Vintage 188

[Pauvog1]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1130819 ... 2164175456

[bort2.0]

[jtm]

That bashed in side makes me sad. It does have the nice long 5th valve circuit, though.

1987 is “vintage”?

[bort2.0]

That bashed in side makes me sad. It does have the nice long 5th valve circuit, though.

1987 is “vintage”?

I couldn't see more than the photo previews. If the side is bashed in, that changes things.

The 188 started in the early 80s, so I would consider 1987 to be pretty vintage. I mean, it was still West Germany at that point...

[Pauvog1]

Not my instrument just sharing a find. It definitely needs some work. I think a 35 year old instrument would/could be considered vintage.

[hrender]

On the whole, the damage does not seem that bad, and the seller is open to offers. Listing price is $6K. I'd be surprised if it doesn't sell fairly quickly.

[kingrob76]

no case or bag, needs a fair amount of work, has had a fair amount of work... I'd be interested but not at that number.

[Worth]

no case or bag, needs a fair amount of work, has had a fair amount of work... I'd be interested but not at that number.

Exactly, telling it like it is. I've always felt if you really want to sell something, it should be priced a the point where bargaining is not necessary. Just put what you are willing to take and move on. Bargaining is a pain in the a$$ and the person who is not good at it often takes it in the shorts. I suppose that is the goal of setting a high price like this.

I don't buy cars very often, but the last experience at Carmax was a pleasure because both the price for your trade and the price for the vehicle were fixed and not negotiable. With bargaining, off the table you knew where you stood rather than trips back and forth "to the manager" to take away something here and add it there. A way to make you think you got an upper hand in the deal when, in reality, it was a wash.

[The Big Ben]

The 188 started in the early 80s, so I would consider 1987 to be pretty vintage. I mean, it was still West Germany at that point...

It's a miraFone, too. When did that change in the US?

[bort2.0]

The 188 started in the early 80s, so I would consider 1987 to be pretty vintage. I mean, it was still West Germany at that point...

It's a miraFone, too. When did that change in the US?

70s and 80s

Stretching my memory, but I seem to think the 188 prototype was like something like 1981 or 1982? If it was earlier than that, it wasn't by much.

[the elephant]

I had a Mirafone catalog for 1982 and the 188 was in it. My impression from the guy at the music store that gave me the literature (when I bought my Rose Orchestra mouthpiece) was that it was the "new and exciting offering" that year, so 1981 sounds about right for its introduction, meaning prototypes probably made the convention rounds (Frankfurt, TMEA, Midwest, etc.) in 1980 or 1981.

[jtm]

My 1965 and 1984 tubas both say MIRAFONE on the bell. Did it make a difference whether they were sold in the US?

Looks like this one is still available. Here's the picture that made me sad:

bashed 188.jpg (129.66 KiB) Viewed 932 times

[bort2.0]

My 1965 and 1984 tubas both say MIRAFONE on the bell. Did it make a difference whether they were sold in the US?

Looks like this one is still available. Here's the picture that made me sad:

bashed 188.jpg

For the price, that makes me sad.
For less price, I'd be much less sad.

[Ace]

I'm no tech, but that damaged side likes very serious. And, costly to repair. I hope that Joe or Elephant or other techs will offer comment.

Ace

[bort2.0]

I've seen worse go unfixed... but I wouldn't want that for myself. Would the bottom bow might need to come off for that repair? And/or the guard?

I'm concerned about the dent itself, but moreso the overall treatment of the tuba that caused that dent in the first place. Perhaps an accident, perhaps just a lack of carefulness.

[jtm]

It was enough of a blow to bend the guard, too. I would expect that the guard should come off to be properly straightened, to avoid putting too much stress on the opposite side of the bow.

[bloke]

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania is a long way from here.

I have a lot on my plate, but my super deadline stuff is nearly cleared out of here. If somebody wants that thing straightened back out they could talk to me.

I’m not a cheerleader for linkage conversions. S-arms work beautifully when they are all tightened up and not hopelessly rusted. The DVS system -,such as on that instrument - works wonderfully well also.
With a recent parts order from Miraphone, Christian Niedermayer just sent me a care package of some DVS links. They are not to ship off for others to install on their instruments, but I’m keeping them here to repair instruments that come into this shop. I don’t know what type of plastic they are, but they are no longer gray - as they were for some intermediate years, and are white again.
I’d be willing to employ some techniques that would be alternates to removing the bottom bow, but would be willing to remove it if it proved necessary.
I do not accept shipments of large tubas for repair, and do not ship them out repaired.
I have raised my rates - in accordance with the new levels of costs that I encounter, very few of which are only the narrative 9% higher.

[kingrob76]

$5k now... @bort2.0 looking for a restoration toy?

[jtm]

$5k now... @bort2.0 looking for a restoration toy?

It would slide right into the car without having to open the garage in the snow.

[bort2.0]

My 1965 and 1984 tubas both say MIRAFONE on the bell. Did it make a difference whether they were sold in the US?

Looks like this one is still available. Here's the picture that made me sad:

bashed 188.jpg

For the price, that makes me sad.
For less price, I'd be much less sad.

$5k...

Can't see the photos without FB acct though...