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.... I have ever played, MIRAFONES have the best valves. There, I said it! I am loving my Bruckner!

The valves on my ‘70s 186 are super excellent.

The piston valves on my old 1291 were great. I sold that horn to a VERY discerning player, who I think sort of doubted me about the valves. When he got the tuba, he confirmed, they ARE great valves.

Currently playing an old 184, and I have no complaints about the valves, other than the intonation when some of them are pressed...

I always found it telling that Bruckners are rarely up for sale used.

I am justifiably biased towards Miraphone tubas. I loved my 187 when I had it and I love my 496 Hagen even more.

I wish they made rotary valves in even and half sizes of millimeters like Meinlschmidt.

The only one of those that I know that they make is .709"

I do like Miraphone rotors best.

My 1960 186's are still moving pretty well, and she's probably played a few billion notes. Miraphone valves have never disappointed me, since 1993 when I started on a 184.

Although, shout-out to B&S rotors, they move pretty darn well too.

My 1970 186's first valve is a bit leaky. And the stem was broken off in the past, and the shop I bought it from had silver-soldered it back on. That repair has held up just fine, but it still counts as the second strike against that valve.

As it happens, for some dumb reason that I later reconsidered I bought a Miraphone 186 first valve with the required standard decorative engravings from Badger State Repair about 25 years ago. I never used it, but there it sits. I just need to modify the stop arm to work (easy) and get it soldered into the valve block. That's planned for later this summer.

As for the best piston valves I've ever had, I'd have to give that award to Bohm and Meinl, who made the valves on my York Master. Those valves were just awesome. My other pistons are clunky by comparison, even though they all work well.

Rick "likes Miraphones for more reasons than just the valves" Denney

I have owned six different Miraphones and all have had good valve action. The very best valves, however, were on my circa 1995 Cerveny 601-5MR 5/4 CC. Lightning fast, smooth, and quiet. I don't know what company built those valve sections.

Ace alive and kicking at 90

Rick Denney wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 4:08 pm My 1970 186's first valve is a bit leaky. And the stem was broken off in the past, and the shop I bought it from had silver-soldered it back on. That repair has held up just fine, but it still counts as the second strike against that valve.

As it happens, for some dumb reason that I later reconsidered I bought a Miraphone 186 first valve with the required standard decorative engravings from Badger State Repair about 25 years ago. I never used it, but there it sits. I just need to modify the stop arm to work (easy) and get it soldered into the valve block. That's planned for later this summer.

As for the best piston valves I've ever had, I'd have to give that award to Bohm and Meinl, who made the valves on my York Master. Those valves were just awesome. My other pistons are clunky by comparison, even though they all work well.

Rick "likes Miraphones for more reasons than just the valves" Denney

I ran out of time (prior to our meetup) getting the final bugs out of some 184 rotors (several years ago), but - IN THE FUTURE - if you need a replacement rotor -
- 1/ check the adjacent rotor to insure that the fitment into the damaged rotor's casing is acceptable (or very close to acceptable).

- 2/ Send the adjacent/undamaged rotor to Miraphone to copy "

- 3/ Be sure that you TELL ME, so that I can TELL THEM to expect it, and that they will be BILLING ME.

- 4/ They will ONLY be willing to ship the model and the replacement to ME, so - when I receive them from Miraphone - I would then send them to you.

BE SURE and INSURE your shipment to them. A damaged (broken-off stem) rotor was sent from here to Miraphone once. Apparently it ended up in Brazil, and disappeared off the face of the earth...so I had to take the adjacent rotor, DRAW A PICTURE OF IT, CAREFULLY MEASURE ALL THE DIMENSIONS, and send Miraphone a picture with dimensions. Yes, it worked out (only ten minutes to lap it in...They hit it on the nose), but still...INSURE the two rotors mailed to Miraphone.

There's no need to pay high re-seller prices for Miraphone parts - particularly when it's someone who has bought a Miraphone tuba from me and - additionally - I had to deliver it "not quite ready for prime time".

Ace wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 4:41 pm I have owned six different Miraphones and all have had good valve action. The very best valves, however, were on my circa 1995 Cerveny 601-5MR 5/4 CC. Lightning fast, smooth, and quiet. I don't know what company built those valve sections.

Ace alive and kicking at 90

My year old Cerveny 653's valves won't hold a candle against my PT-15. Granted they might need broken in more.

I'd like to try one of the newer rotary Miraphone Fs sometime, just for fun.

real estate:
location location location

rotary valves:
linkage linkage linkage

Ace wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 4:41 pm I have owned six different Miraphones and all have had good valve action. The very best valves, however, were on my circa 1995 Cerveny 601-5MR 5/4 CC. Lightning fast, smooth, and quiet. I don't know what company built those valve sections.

Ace alive and kicking at 90

I concur. My first tuba was a Cerveny 681 CC tuba I got new in 1995. It had amazing rotary valves.