Miraphone 86A value (used)

[P@rick]

Hi all. I was wondering what you think about the value of this tuba.



It’s a Miraphone 86A with the old S-linkage valve system. I only have this picture but let’s assume everything is in good working condition and it’s being serviced professionally. I’m Dutch so maybe it’s just me , but I think they are asking way to much for it. What’s your opinion what the price should be?

[WakinAZ]

Strike for S linkage vs. straight linkage. Strike for no nickel silver trim on slides. Neither could end up affecting playability, though. $2000-2500 USD, depending on market conditions and selection in your area. I would pay more for a horn I coud play-test vs. one I could not. 186 in general is a safe bet.

Eric "who usually pays too much" L.

[The Big Ben]

There are so many factors to 'value'. Basically, it's whatever you can get someone to pay for it.

If you put a price of $1.5K USD on it and the first caller takes it and your phone keeps ringing for a week, you asked too little. If you ask $3K USD and no one calls, you probably asked too much.

I'd ask whomever is servicing your horn what a good price might be. Perhaps do a websearch of European brass dealers and see if there are any horns just like yours for sale and use that as a starting place.

The S-linkages are not the 'up to date' thing so there will be a little loss of sales value even though they may work just fine. Someone who is picky may say the lack of the garland and silver pieces change the sound and that may affect the sales value.

Personally, I would put this at the high end of the values you find out and then prepare to drop the price. This is a very, very good horn for lots of people and there should be lots of people looking for a horn like this. If it wasn't for the price of international shipping, I might be interested in it. It would be cheaper for me to buy a horn that is already here...

[iiipopes]

When I purchased my 186 last spring, from the place I purchased it, there were two almost identical to your picture. The asking price for the one with the conventional bell was $3000 and for the detachable bell $2000. I bought the detachable bell one for $1950, got the stock front bell, the retrofit upright bell, the gig bag and the shipping for that price.

A very short time later the conventional bell was sold as well. I don't have any details as to what the final price on it may have been, although if the negotiations were of the same character as with my transaction, probably hardly anything at all was discounted from the asking price.

[The Big Ben]

There are so many factors to 'value'. Basically, it's whatever you can get someone to pay for it.

If you put a price of $1.5K USD on it and the first caller takes it and your phone keeps ringing for a week, you asked too little. If you ask $3K USD and no one calls, you probably asked too much.

I'd ask whomever is servicing your horn what a good price might be. Perhaps do a websearch of European brass dealers and see if there are any horns just like yours for sale and use that as a starting place.

The S-linkages are not the 'up to date' thing so there will be a little loss of sales value even though they may work just fine. Someone who is picky may say the lack of the garland and silver pieces change the sound and that may affect the sales value.

Personally, I would put this at the high end of the values you find out and then prepare to drop the price. This is a very, very good horn for lots of people and there should be lots of people looking for a horn like this. If it wasn't for the price of international shipping, I might be interested in it. It would be cheaper for me to buy a horn that is already here...

Ooops! You are the buyer- not the seller...

Well, doing the market check still applies. Taking money off for the S-linkages and the garland could be a point for you to argue. Don't 'fall in love' with it if it's not at the price you want to pay. If it were a rare horn that comes along infrequently, you might want to let the price go higher. But, in the case of a 186, there will be another coming along next week and it might be cheaper and better. If the price isn't what you want to pay, pass on it. There will be another.

[lgb&dtuba]

Didn't he say 86A? It's not the same thing as a 186.

[WakinAZ]

Didn't he say 86A? It's not the same thing as a 186.

I believe that is the European part number for a 186: http://miraphone.de/

Erich

[Ed Jones]

Linkages aren't slow; valves are. Put new state of the art linkages on dirty, poorly maintained valves and they will be slow. Put S linkages on clean, well oiled and adjusted valves and they will lightning fast.

[P@rick]

Hi all. Thanks for the replies. The music shop is asking 2795 euro for it ($3700). I didn’t go over there till now because it’s a long ride (not that Holland is that big ) and the price is way to far of the price I’m willing to pay. Maybe that’s also the reason why the tuba is still not sold after six months.

[iiipopes]

Mirafone S-arm linkage with the plastic inserts intact is no noisier than anything else.

The vast majority of players associate Mirafone plastic-insert S-arm linkage with other makes' metal-insert S-arm linkage and blame the Mirafone S-arms for noise.

In fact, the rotors themselves (on all makes with all styles of linkage) are nearly always responsible for at least 3/4 of all valve noise.

13! Indeed, my S-arms, as bloke describes, are no noisier than the newer linkages of the guys I sit beside, and for their age (1971) have very little "play" in them.

[Wilco]

Hi, this instrument belonged to me. Check your PM.