Baer's 181.5

[tubashaman2]

.

[cjk]

It looks an awful lot like Firebird first and fifth valve tubing mounted on a 181.

[choisy]

What a great job !

[imperialbari]

Are we talking Miraphone or MW?

Somebody possibly devotes more time to follow the paths of The Lord of the Rings than I do.

Klaus

[TonyZ]

I don't get all the fuss. Everyone should just play Eb!!!

[imperialbari]

I don't get all the fuss. Everyone should just play Eb!!!

In some ways I agree with you:

viewtopic.php?p=298998#p298998


Klaus

[Alan Baer]

Hi All,
Just as a clarification.... Miraphone does make this tuba, However, I've only seen 1 in the US as of present day. This Mod was done for a few reasons...
1. there are so many 181's in use today that have serious intonation problems. I played one for years and know these problems very well.
2. If one swaps the 1st and 5th valves.. the 1st valve is now smaller and allows for a better balanced scale and less, "hooty" sound.
3. the new 5th valve, (that was 1st) is now larger.. this allows for the low register using 5th valve combinations to be more open and more friendly..
4. Yes, it looks like a Firebird. It should, I designed the Firebird wrap...
5. I guess you could call this the best of both worlds. Firebird wrap with some of the ideas that we used on the Kodiak.
6. 181's are plentiful and usually pretty cheap to buy used. Add this mod, and you have a top of the line F tuba probably for under 5k. Can't beat that with an ugly stick..
Enjoy,
Baer

[tubashaman2]

.

[Alan Baer]

This is a modification that is done to an existing 181. You must first own the horn THEN you can modify it. I am seeing 181's go for about 4k lately, and with the modification, it would bring you to about 5k.
I hope this is clear.. Firebird.... Thin??? wow...
Baer

[tubashaman2]

.

[Douglas]

Is there any way I could get some details on how this was done? I'd really like to do this to my 181.

[Getzeng50s]

I was absolutly lucky enough to buy a firebird in 05 from dillon music that already has all these qualities. I totally lucked out. they had 8 of them, i took the only sweet one. the other 7 were kind of bland

[Alan Baer]

Details,
hmm, okay.
The horn is stripped of the lead pipe, 6th valve (if it has one) 5th valve and 1st valve. All the tubing for 1st and 5th are removed from the casing and the 5th and 1st are replaced in reverse order. All the tubing that was removed has to be either cut or lengthened to create the proper pitch. Granted there are some special ferrules that must be made on the lathe because of the different bore sizes of 1st and 5th. Rebracing will be necessary in some areas and a few new braces will need to be created to ensure all is secure.
Baer

[eupher61]

Details,
hmm, okay.
The horn is stripped of the lead pipe, 6th valve (if it has one) 5th valve and 1st valve. All the tubing for 1st and 5th are removed from the casing and the 5th and 1st are replaced in reverse order. All the tubing that was removed has to be either cut or lengthened to create the proper pitch. Granted there are some special ferrules that must be made on the lathe because of the different bore sizes of 1st and 5th. Rebracing will be necessary in some areas and a few new braces will need to be created to ensure all is secure.
Baer

IOW, it ain't a DIY job unless you're Alan, or Bloke, or Pachy, or Sam, or Dan or a few other select madmen with the tools, and opposable thumbs on BOTH hands.

[Douglas]

Wasn't planning on a DIY job. That would be tragic. I think I'm to talk to a few repairmen to see if they can do it around here.

[imperialbari]

This whole thread of course is a non-orchestrated charitable provision of information making it possible for you all to improve your 181’s with the help of your local repair shop. Be it Igloo Brass located a few miles south of Nome. As you see, there is no urging to send your instrument to a predestined shop. Wonderful marketing also displaying loyalty towards former sponsors.

K