On eBay: c. 1975 Mirafone 186-4U CC

[bisontuba]

Fyi ..

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186014465060?m ... media=COPY

[arpthark]

Nice price!

edit: leadpipe looks kinda rotten...

[Dents Be Gone!]

I agree, guys. This is the way to go.

[arpthark]

BBb conversion slide in place?

Yup, in some pics. The description says:

"However, I am including the rare and expensive genuine Mirafone BBb conversion slide which, when added to the main tuning slide, converts the tuba into a BBb model without any noticeable detriment to intonation. I used it in high school for awhile until I was comfortable with CC fingerings. The conversion slide also made band arrangements with lots of flats a little easier to navigate."

[bloke]

Those slides were wretched...and a dumb idea...just as with the Meinl-Weston "switch these slides around, and the Bill Bell model is in B-flat" thing.

that tuba: tempting...

intonation: (lower open G high enough? open E high enough?) a crap-shoot

me: I'm just not willing to mess with tubas (ever again) with flat 3rd/5th partial pitches, nor crazy-high 6th partial pitches...

The mouthpipe is red-rotted... a damn shame, because it appears to be the smaller one (from that specific era) with the more sparkly sound.

I also notice that the mouthpipe (unlike those made in '73-'74) is 5th-rotor-ready.

If the larger 2/3rd of the mouthpipe isn't rotted, I suppose it could be cut and spliced (as with Meinl-Weston model 20 and 25 of the past).

EDIT: I see that there is rot on the mouthpipe past the bell...but the case might make up for the trashed mouthpipe...I love good-condition hard cases.

[Dents Be Gone!]

I agree, guys. This is the way to go.

[arpthark]

Here is a closeup of the mouthpipe:

[Stryk]

Decent price on a hard to find vintage Mirafone.

[quantumtarsus]

Sorry to dredge this thread up from the depths, but I'm considering this very horn. I'm looking to get back into playing after 15+ years and was pretty much set on picking up a MACK Brass horn until I saw this on eBay. Even with the red rot on the leadpipe, would this Mirafone be a better pick with the knowledge of a potential repair down the line versus a MACK Brass horn? TIA!

[bisontuba]

Yes

[Dents Be Gone!]

I agree, guys. This is the way to go.

[arpthark]

I have no personal dealings with them, but word around the tuba street is that Miraphone is an easy company to deal with and will supply replacement parts as needed at a relatively reasonable price. I would bet that they can still provide the smaller mouthpipe as a replacement, but others surely know more than me.

[Dents Be Gone!]

I agree, guys. This is the way to go.

[quantumtarsus]

Well, the deal is done. I'll be taking a road trip this weekend to pick the horn up!

[bisontuba]

Congrats!