Bach Cornets... Underrated!

Stradbrother · Veteran Member Joined: 13 Apr 2015 Posts: 150

Hey everyone!

Even though I live in America, I play in a British Brass Band as a solo cornet player and have a huge affinity for the British Brass Band history and literature. Growing up playing in drum and bugle corps, I love community and competition driven brass ensembles.

I usually play on a Couturier cornet or my Boston cornet, but recently I found myself in an old music store in San Francisco and found this Bach 184 ML bore cornet. I thought to myself "eh, I'm not sure what use I would have with a ML bore modern cornet"

But wow! I played it and couldn't believe how nicely and true-to-form it played with my deep traditional mouthpiece. Even though it is an ML bore, it felt and played big.

It has had some major surgery performed on it and obviously it has been well-used over the years with some major pitting, possible red rot, and part replacements, but the shop owner let me have it for $300 and so far it has been a steal! Perfectly aligned valves with a ton of compression, slides and valves are quick and intonation is wonderful.

Hey, I think the "Roughness" adds to its character

If you haven't tried a Bach Strad cornet, give them a whirl. I can't believe how well they fit in with the traditional brass band sound.

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Getzen 3051 Custom
Kanstul California 101
XO 1624 C
Bach 183 Flugelhorn
Bach LB 229 Eb/D Long Bell
Bach 184 Cornet
Kanstul 920

TrumpetMD · Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2022 4:32 pm Post subject:

Congratulations on the new horn. I had been looking for a used Bach 184 Cornet for a while, and finally found one in great condition last year. I agree that it's a nice horn.

Mike
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Bach Stradivarius 43* Trumpet (1974), Bach 6C Mouthpiece.
Bach Stradivarius 184 Cornet (1988), Yamaha 13E4 Mouthpiece
Olds L-12 Flugelhorn (1969), Yamaha 13F4 Mouthpiece.
Plus a few other Bach, Getzen, Olds, Carol, HN White, and Besson horns.

chef8489 · Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2022 6:27 pm Post subject:

I would l9ve to get a 184g in silver. It's on my horn wishlist.
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Current horns
2023 Bach 19072G/43 pipe with 1st trigger
1966 H.N. White King Silver Flair
1965 H.N. White King Super 20 Sllversonic Symphony 1st trigger

Brassnose · Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2022 12:06 am Post subject:

This is bad news for me 😎 I have been looking at Bach cornets for a while, but always decided four to five horns is enough. Oh well, who knows … I’d be looking for a lacquer one I guess but they are quite rare here if you only look at the used market. Have fun with your new horn.
_________________
2019 Martin Schmidt eXcellence
1992 Bach 43GH/43
1989 Kühnl & Hoyer Model 15 flugel
1980/2023 Custom Blessing Scholastic C 😎
1977 Conn 6B
1951 Buescher 400 Lightweight
AR Resonance, Frate, Klier

zaferis · Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2022 2:09 pm Post subject:

Had mine for years... no complaints..

https://www.dropbox.com/s/68o0212mxt8csaw/IMG_5587.jpeg?dl=0 [/img]
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Freelance Performer/Educator
Adjunct Professor
Bach Trumpet Endorsing Artist
Retired Air Force Bandsman

Tom LeCompte · Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2022 2:48 pm Post subject:

Dale has a 184G. I scored one, and took the risk unplayed based on his experience. I think it plays a smidgen brighter and a smidgen smaller than the typical BBB cornet, but nothing beyond the pale.

Dale Proctor · Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2022 3:57 pm Post subject:

Yep, I’ve been playing a large bore 184G for years, and used it in a British-style brass band during a large part of that time. Great instrument, but not as dense sounding as a Besson Prestige…

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"Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away ." - Sir Thomas Beecham

cbtj51 · Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2022 5:49 pm Post subject:

After a ton of research and even more time looking for the one that I could afford to buy and would love to own (wants and finances don't always match), I found this great example and hit the GO button! I have had my Bach 184 ML for just a few days, my first cornet experience and I have been a brass player since the late 50s!

Though this is a 2000 model, it appears to have been well cared for, excellent condition for a fraction of the price of a new one. This is only my second lacquer horn and it is flawless, literally nothing (scratches, pings, dents, missing or hazy lacquer, worn...NOTHING) that I have found after much scrutiny. The case is in good condition as well (was this a closet queen?). I have been playing it for several hours a day since unboxing. Just waiting on my new mouthpiece from Reeves now. I can hardly wait to put it in public performance!

Life is Short, find the Joy in it!

Mike
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'71 LA Benge 5X Bb
'72 LA Benge D/Eb
'76 Bach CL 229/25A C
‘92 Bach 37 Bb
'98 Getzen 895S Flugelhorn
'00 Bach 184 Cornet
'02 Yamaha 8335RGS
'16 Bach NY 7
'16 XO 1700RS Piccolo
Reeves 41 Rimmed Mouthpieces

TrumpetMD · Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2022 5:53 pm Post subject:

chef8489 · Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2022 7:10 pm Post subject:

stuartissimo · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2022 1:16 am Post subject:

chef8489 · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2022 2:15 am Post subject:

Brassnose · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2022 2:45 am Post subject:

I’d vote for meteorite buttons from Thane trumpets

_________________
2019 Martin Schmidt eXcellence
1992 Bach 43GH/43
1989 Kühnl & Hoyer Model 15 flugel
1980/2023 Custom Blessing Scholastic C 😎
1977 Conn 6B
1951 Buescher 400 Lightweight
AR Resonance, Frate, Klier

chef8489 · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2022 3:05 am Post subject:

Dale Proctor · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2022 7:17 am Post subject:

iiipopes · Heavyweight Member Joined: 29 Jun 2015 Posts: 555

The principal in my community concert band plays a 184. To my ears, it is a little subdued, even with his Bach 1 1/2 C mouthpiece. But with that in mind, I concur with all the above that unless you have to compete with a section of trumpets, it is a magnificent cornet. To my eyes and ears, the 184 has a little larger throated bell than the 181, so I can see how it would blend well in a British-style brass band, and especially with a proper funnel mouthpiece. Also, there is another person here on the forum that does live in England and does have a 184 which she does occasionally use also in her bands as well.
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King Super 20 Trumpet; Sov 921 Cornet
Bach cornet modded to be a 181L clone
Couesnon Flugelhorn and C trumpet

chef8489 · Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 5:46 am Post subject:

I wonder if you can special order a 184g large bore from Bach. It seems they don't sell them any longer. I'd l9ve one in silver plate. You guys make me really want one. I'll have to break out my Super 20 silversonic cornet today and play.
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Current horns
2023 Bach 19072G/43 pipe with 1st trigger
1966 H.N. White King Silver Flair
1965 H.N. White King Super 20 Sllversonic Symphony 1st trigger

kehaulani · Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 8:13 am Post subject:

Dale Proctor · Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 11:53 am Post subject:

Tom LeCompte · Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 6:02 pm Post subject:

WWBW will sell yuou a L bore 184. Now, how long one needs to wait forit remains to be seen.

FWIW, the 184ML does not "play small", although of course that is relative. The BBB trend is for some very big-playing horns, and the 184 is...less big.