miraphone tubas 187vs191

[dentaltuba]

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would like opinion and comparison between miraphone187 and 191.ease of play,lung capacity to play .thanksjds

[termite]

G'day dentaltuba

I shouldn't be answering this as I haven't played either instrument but I've got a few moments to spare.

I have the 1291 BBb which is the piston valve version of the 191. The low notes (Fourth ledger line F down to pedal Bb) really speak compared to other BBb's. Larger tubas may play bigger down there but these notes really want to jump out of the 1291. The low register can actually be a bit raspy in the hands of an inferior player like myself.
The general consensus on forums seems to be that the 191's low register roars out even more than the 1291 but the 1291 is more even over the whole range. A few people seem to think that the 191 sounds different in the low register to the rest of the instrument.

Some people seem to think that the 191 is an air hog but others regard it as very efficient for what you get out of it.
I use a lot of air playing my 1291 (note how I worded that) but when I pick up my old Boosey&Hawkes Imperial BBb (which is a slightly smaller instrument) I put even more air through that and get a lot less back from it.

The 187 is a less discussed instrument than the 191/1291.
I've read a bit about the 188 which is the CC version. It seems to be regarded as a slightly larger and better version of the 186 with a bigger sound (some find the 186 a bit small) and the same good intonation. The same probably applies to the 187 in BBb's.

Looking at the two the 187 looks like the classic German tuba so you would probably get the focussed, commanding German orchestral sound out of it if that's what's in your head.
The 191 looks more like an American tuba as does the 1291. The general consensus seems to be that the 1291 can make whatever sound the player has - it's a very versatile instrument. It will do the classic German sound better than some similar looking instruments but that's not really what it is.

The 1291 BBb really sings in the middle and high registers - I do a lot of solo playing and I've felt no need to play bass tuba since I got the 1291. It gives nothing away to higher pitched tubas as a solo instrument. It gives nothing away to CC tubas either unless you're sitting next to something really huge like a 5/4 Rudolf Meinl.

I'm not sure about the 191 but the 1291 is one of a number of European tubas where you use the third valve alone rather than first and second which has taken me quite a long time to get used to.

A lot of amateur tuba players are interested in this tuba and that tuba but are scared about how much air they might take.
If you are trying to make a serious sound on contrabass tuba in a large ensemble you are going to use a lot of air no matter what tuba you are playing. Four bar phrases are a fantasy. In loud low passages you breath after every note. Sometimes you stagger breath with your section mate even on half notes - one breathing half way through the note and the other at the start of the note.

Under these conditions some people find a larger tuba easier to play because it does a better job of amplifying their efforts. All the purists will jump down my throat for saying this but I for one am not Roger Bobo and I think I get better results with a bigger instrument.

The other thing to keep in mind is that you don't blow the tuba the same as higher instruments - on the really loud bits you shouldn't be blowing hard - you open your jaw and mouth right up and let the air fall out into the instrument - this is actually not that much effort to do.

Regards

Gerard