Mirafone 184 deflation

The bulk of the musical talk
Post Reply
Kevbach25
lurker
lurker
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Nov 05, 2019 12:05 pm

Re: Mirafone 184 deflation

Post by Kevbach25 »

Much like German car makers today, at some point (someone chime in when this was) Miraphone threaded a niche by introducing the 185: bigger overall than the 184 but smaller than a 186. So 184 became 1/2, 185 was the new 3/4 and 186 remained 4/4. I assume/believe the 184 hasn't changed much since that time and Miraphone decided to keep the 1/2 nomenclature even as the 185 faded away.
tofu
5 valves
5 valves
Posts: 1998
Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2004 11:59 pm
Location: One toke over the line...

Re: Mirafone 184 deflation

Post by tofu »

Kevbach25 wrote:Much like German car makers today, at some point (someone chime in when this was) Miraphone threaded a niche by introducing the 185: bigger overall than the 184 but smaller than a 186. So 184 became 1/2, 185 was the new 3/4 and 186 remained 4/4. I assume/believe the 184 hasn't changed much since that time and Miraphone decided to keep the 1/2 nomenclature even as the 185 faded away.
Still make the 185. It is a special order. Horn Guys used to have one in stock - don't know if that's still true.
Kevbach25
lurker
lurker
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Nov 05, 2019 12:05 pm

Re: Mirafone 184 deflation

Post by Kevbach25 »

tofu wrote:
Kevbach25 wrote:Much like German car makers today, at some point (someone chime in when this was) Miraphone threaded a niche by introducing the 185: bigger overall than the 184 but smaller than a 186. So 184 became 1/2, 185 was the new 3/4 and 186 remained 4/4. I assume/believe the 184 hasn't changed much since that time and Miraphone decided to keep the 1/2 nomenclature even as the 185 faded away.
Still make the 185. It is a special order. Horn Guys used to have one in stock - don't know if that's still true.
I admit that when I was typing this i was thinking about the BBb 185, which to my knowledge is NOT made anymore. I'm aware the CC version still exists.

To answer Bloke, it seems the CC 184 has ballooned a little but the BBb is still skinny as before, with a smaller bore and bell diameter than its CC cousin.
User avatar
groovlow
bugler
bugler
Posts: 244
Joined: Thu Jun 16, 2011 5:21 pm
Location: Nashville TN

Re: Mirafone 184 deflation

Post by groovlow »

When did Miraphone start making the 184?
What was the original marketing or application?
Did Roger Bobo use the horn in French orchestras
to bridge from 'little French tuba' to a contrabass ???
I've been wondering what the intent was for the 184 and thought about
starting a post to find some TNFJ thoughts about the purpose and history
of the 184.
Joe H
PS Yea :) I own one CC 5v 1970. 184s have a distinct voice.
At ITEC Bloomington in the teens I was studying the conference schedule
while listening to a tuba euph ensemble about 20 pieces and deep in figuring
out my 'don't miss' schedule I heard a 184. Later I made a positive ID walking between events.
edit----Yea it's a nice 3/4 :)
Post Reply