Vincent Bach designated his first bell the “T” bell also known as mandrel number 1. It was designed for Bb trumpets, as was his second bell, the “B” bell. Through 37 years of making trumpets and cornets, Bach considered a very large number of bells for them.
There were seventy-two (72) designs for Bb bells alone, and each has a number code. The numbers range from 1 through 73, but number 15 apparently was omitted.
He apparently experimented a lot in the early days with different mandrels, later on 6 and 7 became more or less standard for ML and L, 38 became standard for M bore. A trumpet stamped “Model 7-59”, for example, would have a number 7 bell and would be a medium large bore instrument with a bore size of 0.459 inches. One stamped “Model 10-62” would be a trumpet with a number 10 bell and a bore size of 0.462 inches, in Bach terms, a large bore horn. If bell have the number 67 stamped on it, this means the old NY postal zone of the Bronx !
At the end of the Bronx period and the beginning of the Mt. Vernon period the leadpipes (25,43) and bells (37,38 (M) and 43,72) became more the standard. The difficulty is that the markings on the bell and receiver are not there so it’s only possible to verify the exact leadpipe and bell by shop cards.
This list of bell types summarizes the different bell components in a simple list for easier comparisons. We are always looking for your feedback on your experiences with each of the bell, and leadpipe combinations. Email us through “contact us” on each page.
Trumpet Bells
Bell | Sound Type | Styles | Positives | Negatives |
Bb Bells | ||||
1/T | Cross between the 37 and 72 bells | |||
6 | ||||
7 | Slightly brighter than the 37 bell. | Jazz (Lead) |
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25 | Sharper, slightly tighter and more focused projection than 37. Similar in characteristics to the Benge 3X bell. | All Styles (Tighter) |
Tight, focused sound. Great for lead type playing in night clubs, etc. | Can be too cutting of a sound in a large group. |
37 | The “Standard” Trumpet Sound with a rich, compact sound of great projection | All Styles | Easy To play, blends in with many trumpets | I found that the 37 bell doesn’t project as well as some others and the sound can be dull |
38 | Similar to the 25, but a little warmer sounding.Compact, fluid sound | Jazz (Smaller Combos) |
Nice warm sound | Doesn’t have great projection, doesn’t quite cut in a full jazz band |
42 | Warm, lighter French sound | |||
43 | Broader, brighter, more open than 37 | Jazz (Lead) |
Nice Projection, Great for jazz | Might be too bright for some strictly classical players who play in symphony orchestras |
46 | Bugle Bell? | |||
65 | Big, dark, Teutonic sound | Classical (Dark) |
Can be big, cornet sounding, but rather dark sounding. | Really only used in symphonic type settings. Does not work well for lead type playing. |
72 | Strong, powerful sound, darker tone than 37 | All Styles (Lead) |
Nice projection, probably the fullest sounding bell Bach makes. High range sparkles. | Does take more effort to play. Harder to play at soft dynamics with. You will probably find your endurance is better with the 37 or 43 bell |
C/D Bells | ||||
211 | Slightly tighter and brighter than 236. | Classical | Can be a little bright for a D trumpet. | |
229 | Tighter and brighter sounding than the 239. Sound doesn’t spread as much to the sides and the 239…the sound is more direct and focused.Tends to be slightly broader than 239(Similar to 43) | Classical | Nice sound, really cuts through the orchestra. | High range can sound pinched if you don’t fill this bell up with air! |
236 | More focused than the 229. Bright and it projects!! Standard for “D” trumpets.(Similar to 25) | Classical | It projects !!! | To bright for C trumpets, nice though for D’s. |
238 | This bell is often used with a Vindabona bore. Sounds both big and dark.(Similar to 72) | Classical | If dark is what you want, this is even darker than the 239 | Doesn’t project…tone can be airy in low register. |
239 | Big, Dark, Sound. Considered the “37” bell of for C and D trumpets. The so-called “Standard.”Rich, big, dark sound.(Similar to 65) | Classical | Standard, has a big sound that is big and, yes, “FAT” sounding! | None really…if this is the kind of sound you want you can’t go wrong. For those who need a negative comment, it takes more endurance to play this then the 229. |
244 | Original bell configuration used on Vindabona D trumpets. | Classical | ||
256 | Very large, similar to a Bb bell. Gibber darker sound than the 229 or 239(Similar to 38) | Solo Quintet Chamber |
Sounds very much like a Bb bell. Can be stuffy in the upper register. | Can be stuffy in the upper register. Can be tight, and hard to play in tune. |
Eb Bells | ||||
229 | Tighter and brighter sounding than the 239. Sound doesn’t spread as much to the sides and the 239…the sound is more direct and focused.(Similar to 43) | Classical | Nice sound, really cuts through the orchestra. | High range can sound pinched if you don’t fill this bell up with air! |
239 | Big, Dark, Sound. Considered the “37” bell of for C and D trumpets. The so-called “Standard.”(Similar to 65) | Classical | Standard, has a big sound that is big and, yes, “FAT” sounding! | None really…if this is the kind of sound you want you can’t go wrong. For those who need a negative comment, it takes more endurance to play this then the 229. |
High Key Bells (Eb, F, G, High Bb) | ||||
311 | Bright, crystalline clarino sound. Larger numbers tend to be bigger, darker in sound characteristics. Intonation can be less sure with larger bell throats | Classical | ||
314 | Classical | |||
316 | Classical | |||
318 | Classical | |||
320 | Classical | |||
325 | Classical |
Cornet Bells | ||||
37 | Rich, compact sound of great projection | Concert Band |
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43 | Broader, brighter more open than 37 | Concert Band |
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72 | Strong, powerful sound, darker than 37 | Concert Band |
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25 | Sharper, slightly tighter with more focused projection than 37 | Concert Band |
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31 | Compact, fluid sound | Concert Band |
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184 | Only one flare available for Model 184. | British Band | Dark |
Flugelhorn Bells | ||||
183 | Only one flare available for Model 183 |
Bell Characteristics – Eb Trumpet
Bell | Description | |
229 |
Tighter and brighter sounding than the 239. Sound doesn’t spread as much to the sides and the 239…the sound is more direct and focused.(Similar to 43) | |
Pro: | Nice sound, really cuts through the orchestra. | |
Con: | High range can sound pinched if you don’t fill this bell up with air! | |
239 |
Big, Dark, Sound. Considered the “37” bell of for C and D trumpets. The so-called “Standard.”(Similar to 65) | |
Pro: | Standard, has a big sound that is big and, yes, “FAT” sounding! | |
Con: | None really…if this is the kind of sound you want you can’t go wrong. For those who need a negative comment, it takes more endurance to play this then the 229. |
Bell Characteristics – Flugelhorn
Bell | Description | |
183 |
Only one flare available for Model 183 | |
Pro: | ||
Con: |
Standard Bb Bell/Bore Combinations [1]
Bore | M | ML | L | XL | MLV | n/a |
Bell | 38 | 37 43 72 |
25 | 43 | 72 | 65 |
Lead Pipe | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25-O | 43 | n/a |
Bore | 0.453 | 0.459 | 0.462 | 0.468 | 0.453 0.459 |
n/a |
[1] This table was compiled from the most common combinations of Bach Stradivarius trumpets. Other combinations are/have been available from Bach. It is more common in early Bach instruments to find many more unique combinations.
Bell Sound Characteristics [2]
Sound | Bright | Std. Bell | Dark | |||
Bb Bell | 25 | 43 | 38 | 37 | 72 | 65 |
C Bell | 236 | 229 | 239 | 238 | 256 |
[2] This table was compiled from various members experiences from various trumpet discussion forums. Obviously when combined with the player, mouthpiece, bell combinations users experiences may be different.
Sources:
© Conn Selmer, Inc.
© TrumpetHerald.com; various discussion threads