Since miraphone seems to be so receptive to input,

[Matt G]

why don't we try to get them to put the older, smaller bells one the 186's.

All of the older 186's, CC and BBb, seem to sound a little better and have slightly better pitch than the newer ones with the bigger bells. I would find it exciting to have access to the old style 186's again with the 16" bell, hell, I wouldn't mind the 2-3 fifth valve put back on either.

I think the return of the 184 is great for the line. I think the 186 with a 16" bell would compliment the line better, that is if the 184 is coming with the 14" bell.

184 = 14"
185 = 15"
186 = 16"
188 = 18"
190 = 20"

I think that is the scheme for the old numbering system. It makes sense, and works just as well as any x/4 non-sense.

[cjk]

184 = 14"
185 = 15"
186 = 16"
188 = 18"
190 = 20"

I think that is the scheme for the old numbering system. It makes sense, and works just as well as any x/4 non-sense.

While that's a neat idea, I doubt that Miraphone named them that way. Doesn't Germany use the metric system?

The new 184 comes with a 15 inch bell. Old 184s have 14.25 inch bells. The old 186s were 16.5. Present 188s and 186s have 17.75 inch bells. I don't remember the 185, but they're not made anymore. But, I'm sure you could special order a 185 if you wanted one badly enough

I like the newer 186s more than the older ones. They seem to require less slide pulling and the metal feels heavier.


Christian

[Matt G]

I actually like ligher horns. While they might not hold up as well to student use, they seem to be a lot more responsive and flexible in color.

Heavier horns supposedly project better, but nothing projected like my old 188. That thing was light!

The older 'fones I played seemed to be as in tune as the newer ones. But that could be my experience and user-interface.

[cjk]

The new 184 probably stands on it's bell a little better. The old one is a little tippy. We're only talking about 3/4 of an inch here! I wouldn't relly say it's much bigger at all.


Christian

[andrew the tuba player]

I have a Mirafone 186 5uc that was built in 1978. I've never played another mirfone, but from my experiance i like the smaller bell and lighter weight metal. like the old saying, it depends on what you wanna do with it. If you want to play a nice qindow rattleing back ground part, than I'd prefer a large BBb like a 6/4 conn 20j. But if you wanna do soloist stuff like curch than id prefer the smaller horn. It's got better responce and articulation is better in my opinion.

[iiipopes]

My 1971 BBb is a detachable bell. The shop I bought it from took a St Pete bell and cut it down, then took the ring off the stock recording bell and put it on the upright bell. It was too short, and needed a main tuning slide extension, but this 16 1/2 inch bell which with its configuration is effectively wider in the throat and less flare, has a really dark tone that supports a concert band well. With a Wick 1L I can get as broad as necessary in a concert hall, and with a Kelly 18 I can get as much core and projection as I need outdoors. I wasn't necessarily looking for a smaller bell, or even a Miraphone, when I got it, but for the price I needed a good horn right then with concerts coming up. I am very pleased. It's darker and richer than either the other older 186 that does have the 16 1/2 inch bell, or the newer one with the larger bell.

Oh, yeah, and my S-arms and original linkage are in great shape.

[Steve Inman]

An old thread comes back to life -- cool. Okay ....

Hahahahaha! "so receptive to input" Heeheeheehee!

Not from ugly, amateur Americans (like me) .... sigh.

I sent a few emails, asking them to consider an Eb to compete with the Willson, size wise, but with the "typical" Miraphone sound and responsiveness. Design the "bigger" Eb to be an all-around horn, and the small one per Oystein's specifications. Make a significant difference between the two horns .... sigh again.

On topic -- I used to own a 186-4U CC with the 16.5" bell -- very nice horn indeed. I LIKE the idea. But I doubt it would be considered.

sigh,

[iiipopes]

If you like the old style, B&S still makes their "Hilgers" model with the 16 1/2 inch bell.

[jonesbrass]

I'm pretty sure that Miraphone bells were made larger because we Americans percieve bigger to be better. If a horn has a small bell, it must not be very good. Must be student line. If you're a "real" tuba player, you own and play a 6/4 York/Yammayork/Hirsbrunner/Perantucci/Meinl-Weston/etc.

[Donn]

Is that Bloke in drag??

Looks like Egyptian Ella to me -- "she weighs two-twenty but that's OK, they like them plenty down there that way"

[MartyNeilan]

"she weighs two-twenty but that's OK, they like them plenty down there that way"

I wouldn't kick her out of my gigbag