Miraphone: 184 vs 185

[Nicholas]

I need a professional input.

I'm a student at a western Pennsylvania high school. Our band program is well respected, both marching and symphonic band. In the past 2 years, I have really blossomed on my instrument. Right now, I play the school's junk 3 piston Bb tuba. It's intonation and range is extremely bad. It became a generally consensus that I needed a new horn, and CC became the automatic choice, the only problem was deciding on the model. Another student, that graduated years ago and plays tuba, highly suggested a Miraphone 184 or 185. I would like the community's honest opinion on which they like, from personal experience.

Thanks,
Nicholas

[Jack Hoeksema]

I hail from just outside Philadelphia, always happy to help a fellow Pennsylvanian!

I am currently in my freshmen year at the University of Colorado, playing on a Miraphone 1291. I have played both the 184 and 185 though. I liked the upgrades made on the 185, but dont know if its worth the price bump on it. Plus those are now both old models, Miraphone has a new 186 and even a 188 out.

I also bought my first CC horn while in HS and would suggest looking around to see horns in the area. Pittsburgh has a plethora of good players and horns move alot in that area, I am sure you could find a great, used CC horn that you could even go play. That would be my suggestion, I played 15 horns before I found my 1291 and fell in love. Sometimes it takes that long, but I wouldn't get my heart set on a 184 or 185 just yet (those are smaller horns too, if you play at alll biig those horns might not fit you). Try and contact guys in the area and see if anyone is trying to move his/her horn.

Best of Luck Though!

[Nicholas]

Right now, I am playing a J.J Olds & Sons. I'm not too sure on the particular model.

[swillafew]

Those Miraphones were very popular horns in the colleges I attended in the 1980's. A new 185 is on the Ferguson Music website, but after that, either model is hard to find for sale now.

[tclements]

They are both pretty small horns. If you are doing only solo and chamber playing on these instruments, they are fine. BUT if a larger percentage of your playing is in band or orchestra, you'll need a larger instrument. Look at the Mirafone 186, Meinl 32, B&S PT-4 as the smallest horn you'd need in large ensembles.