Vintage Bach Club

[aTrumpetdude]

Well how about a club for vintage Bach owners/fans, they are the greatest trumpets ever made after all. So what Bach model do you have and why do you like it (or hate it).

My first serious horn was a Bach 72* and in college I traded it in on a 65GH Vindabona. More recently I have become a big fan of the M bore Bach horns. Here is my 1950 NY M bore 38 bell. It has that Bach sound and the thing plays itself, almost.

[A Former User]

@aTrumpetdude

Well, I don't know when a horn can be qualified as "vintage" but here is my 238 CML Bach (1980):

Really nice sounding horn. Love it, not sure it is a C Vindobona or not.
Bought new in 1981: my first "serious" trumpet.

Then my 1985 239 CML (1985)

Very good horn. Free blowing and good high register. My main horn for C stuff when needed.
Bought used.

Both overhauled a few years ago.

[aTrumpetdude]

@Voltrane said in Vintage Bach Club:

@aTrumpetdude

Well, I don't know when a horn can be qualified as "vintage" but here is my 238 CML Bach (1980):

Really nice sounding horn. Love it, not sure it is a C Vindobona or not.
Bought new in 1981: my first "serious" trumpet.

> Very Nice Voltrane, I have a 1980 238 CL that I love as well, I'd be curious to compare with the CML version

[J. Jericho]

It's long gone now, but my first Bach was a new 1966 Stradivarius Model 37 ML, one of the early Elkhart models. I was upgrading from my Selmer Signet Silver Special (How's that for alliteration?) cornet during my last year in high school. I compared the Bach with a King Silversonic, an Olds Mendez, and an Olds Recording.

The King didn't do much for me, and it was a newer version of my band director's trumpet, which he had let me play also. The Mendez played quite nicely and responsively, and the Recording was OK, too, in its own very different way, but the Bach (for me) was just magic. I didn't play It, I just played! I was able to get the occasional paying gig from time to time with it. Sold it after college. Color me stupid.

Nine or ten years later, when I had resumed playing trumpet again (stories for another time), I ordered a (1984, I think) silver 72*, which played almost as well as my friend's 72* of the same year of manufacture. It suited me at the time, however, I got paid to play once in a while, and I kept it for decades (another story for another time). I loved it, it had great response, perfect valves (Never played a Bach that didn't.), and had what I thought at the time was a fairly dark timbre, which one would expect from the 72 bell shape... until I made a point of recording myself and discovered that it sounded brighter in front of the bell than behind it. I ended up selling it. It did have great flexibility as far as being able to tailor the sound to the music.

I don't miss it; I was happy to have the next owner enjoy it. I'd like to have that 37 back, though.

[A Former User]

@aTrumpetdude

Sorry, my mistake! It is a CL, not a CML!

[Dirk020]

My ol' Bach Stradivarius 180-37 from 1978, a very good instrument, patched many times, great sound.
I sold her for a Getzen 900LB from the 90's with a sound app. as the Bach but the Getzen turned out to be an even better player!

Recently I bought a 180-43 from late 80's but is that one already 'vintage'?

[Three Sevens]

@aTrumpetdude

1976 CL229/25A with a Bach Bb type 3rd slide stop! I suspect that the addition of the Amado key brought about this decision. This set up is similar to my NY7, so it doesn't bother me, but it does generate a question now and then. I bought this horn in this condition about 4 years ago. Plays extremely well.

[administrator]

I have always loved my Bach trumpets. I found an old photo of a Bach 72/MLV that I used to own, which shows the serial number. I have been thinking of putting a "wanted" out on that instrument.

[grune]

I will not go so far to say Bach is the greatest. But I will say they were designed for orchestral and ensemble performances, and for this the Bach excels; and over time has become the benchmark to compare all other horns. I cannot determine if changes have occurred, but I think I hear a tonal difference between vintage Bach, pre 1975, and newer, post 2000. For vintage (ie older, say 40 years), per my experience, no 2 Bachs played or sounded exactly alike. My Bach Bb 37 Silver model was made in 1972, with the unusual feature of a 3rd slide trigger, and I have owned since new. This horn sounds like no other I have compared: the timbre is unique. With a B1.5C, the tone is very full and blends perfectly for orchestra: with a B1.5D [yes, it is rare] the tone has an edge and is a tad brighter to produce what is today described as "lead". It has been a world traveller, and has impressed all who hear it, and nobody yet can surmise why the sound is so perfect. The trigger mounts onto the lead pipe, so perhaps this has some positive effect on the tone. I think I may be typical for former pros: we tend to hold our trusty friend until death do us part.

[Kehaulani]

Oh, I thought you said BEACH club!

[Shifty]

@Kehaulani said in Vintage Bach Club:

Oh, I thought you said BEACH club!

Honest mistake, but you missed the part about "vintage."

[Kehaulani]

Unfortunately, I'M the vintage.

[Tobylou8]

@Shifty said in Vintage Bach Club:

@Kehaulani said in Vintage Bach Club:

Oh, I thought you said BEACH club!

Honest mistake, but you missed the part about "vintage."

Pre war Committee, '40-'41!! They are "Legendary"!!

[J. Jericho]

@Tobylou8 A bluehair. Just lovely... all that's missing is an assortment of tattoos.

[Dr GO]

@J-Jericho said in Vintage Bach Club:

@Tobylou8 A bluehair. Just lovely... all that's missing is an assortment of tattoos.

Most "standard" committee's had minimal engraving!

[flugelgirl]

Funny how no one is shaming fat old men in speedos.......
Really, though - what’s the problem with old ladies with tattoos? I intend to be one eventually, and feel zero shame about it.

[Tobylou8]

@flugelgirl said in Vintage Bach Club:

Funny how no one is shaming fat old men in speedos.......
Really, though - what’s the problem with old ladies with tattoos? I intend to be one eventually, and feel zero shame about it.

Here's some fat shaming of dudes. They probably don't think they're fat!

[administrator]

@flugelgirl said in Vintage Bach Club:

Funny how no one is shaming fat old men in speedos.......
Really, though - what’s the problem with old ladies with tattoos? I intend to be one eventually, and feel zero shame about it.

Double standard, that's all.

[Dr GO]

FAT? Nothing says fit like six pack abs:

[J. Jericho]

@flugelgirl said in Vintage Bach Club:

Funny how no one is shaming fat old men in speedos.......
Really, though - what’s the problem with old ladies with tattoos? I intend to be one eventually, and feel zero shame about it.

How about any men in Speedos? If it ain't worth looking at, cover it up! Packaging can do wonders for visual appeal.

I'm not a fan of skin tattoos. To my eye they reduce whatever appeal there was to the human form. As for other tattoos...