Miraphone 282: balancing sound and size

[Alex F]

Like many older (59++) tuba players, the regular wrestling match with my horn is wearing on me. I play a King 2341 ("new" style) in a 70 piece community band, using a BBC tuba rest. Holding the horn, with its 20" bell and rather fat shape, and front piston location, is somewhat challenging but the main issue is hauling it around. I don't drive and the constant effort of heaving into various cars, vans, cabs, and in carrying it several hundred feet in a gig bag with another bag of "stuff" (music folder, tuba stand, music stand, brandy, etc.) is getting rough, especially on those really bad arthritis days.

I love the sound I get out of the King and hate to give it up, knowing that anything smaller will inevitably require some sonic compromise. Nonetheless, Imay have to do something soon.

Right now, I am one of four tubas. Two of the other players play Miraphones of some older vintage and unknown model number. The third is 85 years old and plays a Yamaha Eb (quite nimbly I might add). Both of the Miras look smaller than 186s - they're both front-action rotary valved horns. I do NOT want to shift to Eb.

I hope you'll pardon the somewhat long-winded intro. I'm still at the musing stage here but one of the horns that interests me is the Miraphone 282. I know that Steve Ferguson at Hornguys speaks very highly of this horn on his web-site. It's described as a 3/4 horn with a 7/8ths sound. The dimensions seem close to those of the Yammie YEB-321S, which I usedto ownd found quite comfortable. There is not much discussion of the 282 here. I would like to get my hands on one to try it.

Does anyone have any direct experience with these 282s? Can you suggest a comparable horn? Does anyone have a 282 (or 182) in the Chicago area that I might try?

Sorry for the long post. Thanks for your replies.

[Alex C]

My input concerns the price you will pay. The 282 is a fairly new horn and finding a used one is iffy. However, if price is no object, you should go for it! I played a 282 somewhere but don't have any specifics, it was a good horn but I'm not into BBb's enough to catalogue the qualities for you.

If price is an object, I'm sure there are dozens of folks on this BBS with good advice. Here's my 2 cents: If you are looking for a lighter horn but still beefy sounding, try a standard Cerveny. If you want a tuba with smaller dimensions, look for a Conn 4J or 5J, both good horns.

Whatever you do, make carting your tuba around as easy as you can. You will play for many more years if lugging it around isn't such a chore.

[Bob Kolada]

I played a 182 (I think) a few years ago and did not care for it at all. I also played the 3/4 piston Miraphone Bb recently and found it also to be not so hot. I'd look at other horns, maybe even a custom thing.

[Elbee]

It might depend on your Band's complement, but have you considered going up an octave? With a little careful shopping you could pick up a decent Euph for not much money...I'm still lugging my 5J to band but I find that doing a lot of blowing on my little Pan Am Euphonium keeps the chops in shape without wrestling as often with the big beast...I'm 75 by the way...good luck...

[jonesbrass]

I played the 282 at the factory a few years back. I really liked the tuba. Quick response, bigger sound than it's size would indicate.

[ScottM]

You might look for a Mirafone 184 also. It is a 3/4 size horn and weighs in at about 17 pounds. It will be pretty nimble and the smaller bore (.705) may make it a little easier to play. You should be able to find a decent used one for a reasonable amount.
Scott M

[tubajazzo]

If you are looking for smaller Bb horns, don't overlook the MW 2011 (HoJo model). It may be much closer to your 2341 experience, but is more compact an a very nice playing horn. The sound is darker than that of the Mira 282.

Gerd

[jamsav]

smaller, good sound, Yamaha 621 ...lighter , less expensive , St Pete 202 ...