Hopefully the lady will go for what she said she wanted...a BBb rotary tuba. Some people don't play pistons because their hands are not big enough, and that includes some women; I suppose also a few men. Someone coming back to tuba after a long layoff doesn't need to go learn new fingerings on a key of tuba they're not used to.
Google Baltimore Brass, Woodwind and Brasswind, and Dillons, get the urls, and see what they have for sale in their online displays. If you see something you're interested in, call:
Dave Fedderly at Balt. Brass, Roger Lewis at WWBW, and Matt Walters at Dillon. All these guys are great and will not do the used car sales thing on you. Beware salesmen at "some" other companies who say, "Oh I'll fix you right up! You need exactly the tuba I sell, and I got one here I'll give you a deal on."
And yeah, I vote for the Miraphone 186 BBb (but isn't that a 187 in BBb?) it fits exactly what you said you were looking for.
Miraphone 5050 - Warburton BJ/RF mpc YEP-641S(recently sold), DE mpc (102 rim; I-cup; I-9 shank) Symphonic Band of the Palm Beaches: "Always play with a good tone, never louder than lovely, never softer than supported." - author unknown.
MaryAnn wrote:And yeah, I vote for the Miraphone 186 BBb (but isn't that a 187 in BBb?) it fits exactly what you said you were looking for.
No, 184's and 186's are available both in C and in Bb.
The 182 (yuck) is a Bb only, and the 185 is a C only. The 187 is sort-of the Bb version of the CC 188, but they were different enough to get a different model number. The 190 was available in both, and the 191 was only in Bb. The 1291, however, is available in both.
Rick "who wonders where Miraphone came up with their model numbering" Denney
f. Perfect for community band and orchestra.
It's always more fun that way.
