannot speak for tubanurse, but I suspect he is "nursing" them for his King-CC projects.

I don't know. Awhile back, he was advertising a 20" bell replacement for the 186 (no kidding). As someone who likes the 16" bell better than the newer 17" bell on the 186, I can't say that I was too interested.

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 10:52 pm

zoro wrote:Is it feaseable to get the original bell into fair looking, playable condition. Buy playable , I mean not being an issue. What would you repair guys charge for doing it?

Aside from the nearly-destroyed bell, that horn is going to have to be taken apart down to the valveset/circuits to do all of the dentwork. Just my luck, I'll pay too much money for it just to find out it's full of rot, too! Wouldn't be the first time!

Hell.... maybe I could put a Miraphone stack and a Conn fiberglass bell on it... like I did on my Frankenhelicon

I don't know about this project. Maybe I'll just let one of you guys pay too much for it... like the other one this guy sold.

It's true that the best restorations start with very good horns.

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 11:31 pm

bloke wrote:.--- ..- ... - / ... --- / -.-- --- ..- / --. ..- -.-- ... / .-- .. .-.. .-.. / -.- -. --- .-- --..-- / .--. . .-. / ..- ... ..- .- .-.. / .. .----. ...- . / .-.. --- .- -.. . -.. / .- -. / ---.. ---.. ----- ----- / -... .. -.. / --- -. / .-..-. .-. --- -... --- -... .. -.. .-..-. .-.-.-

8,800???

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 11:39 pm

Well, hell, I love my slant rotor!

LoyalTubist · Post by **LoyalTubist** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 10:15 pm

Wow, this went up the week I was not near a computer! Next week, I work from Sunday through Saturday with no computers nearby. I have been looking for a Marzan for years. I tell you what, if someone sees another Marzan on eBay after Saturday this week and before Saturday next week, let me know by PM. On the other hand, I can't be near a computer to find it out.

Never mind!

Mike Finn · Post by **Mike Finn** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 7:14 am

Winning bidder: tubatinker ( 293)

Thanks Dan, let me know when it's ready!

I was thinking that instead of the replacement bell, you could maybe patch up the original one with some half-round stock (or a strip of flat sheet brass if necessary) around the bell. Then, sandblast the thing and give it a nice satin silver finish, minimizing the buffing and subsequent metal loss.
M (just $28.37 shy this time) F

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 11:42 am

Dan, when you find out where to get a matching pearl for that key, let me know--I've got a Marzan here with a chipped pearl (needs to be replaced).

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 11:47 am

Just about any bell can be saved... unless it has already had the living hell buffed out of it! I understand that these two Marzans came out of a school in a Chicago suburb.... so I'm prepared for the worst. I don't know yet if I will do a bell swap... or even if this is an option. I think the 186 replacement bells I have are too small at the bow end, but I have a bell off a Meinl 25 that might work. If I have my history right, the Meinl 25 is a 5/4 version of the Meinl 20. The valve section is the same but the bottom bow and bell are quite a bit larger. I'll just have to wait and see. If this horn turns out to be a good player, I may just keep it around for myself and sell some of these blasted Mirafones!

Think I ought to add a 5th to the Marzan? If so, would I be better off with a 2-3 combination setup or a flat whole step? (maybe both with interchangable slides) Some of you guys know these horns much better than I.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 12:06 pm

TubaTinker wrote:Think I ought to add a 5th to the Marzan? If so, would I be better off with a 2-3 combination setup or a flat whole step? (maybe both with interchangable slides) Some of you guys know these horns much better than I.

FWIW I always found that with the tuning slide facing up, I didn't need any more than 4. It's like playing a 'bone; you always see pros adjusting a little on the way up and down. You get used to it real fast if you use it for any length of time. Plus, I think the BBb version is even better. Once you let your ears do the playing, it becomes second nature. I loved mine. Enjoy it!

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 2:51 pm

Dan, your replacement 186 bells are fine on the bow end. The Marzan bottom bow has longer legs than the usual American bow and the Marzan itself is more squat than a 186. Still it would look funny with 16" bell...

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 7:25 pm

Got the eBay Marzan today. Intonation is great and damage to the body is minimal. It could stand to have the pistons plated but the compression is still acceptable. There are lots of 'crinkles' in the bell where past repairs were not properly done but I think I'll be able to save it. There are five or six dime-sized areas that will require silver-soldering. The bell-wire buzzes, but that should be an easy fix. All in all, I think I'll keep this one around for a while. As someone mentioned, there is absolutely no need for a 5th valve.