Miraphone to Miraphone comparison

[cjk]

The Star Light reminds me of a Miraphone 184, except it responds much faster, has better pitch, and a bit less resistance. The intonation is impressive. It's fun to play. I can change the way it sounds. I can try to make it sound big, and I can make it bark.

I like the Norwegian Star. I like the Firebird. I don't think either of them sound super special to me, but they are easy to play, have impressive pitch, and sound good. They sound the way they sound. I think if they had smaller mouthpipes and the graduated bore started smaller, I might like them better.

I don't like to listen to the Mira 181.

If I were given a choice between the Firebird and the Star Light, I'd select the Star Light even though I'd have to learn to play E flat.

[TexTuba]

I am curious as to how slightly different Miraphones compare to each other.

Bluntly
-Firebird to Star Light?
-181 (do current 181's come with the Firebird valves?) vs. Star?
-186 Bb to C?
-187 to 188, and to each respective 186?



Thanks!

I am curious as to when you are going to get a REAL horn. Come on, Bob, get something already and stop this!

[cjk]

Size wise, does the Firebird match up to the Light, and the 181 to the bigger Star?


I've always heard that the 186 C and Bb are very different. Are the 188 and 187 bigger versions of the smaller one (in the same key)? I have an army 187 (I think, haven't played a 186 in a while and it doesn't say on it) checked out, and I've never played a 186 C or 188.

Firebird matches up to the Norweigan Star size-wise.
No Miraphone F tuba matches up to the Star Light. The Star Light is smaller, approximately the size of a Mira 184 CC.

[jonesbrass]

I've always heard that the 186 C and Bb are very different. Are the 188 and 187 bigger versions of the smaller one (in the same key)? I have an army 187 (I think, haven't played a 186 in a while and it doesn't say on it) checked out, and I've never played a 186 C or 188.

Bob! In my opinion, the 187 is a bigger-throated version of the 186 BBb. I, too, played a Miraphone 187 in my Army band active duty days. I had a 5-valve one, too (pretty unusual, I think). I also believe that the 188 has the same type of modification (ie larger throat) compared to the 186 CC. IMHO, the 188 is the cream of the crop from these four model numbers. The 186 CC is a fine instrument, but the 188 has a bit more headroom dynamically, and a slightly darker tone quality, to my ear. I also like the 187 better than the 186 BBb, but mostly because of the tone quality difference from it's 186 counterpart. They both respond much more slowly than their CC versions.

[WakinAZ]

Having owned a 186 CC and a 187 BBb, I would say that the 187 is more like a slightly larger version of the 186 BBb, rather than a BBb version of the 188. The wrap is more open than the 188. In fact I bought a Cronkhite 188 gig bag and the 187 would not fit.

Eric "thinking the 187 and 188 have more in common with their same-key smaller siblings than with each other" L.

I'll amend the above to say that they both have bigger throats and bottom bows than their 186 brothers. You can't go wrong with either the 187 or 188. I sold my 186 CC because I thought the sound broke into bass 'bone type splat too easily. You, being a slush-pumper, may enjoy that aspect of it...

Eric "whose YBB-641 can take more air than any of the above" L.

[iiipopes]

It has been 25 years since I played a 186 CC, but from what I can remember, it is very, very similar to a 186 BBb, with only the slightly different overall response as you might expect from 24 inches more of brass tubing and the incumbent slight difference in initial response that makes.