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Nearly pulled the trigger on this, but it looks like it needs quite a bit of work.

https://musicgoround.com/locations/cock ... VALVE-9886

Not bad..

They describe Miraphone as a "Secondary Brand", rather than "Premium Brand" like Yamaha or King.

It could be the angle of the photograph or just my terrible eyesight but it looks like a 184 or a 185 to me. Regardless, seems like a Very good price. Best, Ed

1975

DVS linkage

That price is stupid-good if you do not need a 5th valve. Parts and labor are high to add one but it is easy enough to do. I wouldn't charge less than two grand for parts and labor if I had to purchase new parts from Miraphone directly. That would include a play-condition job but not dent work or cosmetic stuff, which would be additional. However, someone set up to do this sort of work efficiently and who is faster than I am might charge less. Several years ago that job would run you about a grand, then about $1.5K before the pandemic. (No, I do not want to work on this tuba for anyone. Just providing information.)

Knowing this, if a play-test proved it out as a decent example it would be worth every penny.

Unless that leadpipe is rotted out, which is pretty likely for a 186 of this vintage. But that, too, is fixable. For a price…

gocsick wrote: ↑Tue Sep 10, 2024 11:00 am They describe Miraphone as a "Secondary Brand", rather than "Premium Brand" like Yamaha or King.

Schiller is also premium according to them

edfirth wrote: ↑Tue Sep 10, 2024 12:35 pm It could be the angle of the photograph or just my terrible eyesight but it looks like a 184 or a 185 to me. Regardless, seems like a Very good price. Best, Ed

Went and picked it up... 185.

First valve was a bit rough. Pics also didn't show off all of the dents. Played great though! Good thing I know a guy that'll fix it.

GrecoTrombone wrote: ↑Wed Sep 11, 2024 12:32 pm

edfirth wrote: ↑Tue Sep 10, 2024 12:35 pm It could be the angle of the photograph or just my terrible eyesight but it looks like a 184 or a 185 to me. Regardless, seems like a Very good price. Best, Ed

Went and picked it up... 185.

First valve was a bit rough. Pics also didn't show off all of the dents. Played great though! Good thing I know a guy that'll fix it.

Thanks for being our eyes on the ground! Is this going to be a BB horn or a you-horn?

185 you say? 15" bell?

GrecoTrombone wrote: ↑Wed Sep 11, 2024 12:32 pmWent and picked it up... 185.

First valve was a bit rough. Pics also didn't show off all of the dents. Played great though! Good thing I know a guy that'll fix it.

Still looks like a good deal. Good for you, Chris!

It looks like a broken link or else it was sold. With horizontal rotary mouthpipes that are rotted out, they are often only rotted out on the portion that wraps around the bell. I've converted quite a few of those (whereby the larger portion past the bell isn't rotten) to two piece, as with the older Melton/m-w designs.
The portion that wraps around the bell is usually easy to duplicate - as far as the curvature and bore taper, and it's even possible to duplicate the original style of mouthpiece receiver (which is shaped from the mouthpipe itself), by simply annealing the small end of the mouthpipe, working a standard shank mouthpiece down into it, and then salvaging the protective overpart from the rotten pipe.

Oh well. If it's been sold, maybe they still have those cool orange cellos for sale.

arpthark wrote: ↑Wed Sep 11, 2024 12:50 pm

GrecoTrombone wrote: ↑Wed Sep 11, 2024 12:32 pm

edfirth wrote: ↑Tue Sep 10, 2024 12:35 pm It could be the angle of the photograph or just my terrible eyesight but it looks like a 184 or a 185 to me. Regardless, seems like a Very good price. Best, Ed

Went and picked it up... 185.

First valve was a bit rough. Pics also didn't show off all of the dents. Played great though! Good thing I know a guy that'll fix it.

Thanks for being our eyes on the ground! Is this going to be a BB horn or a you-horn?

185 you say? 15" bell?

Not a me horn, unfortunately, though it plays well. But also not a horn for the floor! Projects to come!