CO pickup: beautiful Miraphone 183 Eb

[arpthark]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/266497104585?m ... media=COPY



edit: I originally had "pristine," but there are some dents and such on the bottom bow. Still way nicer than you usually see on these models.

[Tubajug]

Dang! And only $900!

I wonder how it plays. I've played one and the low register was very stuffy.

[bort2.0]

Anyone want to mule a tuba from Colorado to Minnesota for me?

[bloke]

"stuffy" - IF played AS IF its another size/type of tuba...

[Tubajug]

Anyone want to mule a tuba from Colorado to Minnesota for me?

Looking to add to your Eb collection, eh bort?

[bloke]

I always thought that Beautiful CO was euphonium...(??)

[bort2.0]

Anyone want to mule a tuba from Colorado to Minnesota for me?

Looking to add to your Eb collection, eh bort?

Not anymore, apparently

[Tubajug]

Ah rats... That was a very good price, IMHO.

Sorry you missed this one! I know the feeling of seeing a good deal pop up where I'll never be able to get it...

[bort2.0]

Ah rats... That was a very good price, IMHO.

Sorry you missed this one! I know the feeling of seeing a good deal pop up where I'll never be able to get it...

It's all good. The thing with eBay, is that in my state I have to pay sales tax. So even with a good price like that, sales tax is annoyingly high, and makes enough difference that you have to factor it in.

I think I was more excited about The potential of having a fourth valve than anything else.

Congrats to whoever got the 183. They are what they are. Imperfect, and very fun, are two things that they are

[Mary Ann]

I have one that does not look nearly as good as that one, and it is nowhere NEAR as "stuffy" as, for example, the low C on a typical F rotary. WAY less - and if I can conquer that low range, so can you. With the right chops and air, it will just blast down low. When I was playing mine with an oom pah group a year ago October, they all thought I was playing a BBb. That little 183 can push if you want it to, and it can take a lot of air without barking.
If you want an Eb that can hold its own, the price on that one should have you all squabbling over it. Mine is a bit flat in the high register, and I don't know why. It also has had the receiver changed out to take a standard shank. Not perfect intonation but workable.

[Tubajug]

Well darn, maybe the one I played was just messed up somehow. Sounds like they're good horns!

[bort2.0]

They are okay tubas as long as you're not planning to play a lot of low stuff. And not like "the low C" kind of thing, but it's just that well, they aren't designed to really do big low stuff. And that's what we all like to do, right?

@MN_TimTuba has one, and I think he likes it but doesn't love it.

Also, I know who bought the tuba. Good for them, nice score!

[jtm]

I have one that does not look nearly as good as that one, and it is nowhere NEAR as "stuffy" as, for example, the low C on a typical F rotary.

Every so often I have to go try a low C on my rotary F when someone says this, just to be sure. Still not stuffy. Not the same sound as a Bb 186 or sousaphone, but it’s a good useful low C that resonates just fine in a hall. So now I feel lucky despite not getting a great deal on this 183.

[bort2.0]

John, you've simply become a rotary tuba guy. You know what it needs to make it work out.

It's like when people have mean or yappy or crazy dogs, but with their owner they are sweet calm and awesome.

[jtm]

John, you've simply become a rotary tuba guy. You know what it needs to make it work out.

It's like when people have mean or yappy or crazy dogs, but with their owner they are sweet calm and awesome.

Ah. Maybe that’s it. Probably also helps that the tuba is a lot like bloke’s.

[Mary Ann]

I think I did play a Symphonie once (Mark Nelson's, I think) and the low C on that was WAY easier than the low C on my MW 182. And I was only a baby tuba player then and probably lucky to get a C out of any F rotary. The Firebird my friend has -- its low C is not as easy as the low Bb on either my 183 or the Star, but is still way more playable than that 182, which otherwise was really neat, for me.