Vintage Bach Trumpet History and Play Test

[@oliverkhoo7]

I recently picked up a 1970’s series Bach Stradivarius Cornet 180ML37 because I first came across it in Easter Brass Band class in 1974. It was my friend’s instrument and I knew that one day I would buy one ! Fast Forward 50 years later to 2024 I found it in Hong Kong with a seller who deals with secondhand instruments. As soon as I picked it up and played a few scales and arpeggios i knew it was everything I’d ever remembered. The slick valve action. The heavy weight and quality . And the sound quality 😍I am now rediscovering my youth with a superb instrument that has a warm, rich velvety syrupy tone between a flugelhorn and trumpet and brings me back to when times was simple and beautiful. Bach simply is the best not quite vintage instrument I have ever owned and the rest of my life I will play my cornet with a new found respect and awe from the Bach .

[@michaellohmeyer1433]

You are so right about Mr. Bach's influence on trumpet design. When a man's work influences trumpet designs for 100+ years, he has left his mark! Trumpet players love to debate the pros and cons of every nuance of every horn from every era and from every shop location in Bach's history. From a Bach19043 player.

[@hauke3644]

More interesting than I expected. And beautifully played examples😊

[@oliverheaviside2539]

Your video encouraged me to get out my Bach Strad trumpet, silver, 37 bell, serial number 569597 from 2003. Nothing outrageously special, but, Dang! is it sweet! Makes me smile! Thanks for the biography, too.

[@trumpet95]

Thanks! I sold my Mt 15 years ago and I’ve had so many regrets but today I just got another and I’m at happy as can be!

[@budlawrence4847]

I have two horns, actually 3 that I play but my daily driver is my 1971 Bach Strad 43. Just love the flexibility that comes with that horn for what I use it for, which is concert. It came with two mouthpieces that where with it originally a 7C and 5C Bach. Strangely I’ve played other mouthpieces on her but the 5 and 7 for some reason give me the most pleasure in sound and back pressure feel that I enjoy. That was a great interview and well put together summarization of Mr Bach. Thank you

[@gregorysloat4258]

Wonderful video. My Bach is only fifty years old (I bought it new after my first Bach-also bought new-was stolen), so not of New York origin, but I still appreciate it.

[@chasefreak]

Initially, Bach, Calicchio, Benge & Schilke all wanted to pay homage to the French Besson in part with their own personal designs. The early Benge's were practically Besson copies whereas Bach & Schilke incorporated aspects they each liked from the Besson and added their own personal and unique flavor.

[@pjl4562]

Fantastic video!!!! Thank you so much for creating!

[@revocolor]

Thanks for this great video 👍💯

[@gregorygerner3471]

Ryan, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you for this brief history on Vincent Bach, accompanied and illustrated by your great playing of one of Bach's classic trumpets. ("A picture is worth a thousand words.") Similarly, Mark Hughes' informed comments on the primacy of sound as the single greatest measure of a trumpet's value in the orchestral setting is completely relevant, irrefutable AND IMO ever in need of reaffirming. (From a trumpet player who has had the privilege/good fortune to have taken lessons from/studied with such people as Bud Herseth, Vincent Cichowicz, Will Scarlett, Arnold Jacobs, Dick Smith (Cleveland), etc., etc., etc.)

[@joeptrumpet]

Great video!

[@RyanBeachtrumpet]

I posted this in a trumpet forum, and a member shared this feedback. This is my first piece of journalistic work, so I wanted to share some of the areas in which I may have made mistakes. 1) Bach was Assistant Principal with Boston for the 1914-15 season, Gustav Heim was the Principal trumpet, so that appeared to be an error. 2) Josh Landress discovered that Bach was selling very unique (truly made just for his store) Besson trumpets alongside his mouthpieces, compositions, etc., so I am not sure the downturn was a severe as you portrayed, 3) Bach was still playing on radio and recording into the first decade of his trumpet making, as recorded in his wife's journals, so "giving up his playing career" might be a bit of an overstatement. 4) You seem to oppose your own thesis about the amazing quality of Bach's work when you end with such emphatic insistence that every vintage Bach needs to be seriously altered. Either Bach knew what he was doing or he didn't. You can't really have it both ways.

[@jaegertiger384]

Esteban Batallan, Principal of the CSO, has Bud Herseth's Mt Vernon CStrad. WHAT an instrument!! I've got my original CLASSIC '65 Strad...SL: 32174 and TREASURE it.

[@trainliker100]

I have a modern Bach "Chicago C" which is supposed to be patterned after those provided to the CSO back in the day. It's a very nice trumpet. I also grew up in Oak Park, IL where Adolph Herseth lived and was it house once as his son played horn in the high school orchestra and so did I (at that time). Oddly, I never gave it much thought that this man was such a superb trumpet player. But then again, my mother was a professional concert pianist with solo performances in Chicago's Orchestra Hall and such. Maybe I figured it was a normal thing having high level musician as a parent. I like to compare myself to Herseth - but only in the sense that my trumpets are also made of metal - the comparison pretty much ends there.

[@robertg7538]

My wife asked me why I have 11 trumpets. Because I didn't like the 10th one! So many trumpets and mouthpieces, so little time. My Selmer Paris cornet arrives Monday. Can't wait! Thanks for the very informative video and discussion.

[@IndianOutlaw1870]

I know a guy who's almost 80 who buys a new mouthpiece every few weeks. It's a very sad addiction.

[@dougmorris5625]

My Mt. Vernon Bach Strad is 67 years old, large bore, beautiful horn which sold for $300.00 in 1957 and I would not let go for $7,000.

[@jaegertiger384]

Bach is THE Titan upon whose shoulders everyone else stands. Yamaha would be NOTHING without Bach.

[@chasefreak]

and Schilke...whom Yamaha initially attempted to "clone" but, not nearly as well...again, it's all in what you're looking for from your horn

[@michaellohmeyer1433]

And if you're ever bored with that 1951 medium bore Strad, call me.

[@chasefreak]

Actually, Doc endorsed the Getzen Eterna 900s from 1963-1979 and NEVER played any other horn between that time. However, I'm not sure of the year but, at some point he began having Bach 37 bells soldered onto his Getzen horns. Shhhh-you were not supposed to know that :) From 1980-1986, he was "supposed" to be endorsing Conn models, which he never played b/c Conn couldn't make a horn Doc liked. Between 1980-1986, you could usually see Doc playing a Mt. Vernon Bach 37 (I have pics from a 1986 concert I saw w Doc proving this, he had one of the tuning slide braces removed). Starting later in '86, he used the Bell Canto that Dick Akright assembled based on a NY Bach 37. He's since been through old Bessons, another brief affair w Getzen then ended with Destino/Shires. You sound great on that '51 Bach. BTW, Maynard played a NY large bore Bach in 1952-1953.

[@jimwiant]

I got my Mt Vernon Bach from a pawn shop for$35 in the early 60’s

[@waynecolburn8849]

I was owned and sold a Mt Vernon Back trumpet. I didn’t know what I had back then.

[@OmaMspDenSan]

I have a 1962 Mt. Vernon but have been discouraged over its flat D. After listening to Mark Hughes' statements, I will seek a repair person to help sort this out.

[@hawkfeather6802]

So we have Bach to thank for better trumpets? That's cool! 8:14 I always forget there are parts on a trumpet that move. I played in school band for a few years,maybe I'll start playing again.

[@rgorthuis]

good vid. so nice to heat a competent trumpeter on a Bb trumpet. I have a 1972 '37 Bb since new, and have owned C, Eb. much prefer the tone from Bb. the '37 arrived with a few factory errors, unplayable. purchased from Giardinelli, who would not permit an exchange or refund. after much tinkering, got it to play properly. shaved a 1.5c m/p to remove the leadpipe gap. (I know, very controversial). the horn is not easy to play, but after 6 months of player adjustment, I got a sound from this horn uniquely different from other '37 Bachs. difficult to describe, but when I played, everybody could discern the sound was from me. a change in m/p changed the sound considerably. so, the sound from a trumpet is not simply due to the horn; the m/p and player are also determining factors. would I buy a Bach again, today? likely not. we are in a golden age for instruments: very many brands making very many models.

[@mikekaupa9190]

man....I need a medium bore Bach!

[@maconins123]

I’m on the verge of buying a New York 67. I can not play test it - I have no idea what I’m getting into 😅

[@mikekaupa9190]

Just bought a 1930's Couesnon B flat tpt from Goodwill...$40!

[@theimp5901]

Every trumpet made starts out trying to be better than a Bach. They were, and are the standard. 100 years later, they are still trying. I have 6528 NY c.1945, 31648 - 1965-70? ( Early Elkhart- still NY parts )and my new one 392328 c.1990 .in Silver. All play great.

[@ericturner2477]

"Statistics prove that cornet players as a class are the longest-lived of any professional men -- an average life of 65 years." - Vincent Bach, "The Art of Trumpet Playing". 😆😆😆

[@tesmith47]

Marsalis and Davis, play Bachs

[@illitrait]

...Marsalis long moved on to Monettes. Davis?

[@user-rn1lb8sx2c]

@@tesmith47 played*

[@ewetho]

I am the odd duck - don’t like them.. prefer Benge… since then I found rotaries now wow!!!!