Mt Vernon Bach Mercedes

TheBrassBandMajor · Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 4:51 am Post subject: Mt Vernon Bach Mercedes

Are the Mt Vernon Mercedes trumpets good? Are they good as the Mt Vernon era Stradivarius trumpets?

I am wondering because I might get an opportunity to buy a main axe that will stay with me for around 1/2 decade to a decade. Is it good to buy a expensive Mt Vernon Strad or a light bit cheaper Mercedes from the Mt Vernon era?

The strad is like 800 bucks more expensive.
_________________
Vincent Bach Mt Vernon Mercedes
B&S Challenger 3137/I
Hermann Ganter G7aN
A.Windisch Silber-Deluxe, Dresden
Couesnon 'Triebert Moderne' piccolo
Conn 'Connstellation' 28A
SO many more trumpets.....

brass crusader · Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 6:05 am Post subject:

Don't waste your money on a Mercedes. I've owned 3 of them over the years from various eras, as well as a bunch of Mt. Vernon and NY Bbs. Get a good Mt. Vernon Strad and call it a day. The Mercedes just don't have the same fit and finish, and I always wound up selling or trading them away. First NY Bach I ever owned was a Mercedes. Kept it around for a year or so and then got rid of it.

Croquethed · Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 6:56 am Post subject:

I had a late 60s Mercedes. Kind of a dog.

Winghorn · Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 12:35 pm Post subject:

The early Mt. Vernon Mercedes trumpets are nothing like the later Mercedes models. They are basically Strads with less nickel trim. I have owned a couple over the years and they were fine horns.

I agree that the Elkhart era Mercedes models are a step below the Strad in terms of playing quality.

To the OP:

If you decide not to buy the Mercedes, I would be interested in it.

Sincerely,

Steve Allison

Irving · Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Feb 2003 Posts: 1886

Roy Hempley wrote an article about the Bach Mercedes. Anybody interested in knowing the history and development of this model should look for the article. I would post a link but I don't know where the article is located.ell

I had an early Elkhart Mercedes, 41XXX. It had a great sound, but it was a very tight blowing horn. The bell was made out of a very thick gauge brass, so I put a 37 Strad bell on the horn. It was still a very tight horn, so I sold it.

steevo · Veteran Member Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Posts: 454

I own a NY Mercedes, circa 1942, that is a few serial numbers away from one of the ones in the Roy Hempley article. Medium bore, 37 bell (one piece) and 7 pipe. The "exceptionally tight" valves were no longer in that condition. I had it restored last year by Charlie Melk, and am very pleased with this horn. It is every bit as good as a 1941 medium bore Strad I used to own.

It is hard to have hard and fast rules when talking about instruments that are 55+ years old. My advise is to play it, and buy it if you like it.

TheBrassBandMajor · Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2017 10:57 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the info folks,
_________________
Vincent Bach Mt Vernon Mercedes
B&S Challenger 3137/I
Hermann Ganter G7aN
A.Windisch Silber-Deluxe, Dresden
Couesnon 'Triebert Moderne' piccolo
Conn 'Connstellation' 28A
SO many more trumpets.....

rockford · Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 7:10 pm Post subject:

TheBrassBandMajor · Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 10:58 pm Post subject:

I am a fan of Mr Hempley's articles. I study them. My favourites are the Mercedes, rotary trumpets and Mercury line article.s

I was just wanting to hear the TH users' opinions of the Mercedes.
_________________
Vincent Bach Mt Vernon Mercedes
B&S Challenger 3137/I
Hermann Ganter G7aN
A.Windisch Silber-Deluxe, Dresden
Couesnon 'Triebert Moderne' piccolo
Conn 'Connstellation' 28A
SO many more trumpets.....