Dalyan Phonic vs Miraphone 191

[MartyNeilan]

As a matter-of-fact, I bought a nice Chinese tuba off of eBay about four days ago, spent about an hour with the valves, and sold it locally for about $600 more than I paid. Curiously, (unlike the particular model it copied) the 5th partial on that Chinese tuba was *not* flat.

I checked out that Schiller (HB copy) and it looked like a very solid 4/4 horn from the pictures. Of course pictures tell little about how a horn plays. They have a double rotor bass trombone (King copy?) that looks interesting for the money - one could probably spend as much on a "Moneyette" tuba mouthpiece.

[Rick Denney]

I just have to know how it sounds before I spend 3k on something like a used Yamaha 641.

If you can spend $3K, then I hope you can do better than a used 641. Like a Miraphone 186, Meinl-Weston Model 25, VMI 2301, any of the old B&S/VMI PT-1 variants, all of which would be a superior choice to the 641, at least for me.

Rick "who has played a competent Dalyan Prague, but not a copy of the 191" Denney

[The Big Ben]

Actually I CAN'T spend 3k, I can barely spend 2. I grew up playing MWs and, to be honest, I find the 186 overpriced. The only 186 I can afford is the one on Ebay that looks to have been run over by a garbage truck.

If you know of a decent 186 for sale for around 2k, please hip me to it. I would be most grateful and speak kindly of you on many occasions.

I have just gotten an 'around $2K 186" by getting a $1300 186 off daBay that was in reasonable condition and having the repairs done it needed. In this case, it played fine but the rotors and mouthpipe needed attention. Dan O. is doing the rotors and putting on a Miraphone mouthpipe out of the Allied catalog and a couple of other small repairs/ The total after repairs will come in at about $22-2300. I think I got really lucky with my horn because the prices on fixer 186s has just gotten stupid.

Baltimore Brass had a decent 186 for $2100 last month. Get your money together and wait. Call around a little bit and see what's available. Someplace like Dillon's who have a lot of horns go through may have taken a 186 in on trade that they were planning on making perfect and selling for $3.5-4K but might be willing to make whatever little repairs it needs to make it play well and sell it to you to move it fast. You never know.

Do let us know what the ChinaBruner plays like.

[Alex C]

Are new Dalyans still available? I thought distributorship here had ended but, if not, would definitely be interested in taking a look at a Dalyan 191 copy.

I thought the same thing but I ran up on the website the other day. Apparently Orphesus music is till active with Dalyan tubas but a lot more quiet than they used to be. It's http://www.dalyantubas.com" target="_blank

[steve_decker]

p.m. me about the various Chinese models the guy offers. I'm sure you'll blow through whatever the guy has there.

Or share with the group... inquiring minds want to know!

[MartyNeilan]

Besides, we Minnesotans like to drive to Wisconsin every so often to remind ourselves just how normal we are. *ducking cheese throwers*

That reminds me of a funny story...
About ten years ago my wife (from the very south tip of Georgia) and I drove from TN to MN to check out the RedWing instrument repair program. We stopped at a gas station in Wisconsin, near the Minnesota border. I was sooo embarrassed when my wife blurted out to the clerk "Oh, my God, you sound just like Fargo!"

[Bandmaster]

Rick "who has played a competent Dalyan Prague, but not a copy of the 191" Denney

I have played a couple of Dalyan Pragues as well and they seem to be a good horns, I liked them both!

The Sanders "Custom" that they sell at Custom Muisic is a 191 copy as well. I owned one for a couple years and it plays pretty well. I still sit next to it every Tuesday night at rehearsals and the guy I sold it to has a Doctorate in Music and he is very happy with it. The only problem with the early Chinese horns is the lacquer. It seems to be water based and where ever you hold you skin to the lacquor, the moisture in the skin makes the lacquer get soft, discolor and wear badly.

http://www.custommusiccorp.com/tubas/sndrscustom.html

[The Big Ben]

<cut> I have zero buyer's remorse.

More to come-I need to go dig out my etude books!

Good to hear. When you get your lip back in shape, give us a report. If you are happy with your purchase, that can only be a good thing.

[Tubaing]

I am the proud owner of a "Schillbrunner"!

pictures? perhaps on a new thread.