Miraphone 186 vs. Yamaha YCB-621

[Tubajug]

Hello all,

I'm looking for comments from people who have played both the Miraphone 186 CC (mine has four valves) and the Yamaha YCB-621. Since graduating college my playing had been limited to mostly brass quintet work, no large ensembles with my family and teaching schedule. I was toying with the idea of trading my 186 for the 621 and was hoping to get peoples' thoughts about how the two horns compare. Unfortunately I'm not in a part of the country where I can go try out half a dozen horns in one place. I have always liked pistons, but I do like the sound I get with my 186 (the price was right and it was available when I had money to buy a horn).

Obviously what one person likes isn't necessarily what I'm going to like. So again, if anyone had played both of these horns and can offer any insight into what they liked/didn't like about each, that would be great. I'm in no hurry to go out and switch right away, but have been giving it some thought lately. Thanks in advance!

[TexTuba]

If you like the sound you get from your 186, the 621 will not do it for you. That is not to say that the sound of the 621 is in any way bad. It is simply one that I didn't prefer to the 186 I had. The 621 is a fun horn to play, but it is limited to what it can do. If you are and will continue to playing in 5tet, the 621 is perfect IMO. I would say keep the 186 as it is more versatile. Good luck with whatever decision you reach!

[SousaSaver]

Jordan -

Comparing the 186 to the YCB-621 is like comparing apples to oranges. They are two wildly different animals.

The overall design is different, and I think that the YCB-621 is on the same body as the YBB-103 (someone correct me here if I am wrong).

Just my opinion...I could be wrong.

[imperialbari]

Comparing the 186 to the YCB-621 is like comparing apples to oranges. They are two wildly different animals.

The overall design is different, and I think that the YCB-621 is on the same body as the YBB-103 (someone correct me here if I am wrong).

I am sure the said Yamaha models share bell, bow, and maybe a few branches, but the YCB-621 after all has a larger bore.

As for the OP’s question: I am not insanely crazy with either of these models, but I don’t consider them alternatives. Rather they are supplements.

Klaus

[bisontuba]

HI-
A 186 any day wins.....

mark

[MikeMason]

I'm kinda thinking the older, smaller bell 186 would b a sweet quintet horn...

[Tubajug]

I'm kinda thinking the older, smaller bell 186 would b a sweet quintet horn...

Mine is a 1977 "Mirafone" 186, with the 16" bell. Is that what you mean by "smaller" bell?

[The Jackson]

For over a year, I played on nothing but a Bb (not C) Miraphone 186 and I have now had my 621 C for 2.5 years. This is very much like comparing apples to oranges because the Miraphone is dimensionally larger in every way. The Yamaha was made specifically for chamber music and it does excel in that, but I think it would be unfair to label it as a specialty instrument only good in that one niche. I've used mine for large ensemble work since the day I got it and I have rarely felt undergunned and have, more than anything else, been asked to back off on the volume. On paper, the relatively small 621 might seem like a crap tuba for orchestra/band work, but I think you really need to try it and hear it live to appreciate that it is still a tuba and it can still project quite a bit of good sound.

Many people have asked me if I plan on swapping out my "baby tuba" for something bigger, but, quite frankly, I have yet to find a good reason to do so. It's a good tuba and if I do my part at the small end, what comes out of the big end will be just fine.

As always, trying out the instruments in person is the best course of action. The stuff here on TubeNet is usually worth exactly how much you paid for it and we are all different people and different tuba players, so only you can make the right choice for you and your needs. If you have a seller in mind, ask if a trial period can be set up. I got my instrument from Baltimore Brass Co. and they were happy to let me keep the horn for a couple weeks so I blow on it and take it to rehearsals. Some said that the horn would be too small for the orchestra and band settings, but I didn't find a bit of truth in those conjectures. That is my experience.

Some good news, though, is that I think a 621-C in "good" shape is worth just about as much as a "great" shape 186 with regard to dollar value, so "splitting the difference" in a trade shouldn't be a big deal.