(Re)building your stable

[sloan]

My rationale gave no limits on time, or types of instruments. The idea was if you HAD to start over, and had a respectable budget, what would you buy? I included the requirements for mouthpieces and cases because those real world needs. What's fascinating to me is that very few people would buy new instruments

Perhaps no one is suggesting new instruments because of the $12k budget you imposed. For many people, $12k won't buy ONE instrument/bag/mouthpiece combination, much less the 2 or 3 that they need to do the job.

I'm a (very) lowly amateur (granted, with a larger than ordinary budget) and my piddling collection of instruments/bags/mouthpieces could not be duplicated NEW for $12k. And yet, over half of my stable *was* purchased new - and I don't regret any of those purchases.

[bearphonium]

Well, my current stable is an $850 York Master BBb, an $850 Conn 191 4 valve non-comp, and a borrowed sousaphone. 12,000 would certainly be an upgrade!

$5500 for a used Miraphone 1291 BBb
$1500 for a beautiful restored silver King Sousaphone for sale here locally
$3500 for a used Yamaha 642

Leaves me enough for a gig bag and a mouthpiece.

[rocksanddirt]

I disagree with sloan. I could certainly get a new instruments within a 12K budget, but I don't NEED new ones. For my playing, used horns in good condition is plenty.

[Alex C]

Hey, I wanna play this game!

YammaYork CC ------------ $30,000
Nirschl 6/4 CC-------------- $20,000+
Miraphone 6/4 CC piston - $30,000 (in prototype, but for this much money I could get one)
Culbertson Neptune CC---- $8000

one of the above is bound to be perfect

Nirschl 4/4 CC ------------- $16,000
Yamaha YFB 621 F --------- $6,000
Canadian Brass Euphonium - $5000
Used cimbasso ---------------- $400
conductor silhouette --------- $125

[MaryAnn]

Star Light
1970's vintage Miraphone 184 5U CC

Chronkite cases for both.

I have no idea of the actual costs but I bet they are well within the $12k limit.

MA

[J.c. Sherman]

Okay, I'll bite...

Assuming they only stole my tubas...

All Used...

King Monster rotory BBb - $3,500
Kalison DS CC - $3,500
Yamaha YFB 621 F - $3,500
Besson Imperial Eb or YEB-321 - $1,500

Pipedream Prices, maybe, but I'd sure try...

[Cameron Gates]

used 6/4 CC Holton - $6,800
used G&W Baer MMVI - $125
used 188 - $4,500
2 Altieri bags - $450
used Deck 3 mpc - $100

most people will probably look at Eb or F tubas, and I thought about that but I know I can drive a 188 in 90% of all situations and feel pretty good about it. Having a BAT and an "all-around", plus the flexibility of one American-style horn and one German-style horn, would fit *me* better.

Rob, after all the thinking I have done on this question, I have to say that I agree with you. If you have $12,000 why dink around with an F?

Here are mine:

Kalison Pro 2000 in so-so condition - $4500
Work to be done on Kalison to get it in excellent playing condition - $500

Miraphone 188 in yellow brass (lightly used in fantastic condition) - $5500

Soundware bags for each - total $800 (ish)?

3 Miraphone Rose Orchestra Mouthpieces (one for each bag and one for the glove compartment) - total $375

That leaves $325. I'd then look for a used hard case that fit the Kalison and cut some foam pieces to add so it would also protect the miraphone.


The 188 would only be used for practice and pleasure. The Kalison for every large ensemble performance. I still think those Pro 2000's made great sounds in big groups.

I also thought about going with a HB2 ($8000) and a $4000 F of some sort, but I think I would struggle in a large group with the Hirsbrunner. Having the Kalison and the 188 would pretty much do it for me. At least until I start having dreams about my stolen Firebird.

[MikeMason]

I'm fairly happy with what I've got.They total about 12k and I think I could replace them for that.But,like jello,there's always room for more

[kingrob76]

Here are mine:

Kalison Pro 2000 in so-so condition - $4500
Work to be done on Kalison to get it in excellent playing condition - $500

Rumor has it there's a Pro 2000 gathering dust in Southeast D.C. somewhere.... any truth to that?

[Cameron Gates]

Rumor has it there's a Pro 2000 gathering dust in Southeast D.C. somewhere.... any truth to that?

Can't buy a Nirschl for $5000. If I could my $12,000 would be spent differently.

[BriceT]

My List:

Miraphone 1292 CC (used): 7,000
Reunion Blues Gig Bag: 500
Meinl F Tuba (used): 3,000
Reunion Blues Gig Bag: 500
G&W Baer Sig.: 200
Bobo Solo: 200
Laskey 30H (gold): 200
Any Monette: 400

Grand Total: 12,000

[Cameron Gates]

I agree Elephant. I owned one that had a not too great Ab, however I have played others that had a fine Ab.

I had always assumed that the problem was me until I played a good one. At that time I knew I was only 95% of the problem.

With the prices of bigger horns being what they are, I think that the 2000's (used) are a really good route to take. Is there any word about Kalison starting up production again?

[kingrob76]

I will agree with all of this stuff about the Pro 2000. It was an unusual product for Kalison. ... I got to play some tubas and was struck by how great the (TE?) demo Pro 2000 played. It had an excellent tone. Oddly, I do not remember any sort of problems with the high Ab. ... If you own one of these two horns and the problem with the high Ab is present, see whether you can locate (through TubeNet) an owner that does not have this problem and try to meet and see whether swapping valves sets will change anything.

I believe I bought this horn from the Tuba Exchange, in 95 or so (may have been early 96). I was looking for a Pro 2000 and I was slow on buying Cameron's from him. When I called TE the only thing they had was the demo, which Vince (uncharacteristically) was reluctant to part with. After about 20 minutes of discussion on the phone I got him to send me the horn on trial, and I ended up buying it. The Ab was indeed spot on. I sold it to a gentlemen in Minnesota on eBay about 5 years later because even though it was an excellent horn, it was my only horn and it was difficult to make work in certain settings. As far as BATs go it was a really good horn, but I needed an all-around at the time.