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New tuba day
Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2023 1:10 pm
by Jperry1466
Finally have the "grail" tuba I've been wanting, a Mirafone 184 CC. It is smaller and lighter and easier to handle and carry with my old arthritic hands. Many thanks to @Mary Ann for agreeing to sell it to me, @bloke for putting out the word and helping in the hunt, and @LeMark for his help and advice. This thing plays quite well, and it is in remarkable shape for a 50-year-old horn. A bonus is the Mack 410 is already sold. My wife seems to think that one tuba and one euphonium should be enough in the house. As I like to say, what she doesn't know won't hurt me.
Re: New tuba day
Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2023 1:15 pm
by LeMark
congrats! glad it arrived undamaged, and I hope it's the perfect horn for you
Re: New tuba day
Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2023 1:16 pm
by arpthark
Awesome! So glad ya found something! Now you need to update your profile picture.
.
Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2023 1:29 pm
by Dents Be Gone!
I agree, guys. This is the way to go.
Re: New tuba day
Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2023 4:14 pm
by Mary Ann
Very glad you like it and very glad it got to the right home.
Re: New tuba day
Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2023 5:49 pm
by Tubajug
Very nice looking horn! I've owned a 186 CC, played on someone else's 188, but have never been able to try a 184. I'd love to try one someday.
Re: New tuba day
Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2023 8:47 pm
by jtm
It's got that nice long 5th valve, too! Looks like lots of fun.
Re: New tuba day
Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2023 8:56 pm
by Jperry1466
We had a two-hour tuba-euphonium ensemble rehearsal tonight, and the more I play this 184, the better I like it. By the end of rehearsal I knew I had done the right thing. I can no longer complain about the E above the staff, because it comes out easily on this horn, and it has great response in all registers. It is light and much more manageable for me but still has a very nice sound. A little valve oil on the 1st valve slide made it nice and slick, and it's hard to believe this is a 50-year-old tuba. I'll be experimenting to find the right fit in a mouthpiece.
Re: New tuba day
Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2023 10:41 pm
by Mary Ann
BTW, that is TWO trips via UPS for that tuba in the last nine months -- once from Idaho to AZ, and then from AZ to TX. Grand wardrobe box from Uhaul (I re-used it) and the tuba stuffed in the gig bag with bubble wrap all over it, including the bell wad, then the stuffed gig bag in the box with two layers of bubble wrap under the bottom bow, and the rest filled in with peanuts with a good two inches of peanuts on top. Even UPS can't kill it if it's packed well enough.
I let go of it only because I got my Star back, and I realized that I just wasn't going to play it. So I let it go make somebody else happy. (That's kind of how I got the 183, which made me happy enough to get my Star back. What goes around comes around!)
Re: New tuba day
Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2023 11:33 pm
by Jperry1466
Mary Ann wrote: ↑Tue Jul 25, 2023 10:41 pm
BTW, that is TWO trips via UPS for that tuba in the last nine months -- once from Idaho to AZ, and then from AZ to TX. Grand wardrobe box from Uhaul (I re-used it) and the tuba stuffed in the gig bag with bubble wrap all over it, including the bell wad, then the stuffed gig bag in the box with two layers of bubble wrap under the bottom bow, and the rest filled in with peanuts with a good two inches of peanuts on top. Even UPS can't kill it if it's packed well enough.
I let go of it only because I got my Star back, and I realized that I just wasn't going to play it. So I let it go make somebody else happy. (That's kind of how I got the 183, which made me happy enough to get my Star back. What goes around comes around!)
And it is much appreciated.
Re: New tuba day
Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 5:54 am
by davidgilbreath
Congratulations Jim.
Re: New tuba day
Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 6:22 am
by LibraryMark
I played a 184 in college - loved that horn.
Re: New tuba day
Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 7:50 am
by Casca Grossa
My 184 isn't quite as old (almost 40 years) but I love it. Congrats!!!
Re: New tuba day
Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 9:48 am
by bloke
Every once in awhile a couple of different tuba players from South Texas come up this way. If you need any small stuff done to it like removing of clicks or rattles, reach out to one of those people and I'll take a peek at it for you if it needs anything.
Re: New tuba day
Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 10:54 am
by Jperry1466
bloke wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2023 9:48 am
Every once in awhile a couple of different tuba players from South Texas come up this way. If you need any small stuff done to it like removing of clicks or rattles, reach out to one of those people and I'll take a peek at it for you if it needs anything.
Thanks bloke. I'll take you up on that. Appreciate all the help you've given already.
Re: New tuba day
Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 12:17 pm
by rodgeman
Congrats!
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