Does this look more like a 188 to you?

Tubajug · Post by **Tubajug** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 4:46 pm

This Miraphone is listed as a 186, but the bows look "chunkier" than a 186 to me...

bort · Post by **bort** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 5:13 pm

You know, I wish Miraphone would make one screaming obvious "tell" for these things. I *think* this is a 186, the bell taper doesn't quite look 188-like to me. I could very well be wrong. With the 186 and 188 especially, I think the taper size (bigger or smaller) is pretty deceptive based on the lighting and finish wear.

So in other words, no, I don't know. How's that for an answer?

bort · Post by **bort** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 6:15 pm

Conversely, the older ones don't have the model engraved on the bell, just the serial number. If it was really in doubt, you could send the serial number to Miraphone and they could tell you.

tclements · Post by **tclements** » Thu Jan 08, 2015 4:27 pm

soyezu · Post by **soyezu** » Thu Jan 08, 2015 11:03 pm

It's the shape of the fifth valve tubing that makes me think it's a 188.

186 on the left, 188 on the right:

bort · Post by **bort** » Thu Jan 08, 2015 11:49 pm

Your photo didn't work...

I'm still thinking 186 though. Willing to be wrong, but my eyes don't see it as being wide enough.

PMeuph · Post by **PMeuph** » Thu Jan 08, 2015 11:58 pm

Auction image

188

Side by side (the 186 and 188 are 2nd and 3rd from the left)

__
I'd say 188, but what do I know...

TheHatTuba · Post by **TheHatTuba** » Fri Jan 09, 2015 12:29 am

The bell doesn't have 186 or 188 engraved, but the thumb ring plate and a couple of ferrules (opposite side of the paddles) suggest that this is a 188.

MartyNeilan · Post by **MartyNeilan** » Fri Jan 09, 2015 9:43 am

bloke wrote:My recent experience is that *some* 186 CC tubas have long ferrules in the main slide, and *no* 188 tubas (that I've seen in recent years) sport long ferrules on the main slide (and are slightly sharp-natured). ...This one sports long ferrules - as I've seen on 186 CC tubas.

Bloke knows far more than I do about these matters. However, I do think that the tuning slide with the long ferrules (I picked up on that too) is the "American" tuning slide, and the slide with the more traditional length ferrules is the "European" tuning slide. I am sure Mirafone would be happy to sell a tuning slide of any length for any tuba. I remember that the early model 181 I briefly owned had both tuning slides with it.

jimmilo · Post by **jimmilo** » Sun Jan 11, 2015 8:57 pm

I confirmed the serial number with Miraphone. It is a 188.

Ed Jones · Post by **Ed Jones** » Mon Jan 12, 2015 8:12 am

The real question is how it got to a pawn shop in Grandbury Texas.

bort · Post by **bort** » Mon Jan 12, 2015 9:36 am

Ed Jones wrote:The real question is how it got to a pawn shop in Grandbury Texas.

I'd rather spend $1,000+ more and buy a 188 from a real tuba store, and remove all doubt.

TubeNet

Does this look more like a 188 to you?

Does this look more like a 188 to you?

Re: Does this look more like a 188 to you?

Re: Does this look more like a 188 to you?

Re: Does this look more like a 188 to you?

Re: Does this look more like a 188 to you?

Re: Does this look more like a 188 to you?

Re: Does this look more like a 188 to you?

Re: Does this look more like a 188 to you?

Re: Does this look more like a 188 to you?

Re: Does this look more like a 188 to you?

Re: Does this look more like a 188 to you?

Re: Does this look more like a 188 to you?