Bach 197 Stradivarius Trumpet BB 7 Bell, #7 Leadpipe

BACH 197 Details ^top

Bach Stradivarius Professional Trumpets, Cornets & Flugelhorns
Vincent Bach combined his unique talents as both a musician and an engineer to create brass instruments of unequaled total quality - instruments which today remain the sound choice of artists worldwide.

Born Vincent Schrotenbach in Vienna in 1890, he initially received training on the violin, then switched to the trumpet when he heard its majestic sound.

Although Vincent also displayed a strong aptitude for science and graduated from the Maschinenbauschule with an engineering degree, he gave up a promising engineering career to pursue his first love and an uncertain future as a musician. The risk paid off. Performing under the stage name of Vincent Bach, he established musical success as he toured throughout Europe.

World War I forced Vincent's move to New York City where he arrived with only $5.00 in his pockets. A letter to the famous conductor Karl Muck got Vincent an audition and a resulting position with the Boston Symphony. By the following season, Vincent was first trumpet in the Metropolitan Opera House opera and ballet orchestras, performing in the American premiere of Stravinsky's Petroushka and Firebird.

While on tour in Pittsburgh, Vincent was convinced by a repairman that he could improve the mouthpiece on Vincent's trumpet. After the man ruined the mouthpiece, Vincent had great difficulty finding a suitable replacement. This was the beginning of Vincent's realization of the very real need for high-quality mouthpieces.

197 New York

The Bach #7 bell, developed by Vincent Bach during the 1920's, first appeared in 1929. This bell is constructed in one piece from lightweight yellow brass, with the current version featuring a classic French-bead flat rim. The instrument features a .459" bore, #7 leadpipe, vintage '30's style mouthpiece receiver, first and third slide finger rings, single brace tuning slide, third slide stop assembly, and semi-precious finger buttons. The instrument is finished in bright silver plate with gold plate slides and trim. The outfit includes a specially marked double case and includes a Certificate of Authenticity.

BACH 197 Bach History ^top

Vincent Bach... Musician and Master Engineer
Vincent Bach, in combining his unique talents as both a musician and an engineer, created brass instruments which remain the sound choice of artists worldwide. Born Vincent Schrotenbach in Vienna during 1890, initial musical training was received on the violin. However, young Vincent preferred the majestic sounds of the trumpet and eventually switched. Also displaying an aptitude in science, Vincent graduated from the Maschinenbauschule with an engineering degree. His heart remained in music, leaving an engineering career for an uncertain future in music. Success soon followed as he toured throughout Europe, adopting the stage name of Vincent Bach while in England.

Through a series of events, Vincent arrived in New York City during World War I with $5.00 in his pockets. Initial vaudeville theater work was secured through connections with Oscar and Arthur Hammerstein. A letter in 1914 to conductor Karl Muck resulted in an audition and a position with the Boston Symphony. The following season Vincent served as first trumpet in the Metropolitan Opera House opera and ballet orchestras, performing in the American premiere of Stravinsky's Petroushka and Firebird.

While on tour in Pittsburgh, a repairman convinced Vincent that he could improve his mouthpiece. After ruining the mouthpiece, Vincent experienced difficulty in finding a suitable replacement. He now recognized the need by brass players for high-quality mouthpieces. Initially Vincent remodeled old mouthpieces and made new ones in the back of the Selmer Music Store in New York City.

In 1918 he invested $300 for a foot-operated lathe and office at 11 East 14th Street and set about the business of making mouthpieces, continuing part-time at the Rivoli Theater. Offers of $50 were received for Bach mouthpieces – mouthpieces at the time sold for $1.50. From that point on the business grew rapidly. The first Bach ads appeared in The Metronome during the early 1920s. Not one to be discouraged by an initial slow sales response, Vincent changed the ad headline to read “How To Become A Wizard On The Cornet Without Practicing,” to which he received over $500 in orders during the first seven days.

The first trumpets were produced in 1924. Musicians frequently commented “This is a real ‘Stradivarius' of a trumpet,” hence the brand name Bach Stradivarius. Trombones followed in 1928, a risky time for Vincent to expand with the stock market crash, bank failures, and the ensuing Great Depression.

However, a strong demand remained for Bach instruments and mouthpieces due to their superior design, high quality, and prompt service.

During his career Vincent served as president of the National Association of Band Instrument Manufacturers (NABIM). In 1961, at the age of 71, the company was placed for sale. Despite receiving twelve other offers for the company, some with even higher bids, Vincent chose The Selmer Company. Having developed a close relationship with Selmer and George Bundy over the years, he felt that Selmer would best expand upon his foundations. All tooling and machinery was moved to Selmer's operations in Elkhart, Indiana, with Vincent assisting in the training. Original designs and blue prints have been carefully preserved in manufacturing the sound choice of professionals.