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Here is a very nice model 185 BBb rotary tuba from Mirafone - built in 1975. Just a "smidge" smaller than a 186 but the same great build quality from that period. 40" tall with a 15" bell and weighing in at 18.25 lb. Good for you aging tuba players. You know who you are! Valves are good, horn is clean, and slides all move nicely. A few lower bow dents but nothing major anywhere. The bell has never been crumpled (or otherwise dented or dings) and the bell krantz is gorgeous. I forget what the bore is on these (a bit smaller than 186), but maybe someone will jog my memory. Great playability, tone, and intonation.
The 185 uses .737"/18.73mm inside slide tubes. This is the *actual* bore and not Miraphone's "rounded up" numbers. The 186, by comparison, uses .769"/19.54mm inside slide tubing. Miraphone for some reason started to inflate their bore size numbers in the 1990s, I guess to try and look better in The Great Tuba Arms Race that started in the 1980s. The 186 has had a bore of .769" since Moses walked the earth, and that bore size has not changed, ever, despite the miracles promised by the sales division of "Miraphone eG". Likewise, despite whatever the website says, the 185 has always been a .737" bore tuba.
These are the actual measurements taken from the tags on the tubes I buy from them. (I am saying all this because some kid frequently will "correct" me, quoting Miraphone's "massaged" numbers used in sales literature.)
I will add here that the 185 is the perfect brass quintet tuba if you get a good one. It is just right in the breadth and color of tone, with an upper register much like a large F tuba and a CC tuba's low range, and can be played with more vigor than a 184. I love them. I wish I owned one, too. I would be interested in yours except that I no longer play BBb tubas.
Best of luck with your sale. I am sure the new owner will be quite pleased with your tuba. It is a very clean example of a rare bird.
Also worth noting that on a cross-country vacation trip this past summer Alan Baer took a 185 with him as his practice horn. I'm pretty sure he could take whatever he wanted to take and make it work logistically, but a 185 is what he took.
These users thanked the author kingrob76 for the post:
tofu wrote: ↑Thu Sep 29, 2022 7:38 pm
For a 47 year old horn it looks like it was a doublers horn or at least always adult driven.
Is the bag specifically tailored to this 185 - I ask wondering if you have the pattern for a 185 - I've got both a C & Bb 185 and thinking of getting a second bag so each would have their own. My 185 Bb though is 40.25 in tall. The C is shorter and has a leather Cronkhite from years ago.
I do have a pattern for the 185. I just re-measured and this 185 is *almost* 40" tall. They may have drifted up or down a bit over the years.
But I am still not in production and may very well close the business and move on to other things. But I haven't make a decision. That said, I *might* have a bag in stock. I will be at my storage unit next Friday and will check. Your bell is 15"?...
kingrob76 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 30, 2022 8:39 am
Also worth noting that on a cross-country vacation trip this past summer Alan Baer took a 185 with him as his practice horn. I'm pretty sure he could take whatever he wanted to take and make it work logistically, but a 185 is what he took.
Yes, it is a terrific horn. I also own a 184 BBb also. Cosmetically roughly but also a great horn. In fact, I am playing them side-by-side. It is hard to say which plays *better* but the 185 definitely puts out a bigger sound.
Tom Rice www.superfinecases.com
Currently playing...
1973 Mirafone 184 BBb
1972 Böhm & Meinl Marzan BBb
Well, after spending a few days playing my 185, I have decided to KEEP it. I will list my Mirafone 184 (BBb) soon. I think the 185 will be better at doing what I want it to do.
These users thanked the author greenbean for the post:
greenbean wrote: ↑Sun Oct 02, 2022 10:30 am
Well, after spending a few days playing my 185, I have decided to KEEP it. I will list my Mirafone 184 (BBb) soon. I think the 185 will be better at doing what I want it to do.
Can you take a side by side photo of the two tubas? Will be a rare pairing that I think a lot of us would like to see
These users thanked the author bort2.0 for the post:
bort2.0 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 02, 2022 10:37 am
...
Can you take a side by side photo of the two tubas? Will be a rare pairing that I think a lot of us would like to see
I have been thinking the same thing. Too bad I don't have an older 186 to include!
Tom Rice www.superfinecases.com
Currently playing...
1973 Mirafone 184 BBb
1972 Böhm & Meinl Marzan BBb
Thought Criminal
Mack Brass Artiste
TU422L with TU25
1964 Conn 36k with CB Arnold Jacobs
Accent (By B&S) 952R with Bach12
The Fourth Estate is the Fifth Column
I'm in Eastern Canada and been looking to buy a tuba to start playing again after a very long hiatus. This would be the perfect match! Depending on the distance I might drive there.
Otherwise if it's too far away and you are also willing to ship to Canada..
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