Bach Strad. Friends?

[BADBOY-DON]

Hey BADBOY-RODD!!!

Shame on you for PICKIN' ON THE BACH-A-HOLICS!!!! kinda fun though isn't it?

OK! GANG!!! TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT!!!!! )))

[ScottA]

Fans and players of Bach trumpets? A few names you may know:
Classical:
Bud Herseth Chicago Sym.
Ray Mase Julliard School/american Brass Quin
Phil Smith -NY Phil.
George Vosburg-Pittsburg Sym.
Rolf Smedvig-Empire Brass/Soloist
Bill Adam
Michael Sachs-Cleveland Orchestra
Jazz:
Lew Soloff
Dave Douglas
Tim Hagens
Jack Sheldon
Scott Engelbright
Studio:
Malcom McNabb
Gary Grant
Chris Tedesco
Jerry Hey
Charlie Davis

A mere drop in the bucket of top drawer pro players who play Bach trumpets. I know it's not the in thing at the moment to cast allegience to Bach but these names certainly speak for themselves.

Most importantly remember---IT'S NOT THE HORN BUT THE HEART AND SOUL BEHIND IT THAT MATTERS!!!!!!

Keep practicing!

Scott Apelgren

[DaveH]

There is no doubt that the Bach Strad has been and probably still remains the benchmark standard for professional trumpets,especially in regard to tone quality.
However,as I contemplate my next purchase of a Bb trumpet(and a Bach Strad IS being seriously considered),I am disgruntled and frustrated by the idea that I could spend a sizeable amount of money and perhaps not receive the value and quality for which this brand of instrument has become synonymous due to a lack of manufacturing consistency and quality.
One might say that problem is true for any product and my reply is that I would not buy ANY product that was insufficient and where I ran a good chance of not receiving proper value for my money.I believe there are other equally good products for which I am far more certain that I am not taking as many chances with inconsistent quality.When I buy a car,for example(although I know that any brand can have problems), I go with a brand that has a history and reputation for reliability and consistent quality.
In today's competitive economy,resting on past accomplishments is insufficient. If Bach wants to continue to maintain its presence as a leader in the maunfacture of professional instruments,then it will need to effectively meet the competition with consistently high quality products,or that competition will eventually take over the market(I think this is already happening as you read the various postings on this forum).
It matters little who plays the instrument today.These people, and those who come along later who will be making their living on the instrument, will buy the products which provide the greatest quality and consistency of performance,since their livelihood will depend on it. If Bach can continue to provide that type of quality product and so maintain their position in the industry by offering consistent quality instruments,that's fine - more power to them. But if they get a reputation for inconsistent quality,then the competitors will gain market share and the list of "who's who" playing Bach trumpets will gradually become shorter. No one is going to spend money to get less value than could be achieved with a competitive product,especially when the product is a "tool"by which someone is making a living.
My opinion,FWIW(but there is some economic reality included).........

[ This Message was edited by: DaveH on 2002-06-19 08:53 ]

[ This Message was edited by: DaveH on 2002-06-19 08:57 ]

[BADBOY-DON]

[ScottA]

I don't think that Badboy Don is understanding my original post. The open minded part was when I decided that maybe there was something better out there for me and I decided to look. I played a lot of horns including some of the new "small-batch" brands. Most of them were great instruments. Some worked ok for me others did not.

It seems that certain purveyors of different brands don't want to acknowledge that someone could play one of those horns and actually decide for themselves that it is not the best choice for them. I think it is safe to say that any player on the list above can choose to play whatever brand insrument they wish, probably at no cost to them. They choose to play Bach. No big deal. Other great players (Doc, Maynard, Wynton, Nick Payton, Maurice Andre......) play other brands way better than I can ever hope to play any horn.

It's about the music, not the horn

[jgadvert]

Scott A:

Some well made points about the individual players tastes being so important when it comes to horn selection. Indeed there are many horns priced well under $2,000(particularly used models of pro horns) that can really do well for a particualr job. I'm a Doc Getzen fan too!(does not mean any of you should be!!!!)

Thats why I never chime in about my super horn as a reco (in fact I rarely mention the brand name) unless it is the topic of a particualr post. It just annoyes me when others do otherwise.

I played a strad 37 for years and although not appropriate for my particualr needs, is still a fine horn. Just cause someone can afford a super horn does not mean they can therefore compare everything else to it. A Bach is a Bach and a super horn is a super horn.

[BADBOY-DON]