Bach Club
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I thought about this for a while before starting this thread. A vintage Bach club thread was started in the fall of 2019, but this one is simply for Bach brass instruments.
My single Bach is a Model 180S37, which is as common as they come. It is from no noteworthy period of time, having been manufactured several years prior to the Bach strike in April of 2006. I bought it used earlier this year. it appears to have been carried about more than played, but is still in good shape. Of my three Bb trumpets, it produces the best sound in my ears. I play it with a Curry 3C. mouthpiece. I tried a half dozen or so mouthpieces before settling on the Curry. The 37 is not as friendly for me ergonomically as my other two Bb’s, but I am adapting. It is simply a good old horn and I find myself playing it more and more.
Jim
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I own 5 vintage Bach trumpets. The 43 has been my main trumpet since the mid-70s.
Bach 1974 Stradivariuis lightweight 43 Bb Trumpet
Bach 1980 Stradivariuis 239 CML Trumpet
Bach 1965 Stradivarius 37 Bb Trumpet
Bach 1947 Stradivariuis NY 67 Bb Cornet
Bach 1988 184 Stradivarius CornetMike
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Ok, here are the three I own:
1976 43 ML Stradivarius Bb trumpet
1982 239 ML Stradivarius C trumpet
1993 184G L Stradivarius Bb cornet
1977 Bach Strad ML 43 trumpet
1960 Conn 6B Victor trumpet
1982 Bach Strad ML 239 C trumpet
1970 Olds Ambassador Eb/D trumpet
1993 Bach Strad L 184G cornet
1962 Conn 9A Victor cornet
1890 Besson A/Bb/C cornet
1870? Henry Lehnert SARV cornet -
Hey @Dale-Proctor ... I forgot that we both own a lightweight 43 and an ML bore C trumpet.
I'm a little jealous of that 184G cornet.
Mike
Bach Stradivarius 43* Trumpet (1974), Bach 6C Mouthpiece.
Olds L-12 Flugelhorn (1969), Yamaha 13F4 Mouthpiece.
Plus a few other Bach, Getzen, Olds, Carol, HN White, and Besson horns. -
@tmd yes Mike, I remember the similarities in our instrument choices. Great minds think alike...lol
The 184G is a sweet little cornet, and pretty, too. I ditched the too-small original case shortly after I joined a brass band and bought that Jakob Winter case in the picture. It’s really nice and has room for a K&M stand (not in the bell), 3 mutes, valve oil, music glasses, music, and mouthpieces.
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I have been playing my three Bb trumpets on a rotating basis. This week I am playing my Strad, with a Bach 3C mouthpiece. I set aside the Curry 3C. I had been using due to some frustrations that the Bach 3C appears to have relieved. As noted in the OP, my Strad showed little sign of serious playing time before I became its owner. Really, I have been breaking it in and modifying it to suit my tastes. I replaced the dump slide in the third valve slide assembly with another (from Bach) with a water key. I also replaced the second valve slide with a Bach replacement. The third valve slide assembly was stiff to the point where it was not useful for tuning purposes. I remedied this condition with regular lubrication and cycling. It works well now. Playing the Strad this week has been satisfying. I strike notes accurately and cleanly. The sound produced is great. The valves function flawlessly. Perhaps one day I’ll get to use it in Community Band once again. Until then, it has become a most enjoyable instrument for daily practice.
Jim
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I have a few Bachs, one of which is in my signature because it is my go-to whenever I need that standard Bach sound. The full list is:
2009/10 180SMLV72G with the 25 pipe
1988 TR-300 (when I was first trying to get a sound out of a trumpet, a good friend suggested I use this, his middle-school horn, instead of a 1919 Holton I had rebuilt from lamp parts using plumbing tools)
1970 Early Elkhart 25
1964 Mt. Vernon 180-37 (despite my supplying him several alternatives including a great AW Stage 470LT, my Dad is happiest playing this old, yet still all one could ask for Bach 37)
1963 Mt Vernon 43 (my baby)
1956 Byron Autrey's customized NY-wrap Mt. Vernon 37 (more open blow, looser slotting, sweet tone - a joy to play)
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What a fine collection of Bach’s, OSE! Among them, that 64 MV 180-37 particularly captures my attention. Thank you for posting the pictures!
Jim
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This post is deleted! -
I shared photos of my Bach 37 a few months back and asked for the collective wisdom of the group regarding its provenance. I’m largely ignorant about Back horns as I’ve never owned, or played one until now.
The horn belonged to a dearly departed friend and was gifted to me by his family. It had been neglected for many years (he moved on to bigger and badder horns) and upon receiving it I sent it to my brass tech for a thorough cleaning, polishing, and setting up.
I’ve not played it in the big band yet, but I actually quite like its sound…intonation seems accurate and even, and the timbre is darker and more mellow than I expected.
Based on the SN I estimate it was built sometime after 1971, but I don’t know how many horns Bach was making during those years.
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I used to own a Bach 72 MLV and sold it. I regretted selling that trumpet, so I recently had the opportunity to pickup another and I did. I remember why I liked the first trumpet so much. There is definitely a quality of sound that is unique to the 72 MLV. I believe Wynton used to play one a long time ago. Who knows, maybe mine was his horn?
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@administrator Please pardon my ignorance…what is an MLV?
-tj
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MLV is the marking Bach put on all trumpets that had a Medium-large “Vindabona” bore.
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@administrator said in Bach Club:
MLV is the marking Bach put on all trumpets that had a Medium-large “Vindabona” bore.
Mine only has "ML" stamped on the #2 valve casing.
-tj
Lotus Solo Max
82 Benge MLP
74 Conn Director
71 Bach 37
56 Martin Committee Deluxe (large bore)
45 Blessing Artist
84 DEG 2v G bugle (SCV Alumni Corps ax)
Adams F2 Flugelhorn
Courtois 154 Flugelhorn -
@administrator said in Bach Club:
MLV is the marking Bach put on all trumpets that had a Medium-large “Vindabona” bore.
Mine only has "ML" stamped on the #2 valve casing.
-tj
From what I understand, Vindabona (dual-bore) actually only applied to the tuning slide. The rest of the trumpet is the same bore, I think. I should do some research on it. I know, I will ask ChatGPT:
The "Vindabona" bore is a design feature found on some Bach trumpets that refers to a specific type of tubing that is used in the instrument. The name "Vindabona" is a reference to the ancient Roman city of Vienna, which was known as Vindobona in Latin. The Bach Vindabona bore features a slightly larger and more gradually tapered leadpipe, which is intended to provide a more open and free-blowing feel to the instrument. This design can result in a more resonant and responsive sound, particularly in the upper register.
It's worth noting that not all Bach trumpets feature the Vindabona bore. Some models, particularly older ones, may use different bore designs or may not have a specific name or label for the bore. Additionally, while the Vindabona bore can have an impact on the overall sound and feel of the instrument, there are many other factors that can also affect the trumpet's tone and playability, such as the mouthpiece, valve design, and construction materials.
I cannot guarantee if that is true, but that's what ChatGPT told me.
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Interesting….so did yours come with two tuning slides? Mine came with a “square” one and a “round” one. I’m not sure I can tell the difference.
-tj
Lotus Solo Max
82 Benge MLP
74 Conn Director
71 Bach 37
56 Martin Committee Deluxe (large bore)
45 Blessing Artist
84 DEG 2v G bugle (SCV Alumni Corps ax)
Adams F2 Flugelhorn
Courtois 154 Flugelhorn -
@tjveloce No, it's just internal. The slide looks the same.
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"D"-shaped Bach tuning slide:
Osmun Music"C"-shaped/rounded Bach tuning slide:
Mouthpiece Express -
My experiences with Bach instruments... somehow, fate was very unkind to me in that respect...
My first ever "proper" trumpet was a Bach Strad 239 C, with additional slides for Bb, which I - as a total beginner - used as my primary horn. The C configuration was something I never used, and was the downfall of this instrument. My teacher at the time was a rotaries-only player, and then had to jump in at some musical production requiring a piston C. So he asked if he could borrow it for one day. No problem, except...
the horn was stolen from his greenroom in the theatre.
He was admirably insured, and I received the value of both a Bb and a C. I had caught the rotary bug and got myself a Ganter G5 and a Bach rotary C. That was a wonderful instrument, but still a bit too "pro" for me at the time. But - I did use it for a time, usually for Mozart masses.
Until my house in Ireland was burgled and that rotary Bach C was stolen.
My next Bach was a 37. Had it for about three months, and then, it was stolen from me in a tram... I was sitting next to the exit, with the case right beside me, and at a stop, a guy exiting the tram just grabbed the case and jumped off.
And my last attempt at Bach was a high-F that I wanted just to have the alphabet complete. One of those whims one gets. Had it ordered specially, paid through the nose, waited an ungodly time for it - almost a year! - and then it ended up in a freight aircraft that crash-landed in Frankfurt and burst into flames. Got my money back after more than a year's haggling with insurance but I never even saw that horn.
Decided that Bach somehow was not for me. Never had another mishap with any of my other horns... All other horns of my collection were not taken in that Irish burglary... even though they were on display in an unlocked, glass-fronted cabinet... the Bach rotary was half-hidden in its case...
