Bach Strad Question

mark125 · Posted: Sat May 01, 2004 4:10 pm Post subject:

Does anyone know of any overall problems with the Bach Strad Model 37's made in 1970?
The one I am looking at seems to be in good shape with some silver plate wear around the valve casing.

Thanks
Mark

camel lips · Heavyweight Member Joined: 24 Jan 2004 Posts: 687

There is a ton of info on here about BAch strads.The short and the Skinny is that Bach started having quality control problems about 1974 and has never really come back from it.

The quality control I speak of have more to do with intonation than finish.Almost every Strad I have seen has been masterfully put together ,even from that time period.

Most strads will respond nicely to a valve alignment,so don't fret if you get one that's intonation is out of wack.

Jon Arnold · Heavyweight Member Joined: 07 Jan 2002 Posts: 2026

If it plays good and sounds good, don't worry about when it was made.

mheffernen5 · Posted: Sun May 02, 2004 11:06 am Post subject:

Tons of vintage Bach's on E-Bay too these days...Supposed to be as good as today's...

Darelor · Posted: Sun May 02, 2004 11:51 am Post subject:

I have a 70s Bach Strad 37 I bought used in '86. I have since discovered that it is wise to take any used horn to a good technician for an evaluation. Turns out my horn had had some major brass work done without the destressing (unsoldering the braces to relieve tension in the horn), and the valves were out of alignment. The horn was OK but seemed a little stuffy and lacking in resonance. This is something I could not have known myself. Even if a horn has some problems, the good news is that it is not a major investment to have the valve alignment and destressing done. I think I have a good horn.

Hope this helps.

Darel

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Bach Strad 37

[ This Message was edited by: Darelor on 2004-05-02 21:15 ]

jophst · Posted: Sun May 02, 2004 12:23 pm Post subject:

There were some good horns that escaped that period but not many. The period between 1975-1979 is not the used horns you would want to pick up used on Ebay. You definitely want to play these first!!!!!

Decent vintage time periods are 1970-1974 and 1981-1985. Some of the finest horns ever in the Elkhart period were made between 1965-1970, but again you need to play them first to find them.
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Tom LeCompte · Posted: Sun May 02, 2004 8:16 pm Post subject:

Mark-

There are good Bachs and not-so-good Bachs from just about all years. I don't think there is any magic serial number check you can do. You just have to play it. Mine has a serial number 146xxx which puts it into the period where Joshua says "few good ones escaped". It's a very good horn. It's not the greatest trumpet that has ever been made, but it's a very good horn. I wouldn't trade it for any other Bach I have played, including a former teacher's Mount Vernon. In fact, maybe it's instructive to compare the two horns: he likes more of a sense of resistance than I do, and gets that from his horn. I find that's a little too much for me. Who's right? Well, we both are.

I think you just have to play them.

Cheers,

Tom