Schillaphone 186

[bisontuba]

HI-
Let's see what happens 10 years from now (if it even takes that long)--I know who I'd put my money on.....I hope I'm wrong.
BTW, Yugos were made by a country that doesn't exist anymore--I don't think China, 'our Banker,' is going to disappear..


mark

[Keith Sanders]

So, for those guys that have bought these horns.........now that it has been a few weeks.....How are the 186 copies treating yall????? In ensemble, solos, wear and tear, the usual stuff...........Are yall still enjoying them just as much now. I just figured some people might want an update. And some people are thinking about getting them might want to know how they are working out for yall still......So, how are the Schillaphone 186s doing????

Keith

[MartyNeilan]

Very in tune. Can be loud as all get out, if I want it to be. Easily accessible low register.
Vaughan Williams concerto works surprisingly well on it, including the high Ab.

Compared to my (possibly hand hammered bows) 6/4 Kalison K2001? Asked a few pros in the Trevecca orchestra what they thought, when played in a large room. Not quite as "deep", "round," or even quite as much "ring" to the sound (the much bigger horn is actually the same weight, or even lighter.) Keep in mind, that is in comparison to a horn that had a 10 grand retail price ten years ago, and is literally double the girth in many areas. The old 4/4 vs. 6/4 thing.
Also commented that it sounded a little darker than a "genuine" Mirafone 186, that could either be due to the thicker metal, or to that fact I am using my massive Warburton Neilan mouthpiece on it, and my own personal playing characteristics.

Horn is still very heavy. Making a "block" out of thick, high density foam and covering it with gaffer's tape quickly and cheaply solved the leadpipe height issue for me, without putting the horn on my thighs. First valve slide is breaking in nicely, although I don't use it too often except when I don't want to play D in the staff 4th valve. (Name a CC, besides some 188's, that doesn't need the 1st pushed in at all on that note. Thought so.) The alignment on most of the valve slides is actually better than some horns I have seen come out of big name German factories.
Been lubing the rotor spindles regularly with Blue Juice during break-in, will probably go with Hetmans or something similar soon. Much to my surprise, the valves really did not seem to need much of a break-in at all. Still not absolutely in love with the external valve linkages, but they are more than adequate and easily replaced if I ever decide to go that route, which I most likely will never need to do.

After sales support from Jim Labs has been great. Wish I could say the same for FedEx.

Is this the be-all-and-and-all of tubas? Probably not . This is an in-tune, 4/4 sized, 5 valved CC with good high and low ranges that can adequately cover most parts a tuba player will ever encounter. Is it a great horn for under 2 grand including shipping?


Am I going to get "big tuba withdrawal symptoms" 6 months to a year form now? Stay tuned...

[UTSAtuba]

Anyone try the "newer" Nickel-Silver version? Thanks in advance!

Joseph

[MartyNeilan]

Anyone try the "newer" Nickel-Silver version? Thanks in advance!

Joseph

I believe that is just a plating option, as tried previously by several other manufacturers including St. Pete.

[UTSAtuba]

Anyone try the "newer" Nickel-Silver version? Thanks in advance!

Joseph

I believe that is just a plating option, as tried previously by several other manufacturers including St. Pete.

Got it. I don't want to start a whole 'nother "This vs. That" debate. Thanks!

Joseph "who hopes Schiller brings their instruments to TMEA" Guzman

[bisontuba]

HI-
I stick with what I said earlier about the 186 Schiller clone--excellent!! Amazing for the price--highly recommended.
Regards-
mark
jonestuba@juno.com" target="_blank

[DavidB]

.

[james]

tested....not a Miraphone 186

[king2ba]

Anyone have one these available for play test near DC? I can provide beverages

Yes, Dave Fedderly at Baltimore Brass. His JZ instruments are from the same factory at the highest quality level. Good stuff!

[IkeH]

I'm playing in the bass section near Marty and can attest to the effects of the horn he's told here. I haven't had it in my lap yet but the 'narrower than the 6/4 and darker than 186' statement rings true. Seems to me to be even better intonation-wise as far as I can tell. I like a more German sound anyway so it's thumbs up from me.

Ike

[k001k47]

Took a look at the Jim Laabs Music website and noticed that the nickel plated version is less.
http://www.jimlaabsmusic.com/band-orche ... _4162.html

wonder why the Tuba exchange sells them for more

[pierso20]

wonder why the Tuba exchange sells them for more

I thought that the Tuba Exchange version was silver. I could be wrong.

[Sylvano]

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=34338" target="_blank

[bisontuba]

Hi-
If you go to the store to pick one out, remember the price on their website for lacquer is more than the 'Buy It Now' on Ebay-$1885 plus truck shipping. After you pick one out, tell them you'd like the ebay price.They usually have one on their all the time--not a second, just they order a bunch and always put one up on ebay (except Christmas time).

On my horn, the 'G' is right on--maybe the one Bloke played was a bit different. The pitch on these horns is amazing-no 'Chinese' fingering at all! It is the greatest deal going-bar none (except for their comp. euph--that is even more amazing). The metal is thicker than a new 186 Miraphone, but the Chinese horn plays and projects MUCH better--go figure! It is more in sound like a 5/4. The linkage could be better--but it works fine, esp. after broken in. I actually used the horn with the Orchestra for a week for a Holiday Pops program filling in for Don, and the only complaint was that it was 'too' powerful--the horn projects like a monster. The trombone section loved the sound.
I was talking to one of the section bass players, and he said how good the horn sounded, and when I mentioned that it was Chinese made, he said the new Assoc. Principal Bass player also used/played a Chinese instrument (Chinese Bass). I went and talked to him and he said his Chinese Bass was as good as another Bass he was interested in made in Germany--but the Chinese model was a quarter of the price! So it is not just Chinese made brass making the rounds...
Have fun at the store.
Regards-
mark
jonestuba@juno.com" target="_blank

[MartyNeilan]

Joe get to hear me play a few notes on mine when I was trying BlokePieces® in a parking lot in Nashville. He specifically asked me to play the open harmonics. On my horn, the 6th partial sags a little if you allow it to. However, it can also be played in tune if you think about it. Unlike the 5th partial, where it is much easier to just do 12, 23, and push in on 1 (or use 4); like 90% of CC tubas, it would take too much effort to play the 5th partial in tune without alternates.
FWIW, if you are used to playing a horn with a sharp 6th partial (as many CC's have), you will consciously or unconsciously pull down that partial. Transferring that to the Schiller would definitely result in a flat 6th partial then. It reminds me of when I started having trouble playing that same G in tune on my bass trombone some years ago. I finally realized that I was intentionally pulling the pitch down on my tuba, and unintentionally transferring that to the trombone where it was not needed.

Good horn for the money. Perfect? NO. But neither are $14,000 horns.

FWIW, I ran into a little of the overprojection problem as well; that is why I switched from a #1 Standard bottom to a #2 Euro bottom. Jury is still out, as I missed two rehearsals this week due to sick kids. Using the large heavyweight funnel Warburton-Neilan completely eliminates that, but is overkill considering the thickness and weight of the horn. The W-N nicely tames an overly live horn, but the Schiller needs just a little something to liven it up since it is heavier than a 'fone.

[Dan Schultz]

I try my best to remain impartial and silent on the issue of the imports but I can hold my tongue no longer. IF you choose to purchase a tuba via mail order or eBay... you are taking somewhat of a chance regardless of how great the horn that so-and-so bought plays. The consistency of these horns is questionable. You REALLY need to go play it. Don't be afraid to ask questions about the availability of parts should they become necessary... and make sure they have a reasonable return policy.

I hear horror stories almost daily about some of the horns that have been mentioned on this forum... and others.

For that matter.... I just cut a total of 7" out of the 4th valve circuit on a Conn 4J to bring it equal to the 1-3 combination. You see.... I'm not 'hammering' imported tubas. I'm just stressing the importance of knowing that all tubas are not created equal. Never have been... and never will be. No matter how consistent the parts are.... there are still humans putting them together.

Buyer beware. If it looks too good to be true.... it just might be!

[MartyNeilan]

Going back top the #1 / standard Blokepiece underparts.

FWIW, I played a last-minute church gig this Sunday morning in a very live auditorium (yes, it actually looked like a church!) Since I would be sightreading the first service, I didn't want to deal with the issues that I encountered with the #2 euro shank, and the standard is just now on its way back. I used my Warburton-Neilan, (big, heavy, funnel) and was able to get a huge full sound out of the horn. Had the room been acoustically dead (many modern "churches") I would have wanted a more lively mouthpiece.

[UTSAtuba]

Have any of you "Schillaphone" owners run into linkage problems? The linkage of these horns seem to pop up as a possible problem. Thanks!

Joseph

[Ace]

Have any of you "Schillaphone" owners run into linkage problems? The linkage of these horns seem to pop up as a possible problem. Thanks!

Joseph

Not a single problem. Smooth, silent, quick. Best linkage I've seen on any of the 15 or so rotary tubas I've owned over the years.

Ace