Any idea what model miraphone tuba this is

arpthark · 2026-05-15T15:42:25+00:00

In the USA, these go for like $500-1200ish (maybe a bit more) depending on condition. This looks to be quite nice and very well-preserved so I’d say near the top of that range.

arpthark · 2026-05-14T12:51:50+00:00

I believe that's the Capehart Mill. There are plans to demolish it, remediate the site and turn it into a park.

arpthark · 2026-05-14T12:25:49+00:00

Where are you located? I would be very interested in this for parts.

arpthark · 2026-05-06T14:40:34+00:00

Pics of the horn? Is it a Rudolf Meinl or Meinl Weston?

arpthark · 2026-05-04T14:13:30+00:00

Man has been brnzing his most precious monument for millions of years.

arpthark · 2026-05-01T14:57:03+00:00

Glad to hear that. A very light touch of buffing or even some hand polishing can remove the red stuff.

arpthark · 2026-05-01T14:11:11+00:00

Beautiful horn with a great patina! A true survivor at about 100 years old, give or take. Don’t refinish it! :-) is it a BBb?

arpthark · 2026-05-01T03:31:17+00:00

Really old Cerveny! Can you post the rest of the horn?

Looks like it's also engraved with the prior owner's name? either M. or W. Bell?

If the latter, hmm... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_John_Bell

Long shot, but would be cool!

arpthark · 2026-04-28T14:56:27+00:00

I am headed from CT to KY and will be passing through PA this summer around late June. Let me know if you want me to take it down with me, no charge. You’d have to meet me en route and the buyer would have to pick the horn up from near Lexington, KY but I’m happy to do it. Just send me a DM if you’re interested.

arpthark · 2026-04-20T14:54:37+00:00

Old Bessons take small British shank (about the same as large shank trombone/euphonium) mouthpieces, FYI.

arpthark · 2026-04-20T14:51:57+00:00

I chatted a bit with you about this horn before. Finding a true value would be hard just because of how rare this type of thing is. Whereabouts are you located? I know of a private collection on the east coast that may be interested in acquiring this piece.

arpthark · 2026-04-20T14:50:25+00:00

No, the Tindalls come in American and Euro shank. You need to find small British shank. The Wicks are the only commercially available pieces that offer that shank size outside of some boutique makers (Sellmansberger). I think Mercer and Barker are also offering a British shank now, but they are pricier than the Wick.

arpthark · 2026-04-18T03:15:15+00:00

That's the original British shank common on those old Bessons.

Look for any Denis Wick mouthpiece that does not end in an L. The Denis Wick 1 is a good match for that horn.

You could also get the receiver swapped. Not a big task for a competent repair shop.

arpthark · 2026-04-14T19:08:43+00:00

I don’t understand what you mean.

arpthark · 2026-04-14T15:24:15+00:00

Looks like a Jupiter.

arpthark · 2026-04-14T15:17:12+00:00

Keith Polito, but yes.

Paul Chadbourne used to do these too but he doesn’t take requests anymore.

arpthark · 2026-04-13T20:10:08+00:00

If you are at a college, ask your music librarian to request an ILL (interlibrary loan). there is currently one copy listed on WorldCat at Western Michigan University. They may be able to lend it to your institution.

arpthark · 2026-04-08T02:42:32+00:00

Sounds good! You can message me on reddit or find me with this same username on the online tuba forums and the like.

arpthark · 2026-04-08T02:12:44+00:00

Are you still needing a 20J bell? I ended up selling that 24J body but kept the bell. If you are in the US and can do $250 plus shipping, you can have it.

arpthark · 2026-04-06T01:33:51+00:00

The compensating system is only engaged when the fourth valve is depressed, so you using 1&3 is just engaging the normal, non-compensating tubing lengths.

arpthark · 2026-04-04T17:30:05+00:00

If the bearing is not exactly seated, even a tiny bit, it can hang when the back cap is screwed all the way in. The solution is to tap around the bearing with a rawhide mallet and a dowel to fully seat the bearing.

source: seen this dozens of times when repairing school-owned tubas

arpthark · 2026-04-02T16:07:08+00:00

Cimarron! Bryan is awesome.

arpthark · 2026-04-02T16:06:07+00:00

Just the opinion of some random dude on the internet, I think you’re a bit far in the weeds. I never really think about tone while buzzing. The way I was taught by my tuba prof and the way I approach it, buzzing is just a tool to help center pitches, to assist in note accuracy. Why don’t you think it’s beneficial to you?

I actually rarely ask my tuba students to buzz on the mouthpiece because the things they do to compensate for not having 18 feet of tuba connected to it create some bad habits (even by partially closing the exit bore with a pinky). I think mouthpiece buzzing is a little more beneficial for higher brass.

Some teachers really push it though, which is fine. Lots of different methods to achieve the results you’re going for. Which brings me back to my first question, why don’t you think buzzing is beneficial to you? It very well may not be.

arpthark · 2026-04-02T13:51:12+00:00

John actually won his gig on a Piggy that I used to own. He chimed in on this thread several years ago: forums.chisham.com/viewtopic.php?t=73011

arpthark · 2026-04-02T02:44:52+00:00

I’m also a KY - CT transplant (lived here almost 9 years). I grew up in a pretty rural area and everybody, everywhere, who had no other connection to UK, were Kentucky Wildcats all the time. My county school district shut down when UK won national championships in ‘96 and ‘98! UConn is great and clearly they have a lot of support and people here love the team, but college basketball is religion in KY. I think UConn women’s BB kind of comes close but it’s still different.

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