1963 Miraphone 186 advice

[dp]

Buy it. Before someone reading this thread steps in front of you and plunks down 2 grand for this remarkably-good condition early 60's 186.

[bloke]

To determine whether it actually is good, jump in the car and drive up to 500 miles (or however far you are willing to drive) to have a close look in three dimensions.
Yeah (per dp) I wouldn’t sit around forever, and nor would I advertise it around a bunch of other Miraphone lovers.
Doing a two-day 1000 mile round-trip to find out that something is a dog what’s up would suck, but it would suck more to pay $2400 bucks for the instrument and shipping, and then have it arrive at your house, and demonstrate itself to be a dog.
Unless it’s just too far away, go look at the thing.

Buy it. Before someone reading this thread steps in front of you and plunks down 2 grand for this remarkably-good condition early 60's 186.

[the elephant]

To determine whether it actually is good, jump in the car and drive up to 500 miles (or however far you are willing to drive) to have a close look in three dimensions.

I always advocate for this decision, however, this tuba is located in Mexico and he is in North Carolina.

[dp]

[the elephant]

It is a semi-suspicious ad, Dale. Not everyone can afford to risk a couple of grand. I certainly couldn't. Right now I have like nine dollars to my name. This is why people are advising caution. I told him in the PMs between us that in this case, I would skip it altogether. For a lot of us, two thousand dollars is a HUGE chunk of money. HUGE.

BTW — Good to see you here again.

[the elephant]

Are we sure this is a 186?...

The backside of the horn does not like the 186's from the 60s and 70s that I have owned. But maybe they changed the wrap. I just double-checked photos of these horns. Nope - not the same 4th valve wrap.

I don't see any difference in "the wrap" other than the fairly common pigtail added to extend the length of the too-short 4th slide. And that is a good thing. What am I missing?

[bloke]

OK. I wasn’t aware that it was that far away.
I believe I would wait for another one that can be viewed in-person.
Bottom feeder wise, it’s still not unheard of for someone to turn loose of a really nice one way too cheap.

[jtm]

Are we sure this is a 186?...

The backside of the horn does not like the 186's from the 60s and 70s that I have owned. But maybe they changed the wrap. I just double-checked photos of these horns. Nope - not the same 4th valve wrap.

I don't see any difference in "the wrap" other than the fairly common pigtail added to extend the length of the too-short 4th slide. And that is a good thing. What am I missing?

Yeah. My 1965 BBb 186 has the same extended 4th valve slide.

[the elephant]

OK. I wasn’t aware that it was that far away.

It's okay. We all still love you, Joe.

I believe I would wait for another one that can be viewed in-person … it’s still not unheard of for someone to turn loose of a really nice one way too cheap.

Agreed.

I got my two 186s for very reasonable prices.

Dan's factory CC was a 4 banger, but was a spectacular player, despite being sort of beat up. I only had to do some minimal work to the thing to be able to use it at work in the orchestra and as my main freelance tuba. And the BBb 186 that Tabor sold to me was a box of parts with holes and cracks and one badly damaged valve. But I got it for peanuts, so the cost of the work needed to make it playable was still easily within my limited budget.

Of course, I did a huge amount of work to both tubas that did not have to be done, because I decided they were long-term keepers, and I wanted them to be as nice (and as "new-ish") as possible.

These horns seem to suffer more from under- or over-valuation by sellers. You can buy one for cheap, fix it up some, and greatly increase the price. There seem to be two crowds who shop for them: one is willing to pay a good bit for a nice one, and the other seeks out a nice player that might be a bit of a wallflower and is inexpensive.

And in between lies the world of the Professional Tuba Flipper®, which I may decide to help populate in the near future…

[the elephant]

Are we sure this is a 186?...

The backside of the horn does not like the 186's from the 60s and 70s that I have owned. But maybe they changed the wrap. I just double-checked photos of these horns. Nope - not the same 4th valve wrap.

I don't see any difference in "the wrap" other than the fairly common pigtail added to extend the length of the too-short 4th slide. And that is a good thing. What am I missing?

Yeah. My 1965 BBb 186 has the same extended 4th valve slide.

I am not sure that Miraphone ever offered that as a factory option. I think all of these were done by local techs who figured out that two 2nd crooks and some slide tubing could be used to easily fix the issue. I have seen this a lot on the nicer BBb 186 tubas that were privately owned. I have never seen it on institutional examples. It is a nice thing to have.

[bloke]

agreed...but (earlier, when I was on my phone, barely into my first coffee, and not on this laptop) that was too many words.

[bloke]

I think Wade and I should do a real-life version of a 1980's-style movie, buy a sorta-OK-running/tends-to-overheat '63 Impala convertible, and go on a road trip into Mexico to check out this instrument.

What could possibly go wrong...??

Wade, pack at least one change of underwear and a toothbrush...I'll pick you up on Monday morning.

oh yeah...and I'll bring the contraband - you know: to stuff in the glove-box, to be discovered when crossing the border, etc...

[the elephant]

We'll need a couple of loaded pistols and a trunkload of cold beer to really make it like an eighties movie. Oh, and bad music that is synth-driven, with a lot of gated reverb… ick…



It would also help if you were a hot chick, but I guess that's too much to ask for…

[matt g]

Don’t underestimate Joe’s abilities.

[the elephant]

Whatever. If Joe shows up at my house in this car looking like this woman, I'm headed to Mexico.

[bort2.0]

Whatever. If Joe shows up at my house in this car looking like this woman, I'm headed to Mexico.

Don’t underestimate Joe’s abilities.

[jtm]

Whatever. If Joe shows up at my house in this car looking like this woman, I'm headed to Mexico.

Don’t underestimate Joe’s abilities.

That's just a couple hours in the workshop for Joe, right?

[bloke]

- I can't tell whether-or-not that's a fall 1962 picture of Hillary.
...(Isn't she about 90 or so, or just she just look it?
...John Williams conducted my son-in-law, last weekend; he looks younger than her.)
- That's not a convertible.
- White paint shows Mexican road dust much better.

bloke " #tuba #186 #valves #hardtop #powerglide #hash #etc. "

OFF TOPIC: (Do not open until Halloween.)
https://i.imgur.com/mZluKfQ.jpg

[hrender]

I know how this movie ends.