Miraphone 496 Hagen 5/4 BBb Tuba

[Ferguson]

I haven't yet heard much chatter about the newest BBb tuba from Miraphone, the model 496 Hagen. (Say it like "hoggen".) This is a 5/4 size rotary 4-valve tuba and it is enormous. The Hagen 496 is 0.835" bore with a 17.7" bell, which is not extreme, but the body is huge. A 5-valve version may be available next year. I just received two and got to test them out. They play, I like. I believe these two are tuned for A443, but an A440 version is now listed. Those will have slightly longer ferrules on the main tuning slide.

Miraphone also offers a 6/4 size version of the Hagen, called the model 497. The 497 is nearly twice the money, but is closely related to Miraphone's other large BBb, the Siegfried. I haven't seen one of those yet.

Here's a 188 CC next to the 496 Hagen.



Here's a 291 Bruckner CC next to the 496 Hagen.



-F

[Heavy_Metal]

must......... look............away............................................

[bort]

Maybe just me... but I think the 188 looks better.

[MartyNeilan]

Maybe just me... but I think the 188 looks better.

Yeah, but nobody plays CC tubas anymore.
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[toobagrowl]

The Hagen 5/4 BBb looks like Miraphone's version of the B&S GR-51/55 BBb to me, except with a larger valve bore

[bort]

The Hagen 5/4 BBb looks like Miraphone's version of the B&S GR-51/55 BBb to me, except with a larger valve bore

I read this as: "this looks like a tuba that Germans will buy."

[tubeast]

This sure is a beautiful horn, and I´m already looking forward to testing one.
As mentioned elsewhere on this forum: I like tall horns rather than chubby ones.

On a side note: If You want to pronounce "Hagen" the way the manufacturer does, think of the vowel "a" as pronounced in "sun", only 2-3 times as long.
Also think "g" as in "go", not as in "gentle".

I also am happy that there is a chance this German product most likely adheres to exhaust Standards.

[Wu299]

I played one of these at a Miraphone stand at an competition in Czech republic and it surprised me how easy to was to play this horn. It is pretty light-weighted and has a fairly fast response. I believe I played the 6/4 model, though I am not entirely sure. It was enourmous, though. Overall it felt like playing 3/4 tuba, except twice the size (and "slight" difference in how much air it swallows).
Take this with a grain of salt, though, I am just an inexperienced student .

[Ken Crawford]

It's a Miraphone clone of the B&S...those Germans, always copying everyone else...

[bisontuba]

It's a Miraphone clone of the B&S...those Germans, always copying everyone else...

Similar but different... Beautiful tuba..
Mark

[Bob Kolada]

Who else wants to hear one crank out low E's followed by low G's?

[oldpatterns]

We went to the Miraphone factory this June. My son got to try a 4/4 size version of the Hagen. He really liked how it played. So if the 6/4 and the 5/4 version are too big for you, there is a smaller one coming out in another year We had a great tour from the person who designs there tubas. It was a schlep from Munich - but it was the highlight of my son's trip!

-michelle

[Beans&Tuba]

The bugle looks simular to my 289

[Steve Marcus]

Their model 98 Siegfried sure is crazy-good !

Miraphone seems to be running ahead of the curve on upscale BBb tubas...

It would be very interesting to compare the Siegfried 98 ( which IS a marvelous tuba) and the Hagen 497 side by side.

[Ferguson]

I know, pics or it didn't happen...











-F

[bisontuba]

Beautiful horn....

[Roger Lewis]

It is possible that I will have a 495, 496 and 497 along with the Siegfried at Midwest this year. Miraphone is working hard at getting these 3 horns to me in time for the show. I'll try to keep you posted.

Roger

[The Big Ben]

Who else wants to hear one crank out low E's followed by low G's?

Raises hand: "Me, me!"

[bububassboner]

Regardless of resemblance to a Markneukirchen design, originality, or lack thereof...

Man you think Americans are picky about silly things like the key of the horn you should come out here. I have, no joke, seen players out here not even pick up a horn because it doesn't "look right". First time I saw this was with an Alexander double tuba. Okay, well that is an interesting design so maybe I understand that. The last time time I saw it was at the musikmesse and was in regard to the Miraphone Siegfried. The guy was listening to me play it and I asked he he wanted to try it. He said "No, it has too many valves and doesn't look like a Kaiser tuba."

Part of me feels that they are releasing this line of tubas because they know that looks, for a lot of players out here, are just as or more important than how it plays.

I haven't played the 6/4 or 4/4, but I have played the 5/4 and its a killer horn.

[pjv]

From the Miraphone FaceBook page.