F/S Mirafone Standard 3V BBb SOLD Locally

[Larry6153]

Old school instrument in fair condition. It compact and light.
Pistons and slides work fine. Has a wood case.
Asking $550 and can possibly ship.
Here's a link to my Craigslist Dallas ad.
Thanks, Larry

http://dallas.craigslist.org/sdf/msg/5626010408.html" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

[ColeGAnderson]

Is it a 3/4 or a 4/4?

[The Big Ben]

Is it a 3/4 or a 4/4?

I have one and I'm sitting right next to it. It is a 3/4 BBb. If you know what a King 1140 and its' Chinese clones are, that is what it looks like. However, it is built like a Miraphone. Large braces, caps at the end of valve slides, rings at the end of the outer slide tubes. I'm not sure when they were last sold new but I bet they would lose money on them because the craftsmanship on them is worlds better than the King and its clones. I had a King 1140 at one time and the Miraphone plays about the same. It is pretty easy to play in tune and it is pretty easy to blow through. I use a Helleberg and haven't tried anything else. A Bach 18 would probably work, too. Miraphone also made a similar model with four upright valves. I don't know if the bugle was used for any other Miraphone instruments.

[iiipopes]

I have both played in section with, and listened to others playing 3/4 tubas. A Bach 18 or clones or facsimiles makes 3/4 tubas, whether King, this Miraphone, Jupiter, Yamaha or anything else, sound grainy and edgy. A few years ago, I was in community band with a player who could not get a tone out of his 3/4 tuba. He was playing an 18. I recommended the Conn 120 Helleberg. He bought one. He was so impressed he gave me his 18 as he said he had no use for it anymore. I concur with the above: the best mouthpiece generally for a 3/4 tuba (keeping the relative price/value/tone balance) is a Conn 120 Helleberg.