Bach Vintage Trumpet Reminisces on the ’30s
1 June 2000
For a limited time, The Selmer Company is reintroducing the Vintage Bach Stradivarius trumpet, a replica of the Vincent Bach trumpets made famous in the late 1920s and early 1930s. The commemorative Vintage trumpet is a tribute to the noted musician and engineer Vincent Bach (1890-1976) who developed the most advanced trumpet designs of the era. The Vintage trumpet incorporates hex-style slide pull knobs and wider bracing to recreate the visual style associated with such famous musicians as Harry Glantz, George Mager, F.E. Olds, Elden Benge and mouthpiece maker Frank Zottola. Only 2,000 of this limited edition Model 198 Vintage trumpet will be produced. Each Vintage trumpet is sold with a certificate of authenticity.
The Vintage trumpet features lightweight one-piece bell construction with a #6 bell flare, using gold brass for a warmer tone quality. A longer mouthpiece receiver delivers a Bach Mt. Vernon appearance, while the sound and feel of the ’30s is attributed to the use of #6 lead pipe. With a .459″ medium-large bore and lightweight body and bell, the Vintage trumpet has quick response and is easy to play. Gemstone finger buttons and a handsome silver-plated finish with gold-plated trim protects and adorns the instrument.
Highly skilled craftsmanship is the hallmark of all processes and materials used in producing the Vintage trumpet. Hand hammering converts sheets of special brass into trumpet bells. Several times throughout the manufacturing process, the bells are annealed in high temperature ovens to soften the metal and relieve stress. During the spinning stage, a piece of wire is placed into the bell rim. Lead soldering of the bell rim wire solidifies the sound while adding clarity. The use of gold brass, which is softer and contains a higher copper content than standard yellow brass, aids in dampening vibrations for a warmer tone quality.
The Selmer Company, Inc., a subsidiary of Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc., is the largest manufacturer of band and orchestra instruments in the United States. The company’s product line includes Selmer, Vincent Bach and Buescher band instruments, Ludwig drums, Musser percussion, Emerson flutes and piccolos, Glaesel stringed instruments, and Wm. Lewis & Son stringed instruments, which are sold through a network of distributors throughout the world. To contact The Selmer Company, write to P.O. Box 310, Elkhart, IN 46515.