Miraphone 187 Owners Past & Present

[bort2.0]

@Schlepporello owned a 187 for quite a while. Hoping that he can chime in here

[the elephant]

The 187 is to the 186 as the 188 is to the 186, if that makes sense. Physically and sonically very similar.

BINGO!
They 187 that I had, I bought because I could and was willing to do so in light of the alleged "D tuning flat" issue. The only reasons I didn't buy a 189 at the time was that I didn't have the money and I figured the 187 wold be the last tuba that I'd ever own. Little did I know.....

I later sold the 187 when Richard Murrow told me that the Miraphone 496 "Hagen" would make me want to sell my 187. It did, and I did and I've not looked back. Would I buy another 187 or 186? Yes, but the price is gonna have to be right. I'm in a position now where I don't "have to" have either of these horns. Anyway, what sold me on the Hagen was that the 187 seemed a bit harsh on the undertones to me, having more of a treble undertone than a true bass sound. The 496 is all bass and so much more.

[KingTuba1241X]

The 187 is to the 186 as the 188 is to the 186, if that makes sense. Physically and sonically very similar.

BINGO!
They 187 that I had, I bought because I could and was willing to do so in light of the alleged "D tuning flat" issue. The only reasons I didn't buy a 189 at the time was that I didn't have the money and I figured the 187 wold be the last tuba that I'd ever own. Little did I know.....

I later sold the 187 when Richard Murrow told me that the Miraphone 496 "Hagen" would make me want to sell my 187. It did, and I did and I've not looked back. Would I buy another 187 or 186? Yes, but the price is gonna have to be right. I'm in a position now where I don't "have to" have either of these horns. Anyway, what sold me on the Hagen was that the 187 seemed a bit harsh on the undertones to me, having more of a treble undertone than a true bass sound. The 496 is all bass and so much more.

When comparing it to the 186 BBb specifically, what are the differences in playing qualities? Are the differences so minute that it wouldn't make sense to upgrade to the 187? Do they mostly blow the same or does the 187 project more sound? Stuffy/Free Blowing?

[Schlepporello]

I couldn't tell you anything in regards to comparison to the 186. Mainly because I never had access to one and I still don't. I had to make a choice and pull the trigger.

Back when I got my 187, I was playing an old Buesher 3-valved horn. All I knew about miraphones was based on 13 year old experience when I was still in school playing one. All I knew was that I wanted a Miraphone and I had no access to one. So I made the leap of faith and bought a 187 without ever having played one. And for the record, I still hav e nt played a 186 because when ever I went to TMEA where I might be able to swing by the Miraphone booth and try one, I figured the deed was already done and my decision was made. I saw no point in trying to second guess my decision.