Miraphone Firebird vs. Miraphone Petrushka: Advice?

[TubaNerd88]

Hello all,

I'm currently looking to purchase an F tuba sometime next semester/in the future, and I need some advice concerning these two horns as I will be purchasing one of these two horns.

I've played on the Miraphone Petrushka and I love the sound in the low register. It's really free-blowing and has a nice bright sound to it.

I haven't had a chance to play the Firebird yet, but I've heard from a few friends that it's just as good as the Petrushka. I know it's a matter of personal preference, but if you had to choose between those two horns as your F tuba, which one would it be? I'm trying to base my decision off of sound characteristics, tone color, ease of playing, etc.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

- Matthew "who probably asks way too many questions" Gray

[tubaguy]

FAIL.

[windshieldbug]

I'm trying to base my decision off of sound characteristics, tone color, ease of playing, etc.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Play them both. Trust yourself. Make up your own mind.

[jonesbrass]

I'm trying to base my decision off of sound characteristics, tone color, ease of playing, etc.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Play them both. Trust yourself. Make up your own mind.

X2 for that. You're talking about spending a lot of $$ to purchase a horn that could be with you for a long time . . . best to go and play as many models of each as you can and find out what works for you. You may not want either . . . I am assuming you've already spent enough time on an F tuba to know what you need/want.

[Wyvern]

Trust yourself. Make up your own mind.

Good advice for buying ANY tuba. Tubas are very personal and we are all different with individual requirements. Get what you like and don't pay too much attention to other's likes.

[Uncle Buck]

You seem pretty definite on one of these two models. Care to share why?

Both are recent models, and not many used ones out there. Lots of tried-and-true used models out there if you care to look.

[TubaNerd88]

I've always loved Miraphone models and they've never let me down. While I have played on a few other horns, (PT-10, Hirsbrunner) I love the sound that Miraphone has.

...and you all are right. I should spread my options out more, but I feel as though that one of these two horns will be the right one for me.

[Uncle Buck]

Wasn't necessarily saying you SHOULD spread out your options. Just saying that if you have reasons you have limited your search to those two models, sharing those reasons here will probably result in you getting better advice from this thread.

[ztuba]

Norwegian Star

[TubaNerd88]

I say we have them do a "cage-match" and the the one with fewest dents/bell creases and is still playable wins....

I like this idea!

....but on a more serious note, I guess I won't find the answer until I play on a Firebird.

[peter birch]

or you could play them both....and see which one chooses you

[Roger Lewis]

Both are great instruments and both are extremely playable.

I like the Firebird because it has a great low register and I like access to 6 valves for some of the things that I do. This horn plays! Valve action is excellent and it sings well. Slurring is easy because the rotors are all vented and they all turn into the air stream making it a very smooth playing instrument. Intonation is excellent.

I like the petruschka because it is the only piston horn I've found that I can do all the same things I can on my rotary F without having to work like a maniac to do it. Very strong low register and very easy to play. On the ones I have tested, the pitch was within 2 cents on every single note. The vented pistons make this horn slur very well and very fluidly. It feels a little small after my Yorkbrunner but the sound is anything but small. Great colors and extremely consistent from note to note as well and just flat out fun to play.

Again, they are both great. Find the one that likes what you do to it and get on with it.

All the best.
Roger