Tubas, euphoniums, mouthpieces, and anything music-related.
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Good day guys. Long time lurker here, just never had anything important to add.
I'm looking at a horn that the owner doesn't have a lot of info about but adds it's a Miraphone. What says the learned eyes here?
Is the linkage and bell ring odd or is it just my lack of knowledge on Miraphones?
Looks like a 186 with DVS linkage. You can individually adjust the spring tension for each valve. 1990’s tuba, I think?
I had a friend who had one (passed a couple of years ago). We played in a community band together on and off for many years. He liked his and used it for all sorts of playing. Had the same narrow kranz and DVS set up.
These users thanked the author MiBrassFS for the post:
arpthark wrote: Fri Apr 18, 2025 5:45 am
Wasn’t this system called “Presto”?
I had a Miraphone 188 that had the Presto linkage.
PRESTO!
Additionally the narrow kranz and nickel silver leadpipes etc, were features on the not-particularly-advertised "anniversary model" horns.
Though I don't remember seeing models other than 186 and 188's with these features, I DO remember being fascinated with the spring-driven sort of linkage and different paddle features when I first saw them at our annual Chamber Music Workshop, sometime in the 80's? The serial number on the horn you are looking at will nail down the vintage.
arpthark wrote: Fri Apr 18, 2025 5:45 am
Wasn’t this system called “Presto”?
I had a Miraphone 188 that had the Presto linkage.
PRESTO!
Additionally the narrow kranz and nickel silver leadpipes etc, were features on the not-particularly-advertised "anniversary model" horns.
Though I don't remember seeing models other than 186 and 188's with these features, I DO remember being fascinated with the spring-driven sort of linkage and different paddle features when I first saw them at our annual Chamber Music Workshop, sometime in the 80's? The serial number on the horn you are looking at will nail down the vintage.
I had an Anniversary Model 188 with Presto valves in all gold brass when I was in an Air Force band many years ago. I still miss that horn. The Presto system allowed you to change the spring tension on each valve individually.
Mirafone 184 CC
Blokepiece Imperial
Soon to be 5 valve Lignatone/Amati Eb
Blokepiece Solo
I'm not knocking the system, but - truth be told - a set of new Miraphone springs installed would cost considerably less than what was charged extra for this system on new instruments, and new outside sprung levers can easily be set at different levels of tension during installation and later.
It's easier to make standard outside sprung lever springs tighter than looser, but looser is still possible.
It's difficult today to purchase an automobile that's not loaded with quite a bit of fancy gadgetry, but our fathers eschewed a lot of optional gadgetry - even if not much more expensive - in new cars, simply to avoid having things on board that would likely break.
As much as Miraphone's unspoken motto has always seemed to have been K.I.S.S., I was quite surprised when this system came out.
