Mirafone 188 5V
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This is for posting links to off site deals that you are not personally selling,but wanting to pass along good deals
This is for posting links to off site deals that you are not personally selling,but wanting to pass along good deals
- sugawi
- 3 valves
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Mirafone 188 5V
Anyone knows what model is this?
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 3698471561
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 3698471561
Last edited by sugawi on Thu Mar 21, 2019 5:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Douglas
- Low Brass Teacher
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Re: Mirafone 5 rotary valve
Looks like a 188.
Doug Black, D.M.A.
Assistant Professor of Music, Alabama A&M University
Eastman Tuba Artist
Assistant Professor of Music, Alabama A&M University
Eastman Tuba Artist
- bort
- 6 valves
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- Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Re: Mirafone 5 rotary valve
I'm pretty sure this 188 was listed here back in the fall... unless there was a different silver 188, with presto valves, and dents.
Quite a progression of photos, though:
Photo 1: Ok, looks pretty nice!
Photo 2: Cool engraving
Photo 3: Oh -- bell damage.
Photo 4: Um... wait, what's going on with the 4th valve exit?
Photo 5: AAGH!
Definitely needs some work and will cost some decent $ to fix... but seems like it would be worth it. Might as well remove/replace those Presto linkages while you're at it.
Quite a progression of photos, though:
Photo 1: Ok, looks pretty nice!
Photo 2: Cool engraving
Photo 3: Oh -- bell damage.
Photo 4: Um... wait, what's going on with the 4th valve exit?
Photo 5: AAGH!
Definitely needs some work and will cost some decent $ to fix... but seems like it would be worth it. Might as well remove/replace those Presto linkages while you're at it.
- kingrob76
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Re: Mirafone 5 rotary valve
including ditching the Presto system for traditional linkages... I would have to think it's at least $3k of work incl. fabrication and repair, probably much more. The bottom bow, the bell and kranz... Maybe I'll offer him $1k and spend the next 10 years having it restore piece by piece.
Rob. Just Rob.
- bort
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Re: Mirafone 5 rotary valve
Question -- could you send it back to Miraphone, and have them restore it?
Not that its a good or economical idea... just curious
Not that its a good or economical idea... just curious
- kingrob76
- 3 valves
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Re: Mirafone 5 rotary valve
Checked with Miraphone, they confirmed it’s a 188 from 1990.
Rob. Just Rob.
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Re: Mirafone 5 rotary valve
I wish it were in better condition - if it were, it might be sitting at my house right now. I have been very tempted by this tuba, but I don't really want to spend that kind of money on a project (I already have one of those!).
I actually like the Presto linkage but I seem to be just about the only one in tubadom that does. I had a BBb 186 at one time with Presto linkage on it and then, completely coincidentally, my primary teacher had a lacquered 188 with Presto linkage and a long 5th valve. I'd want the tuba fixed, for sure, but I wouldn't ditch the linkage if it were mine.
I actually like the Presto linkage but I seem to be just about the only one in tubadom that does. I had a BBb 186 at one time with Presto linkage on it and then, completely coincidentally, my primary teacher had a lacquered 188 with Presto linkage and a long 5th valve. I'd want the tuba fixed, for sure, but I wouldn't ditch the linkage if it were mine.
The Darling Of The Thirty-Cents-Sharp Low D♭'s.
- sugawi
- 3 valves
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Re: Mirafone 5 rotary valve
So far seller doesn’t want anything less than $3,800. With all extra work is it better to consider something like this instead?kingrob76 wrote:including ditching the Presto system for traditional linkages... I would have to think it's at least $3k of work incl. fabrication and repair, probably much more. The bottom bow, the bell and kranz... Maybe I'll offer him $1k and spend the next 10 years having it restore piece by piece.
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/msg/d/ ... 13292.html
- kingrob76
- 3 valves
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- Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2004 10:45 pm
- Location: Reston, VA
Re: Mirafone 188 5V
This checks all the boxes for my "last" horn, but I think it's too far gone for me to mess with. I can't imagine a horn need that much body work is going to play like it did before it became this way.
Rob. Just Rob.
- bort
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Re: Mirafone 188 5V
This reminds me of my first car... which was a very nice car and within the first few months i had it, got severely damaged in an accident.
(Making up numbers here)... insurance company said it was worth $10k, and the repair estimate was $9.5k. So, it was not totalled... and instead, sat in the shop for about 3 months to be rebuilt.
It worked fine afterwards, but it was too close to totalled for me... i would have been happier if it had been deemed totalled, paid out, and move on to the next car.
Im sure this tuba physically CAN be fixed, but it has to be determined as being worthwhile. A 90s(?) Miraphone 188 (even in silver) doesn't show enough uniqueness to me to fix it. Especially if $3800 + full rebuild adds up to close to the cost of a new one.
Just me... and i love the 188!
On the flip side, who knows how much people have spent to have their junked Holton 345s fully rebuilt by Dan Oberloh. But, you cant buy a new 345 anymore... so if thats the tuba you have to have, this is about your only way to do it. Not so true with a 188.
(Making up numbers here)... insurance company said it was worth $10k, and the repair estimate was $9.5k. So, it was not totalled... and instead, sat in the shop for about 3 months to be rebuilt.
It worked fine afterwards, but it was too close to totalled for me... i would have been happier if it had been deemed totalled, paid out, and move on to the next car.
Im sure this tuba physically CAN be fixed, but it has to be determined as being worthwhile. A 90s(?) Miraphone 188 (even in silver) doesn't show enough uniqueness to me to fix it. Especially if $3800 + full rebuild adds up to close to the cost of a new one.
Just me... and i love the 188!
On the flip side, who knows how much people have spent to have their junked Holton 345s fully rebuilt by Dan Oberloh. But, you cant buy a new 345 anymore... so if thats the tuba you have to have, this is about your only way to do it. Not so true with a 188.
- kingrob76
- 3 valves
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- Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2004 10:45 pm
- Location: Reston, VA
Re: Mirafone 188 5V
Yeah, if it was $500 I would be tempted. I have no idea if it even could be brought back to very good condition, but it would not be cheap.
Rob. Just Rob.
- sugawi
- 3 valves
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Re: Mirafone 5 rotary valve
It’s interesting to revisit these “older posts.” As excitement slows down the price drops, now it’s at $3,250.sugawi wrote: So far seller doesn’t want anything less than $3,800.