Miraphone 186 (?) on Craig's List

jacojdm · Post by **jacojdm** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 9:24 pm

What about it looks odd?

WakinAZ · Post by **WakinAZ** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 9:39 pm

Other than the crappy photography, I agree - what up Bob? The claim about the former owner might make sense I guess since the seller is in Milwaukee.

Eric "seeing nothing wrong other than the initials of his least favorite music store in the model #" L.

WakinAZ · Post by **WakinAZ** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 9:59 pm

A 186 C is pretty much a known quantity, so the lack of details is not a huge deal. The quickie photos and Craigslist listing suggest lack of planning I guess, but Chicago is a big lonely city full of guys looking for a nice reliable contrabass. Hey, wait a minute, maybe this is the one for you, big man! $4K is a reasonable starting point for this horn.

Eric "who would ask for some documentation maybe if things looked sketchy" L.

jacojdm · Post by **jacojdm** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 10:05 pm

Pretty clearly says "TE186B" on the bell.
I'm betting that mom and dad are selling the horn for the kid.

bort · Post by **bort** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 10:53 pm

This picture is crappy, and makes it look like the bell is messed up:

The other pictures seem to show that it's just a crappy picture, and the bell is fine.

Yes, the ad title should say "Miraphone 186 CC," but unless it's a tuba player selling it, it's probably not going to say that.

Looks legit to me, and while $4,000 is a lot of money, I don't think "Miraphone 186" needs a lot of explaining, at least not within this community.

geomiklas · Post by **geomiklas** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 12:19 am

jacojdm wrote:Pretty clearly says "TE186B" on the bell.
I'm betting that mom and dad are selling the horn for the kid.

You are absolutely right. It was mom and dad selling it. Dad was hard to negotiate with, but I convinced him that he would save hundreds of dollars and headaches in not having the bother of shipping the horn. Despite the lacking craigslist ad, it is a truly good horn with beautiful tone and intonation. I just played a gig with it tonight.

I was in Milwaukee on other business--an international harmonica convention at the Brookfield Sheraton. Click here to see my interview on Channel 6. I am playing/demonstrating the bass harmonica.

George

Eric B · Post by **Eric B** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 3:03 pm

Congratulations on your new 186, George! BTW, that was a great piece on the harmonica. I'd never seen or heard a bass harmonica before.

Eric

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7779701@N04/1242673042/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7779701@N04/1242672984/

geomiklas · Post by **geomiklas** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:09 pm

A Bass Harmonica is also heard on the TV themes of Barney Miller and Sanford and Son just to name two.

trseaman · Post by **trseaman** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:47 pm

bloke wrote:If you've heard the old Beatles song, The Fool on the Hill, I believe you've heard a bass harmonica.

Exactly!!! I was pounding my head trying to remember which song that was!!! An awesome harmonica song! I searched for one sometime last year and even settled to buying a cheap one on Ebay but there's no such thing as a cheap bass harmonica! I'd still love to try one someday...

Tim

Eric B · Post by **Eric B** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 9:22 am

bloke wrote:
Eric B wrote:I'd never seen or heard a bass harmonica before.

Eric

If you've heard the old Beatles song, The Fool on the Hill, I believe you've heard a bass harmonica.

geomiklas wrote:A Bass Harmonica is also heard on the TV themes of Barney Miller and Sanford and Son just to name two.

I stand corrected!