.

[tubaga]

Thank you sir.

[bort2.0]

I'd love to have another 188 some day. Maybe it's just me, but I think the newer ones have a slightly more open low register than the older ones.

Also, those valves...!

[tubaga]

bump

[Mary Ann]

What it is, is that the buyers are younger now and it's not an Eastman. Same deal as with my Alex. It's not an Eastman either.

[prodigal]

At 46, am I a young buyer?

(Nothing Eastman in my arsenal.)

[Mary Ann]

No, to me the "young" buyers are likely in their 20s. That of course excludes the silver plate 6/4 Eastman Chicago York that was next to me at the last concert, brand new looking, and the first thing he said was "my first valve just went."
Uh huh. My Miraphone valves do not "go." But Mphones do now cost quite a bit, although buying an old beater is still more likely to get you good valves than a new China, even though the China ones have gotten better. Ain't nothin like a Miraphone. Still. Ya oughta just FEEL the valves on the Hagen -- and the ancient 186 valves still pop.

[prodigal]

Yes, they are expensive now, but I'd say they're up with inflation.

$4500 for my new 186CC in 1999 was a good bit of coin, then.

My PT-15 was the best instrument purchase I've made in terms of price.

[Timtamtuba]

What it is, is that the buyers are younger now and it's not an Eastman. Same deal as with my Alex. It's not an Eastman either.

I genuinely am curious what young tuba players are being told by their instructors today in terms of what instrument makers they should be looking at. My university instructor never put his personal opinions on me, but he was always very blunt when he thought I sounded good or bad. But during my university years brands like Wessex, john packer, and Eastman were just starting to get popular. But it does seem like "good enough" has become the default mindset which Im starting to understand since almost everybody tuba player or otherwise I knew doesnt play anymore. Why spend the money on a premium instrument when that last recital is where the music stops? It's sad but I think thats basically where we are, at the moment.

[bort2.0]

I never saw a Miraphone in person until a few years after college. Nobody, and I mean nobody, had one.

For a huge state school, there were very few tuba majors. There were zero F tubas, and everyone owned exactly one tuba. IIRC, they played:
* Yamaha 822 CC (this guy was a GREAT player)
* MW 18
* Cerveny 601 CC
* Hirsbrunner HB2 (one of the grad students)
* MW 2165 (military band guy/grad student -- gubment tuba)
* Yorkbrunner (military band/grad student -- gubment tuba)

I wasn't a tuba major, but I used the school owned B&S PT-3 the whole time I was there

The first Miraphone I ever played was on a band tour in Austria, where the horn they borrowed for me was a Miraphone 188. Love at first sight and sound. WHERE HAD THIS HORN BEEN ALL MY LIFE?!

Anyway, I'm a huge fan of the 188. I'm a long way from it, but I hope to buy another one some day.

[catgrowlB]

The OP is looking to outright sell his Mira 188, or trade it for a larger piston CC

There are plenty of Miraphone fans on here, as are Eastman fans. Miraphones and Eastmans are a dime a dozen. I'm personally not a fan of the Miraphone 18X series of tubas' sound (too lean/too tubby/too gruff at the same time) OR most York-a-phones' sound (too wide with not enough fundamental).
There are other tubas I much prefer.

Too each their own

[tubaga]

bump

[MDeWeesTuba]

No, to me the "young" buyers are likely in their 20s. That of course excludes the silver plate 6/4 Eastman Chicago York that was next to me at the last concert, brand new looking, and the first thing he said was "my first valve just went."
Uh huh. My Miraphone valves do not "go." But Mphones do now cost quite a bit, although buying an old beater is still more likely to get you good valves than a new China, even though the China ones have gotten better. Ain't nothin like a Miraphone. Still. Ya oughta just FEEL the valves on the Hagen -- and the ancient 186 valves still pop.

I’m a 24yo college student who just bought his first horn about a year ago. My professor definitely was a little pushy in what his preferences were, but they always shifted more to Rudolf Meinl’s, Alexander’s, Miraphones, and B&S tubas. Throughout renting tubas from my university we only had one Eastman and it sat all alone in its locker. The rest were Miraphones.

What does show up frequently when people my age are looking for a horn is the constant ads from Eastman and like companies. If you look at any of their social media posts you will see them constantly sharing people’s post of their Eastman horns. Over the past couple months I’ve seen Craig Knox, Bridget Conley, and various other big names mixed in with college students who just purchased an Eastman and is showing off.

After lots of research, a couple failed deals, an incredible amount of luck, and a trip to Canada I am very very very happy with my B&S PT-6.

[bort2.0]

Yikes.

My best advice -- don't let yourself get advertised at.

[Timtamtuba]

One of my colleagues in the Army band won her position on a 188, just wanted to put another coin in the "These are excellent tubas" jar. If you had to have just 1 tuba a 188 is one of the ones to have.

[bort2.0]

One of my colleagues in the Army band won her position on a 188, just wanted to put another coin in the "These are excellent tubas" jar. If you had to have just 1 tuba a 188 is one of the ones to have.

Low register can be a bit tight, until you get used to it.

Excellent intonation across the board.

I love these tubas. (My opinion, not an advertisement, lol)

[nun101]

When will you be in Chicago or NY next? I am in Cleveland. Plz txt me at: too Juan sicks 29870too3

[tubaga]

message sent

[prodigal]

No, to me the "young" buyers are likely in their 20s. That of course excludes the silver plate 6/4 Eastman Chicago York that was next to me at the last concert, brand new looking, and the first thing he said was "my first valve just went."
Uh huh. My Miraphone valves do not "go." But Mphones do now cost quite a bit, although buying an old beater is still more likely to get you good valves than a new China, even though the China ones have gotten better. Ain't nothin like a Miraphone. Still. Ya oughta just FEEL the valves on the Hagen -- and the ancient 186 valves still pop.

I’m a 24yo college student who just bought his first horn about a year ago. My professor definitely was a little pushy in what his preferences were, but they always shifted more to Rudolf Meinl’s, Alexander’s, Miraphones, and B&S tubas. Throughout renting tubas from my university we only had one Eastman and it sat all alone in its locker. The rest were Miraphones.

What does show up frequently when people my age are looking for a horn is the constant ads from Eastman and like companies. If you look at any of their social media posts you will see them constantly sharing people’s post of their Eastman horns. Over the past couple months I’ve seen Craig Knox, Bridget Conley, and various other big names mixed in with college students who just purchased an Eastman and is showing off.

After lots of research, a couple failed deals, an incredible amount of luck, and a trip to Canada I am very very very happy with my B&S PT-6.

You got a FINE tuba. B&S, RM, Alex's, and Miraphones don't need the social media presence, THEY HAVE US!

We old farts who've played a few notes and a few tubas are pretty good references, we're not making commissions.

[rjr769]

Interested. Please email me at rjr769 at gmail dot com

[eshinnnad]

Interested please send me an email at eshinnadpara@gmail.com