Greetings, all!
I just got, thanks to my wife and an incredible deal from WWBW, a new (B stock-just a return they could not sell as new) Miraphone 1258A silver plated euphonium. I have been unable to find any reviews on this horn online, so I though I'd share my initial thoughts on it.
I am a 39-year-old returning player. I didn't play much for 7-8 years, but got back into it a few years ago and am playing with my local community college's small concert band. I was playing a beat-up large shank 4-valve (inline) Conn 19I with horrible intonation issues up until Wednesday, and that's the best horn I've ever played on aside from the Yamaha 321 I played in high school. I have never played a professional level instrument before now.
The Miraphone has a nice dark sound and is very free-blowing. The large bore is going to require a bit more air, but it sounds great. The valves seem to require less force than the Conn and have a shorter throw. The fourth valve on the side will take some getting used to, but it makes it feel more like an F instrument than the non-compensating 4th valve on the Conn. I used to play mellophone in marching band, so the F fingerings are fairly natural for me.
The horn "speaks" easily; I have never been able to trill well between Bb and C (as in Carnival of Venice's first variation), but it seems to come easily to me on the Miraphone. The intonation, in both B-flat and F, is incredible to my ears. I've only spent about an hour playing it and have not put a tuner to it yet, but it is light-years ahead of the Conn. Almost makes you wonder why they easiest to play, in-tune instruments are not made for beginners in the first place!
As far as the "B-stock" part goes, the horn is in excellent condition. I haven't yet found any visible defects, scratches, dents, etc., that would indicate it had been sold, played and returned. I got an incredible deal on it. It was $2999, and they had a $200 discount and free shipping.
I'm surprised my wife suggested I get a new euphonium, but she knew I had been struggling with the Conn and I've really stepped up my practicing and playing this year, and I'm even considering taking some lessons to improve even more. I'm mostly self taught, so that should be interesting! I'm looking forward to spending a lot of quality time with this horn, and I am thrilled with it so far.
Patrick McNeal
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