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https://www.dillonmusic.com/used-mirafo ... -sn-15737/

This is one of the S186 models that features no nickel-silver slide tubing, no ferrule or valve cap engravings, and no kranz.

I once owned a 186 from the Tuba Exchange marked "S," (or TE-186 or some such) and it DID feature a nickel-silver mouthpipe, which this one seems to lack.

I worked as an adjunct teacher at Stetson U. in Deland in the nineties. They had two Mirafones with the silver slides and all that as well as two of the plainer, just laquered brass. I was suprised to find that for me, and for the kids too, the plain jane ones sounded and played better. They had a deeper sound and felt open compared to the silver trimmings ones that, to me, felt brittle. And all of my kids sounded deeper on them. I have no explaination for it . But I would've used either one of the plain ones on anything I was doing at that time. I got a bright, almost edgy sound on the fancy ones. Go figure eh? Best to all, Ed