MPM

I've played some that were really stuffy, and a few that were abolutely fantastic! I don't even know the leadpipe and bells. I've seen where there were many times a "model #" was not stamped on the bell of some of these older Bachs.

One of two best trumpets (non-Scodwell ... that's what I play) I've ever played was a Mt Vernon Bach. Silver plated, no model number on the bell. The leadpipe had been replaced by Ren Schilke. The owner went to Ren and asked if he (Ren) could but on a new leadpipe "identical" to the damaged one. So it was done.

The other was an Elkhart Bach 37, with a monette lead pipe. (this was back when D.M. made lead pipes to replace a standard Bach 25). Jim Becker was the owner of this horn, and he did the custom work on this horn. At the time (early '80's) Jim was living & working at St James Music repare in MN. I think he's in the northest now.

Jay Daversa ( former LA Studio Trumpet player ) has a very nice light weight Mt Vernon Bach. HA .... Jay ha a number of really GREAT playing trumpets ... including perhaps the best Calicchio 1s-2 I've ever played.

Pwew .. I'm getting a brain crap ... there are a few points I'm trying to make, and a few observations to mention. As far as observations, you must consider the "times" and the players when these Mt V's were being made. Music was different, recording was different, playing above an F or G was a novalty ... these older horns were made for the times. A player of today may very well not like an old Mt Vernon, even if it's a good one. A few years ago Bach put out a limited number of the "Mellinium" models. While "superbly" crafted trumpets ... they played very tight & stuffy starting at about high F.

Points... everyone likes something a little different. The horn to play is the one that helps you get that sound you hear in your head as easy as possible.

Take three tumpet players ... Doc ... Maynard ... Harry James. All like something different. Different trumpets, mpcs ... etc

Or Conrad Gozzo ... Bernie Glow .... Al Porcino ... ditto the above.

Bud Herseth ... Harry Glantz ... William Vacchiano ... double ditto.

Point being, it's ok to say you don't like any particular make of trumpet, and anyone who'd try to argue that point with you is ignorant. Some players have "loved" Mt Vernon Bachs. Some won't play anything but their Schilke B5 ... Some willl only play their Calicchio's ... a few are swearing by their Bach Sterling Plus ... I know one guy who sold three great horns ... ( a great Bach 43*, a Calicchio 1s-7, and a great Schilke S32 ) ... becuse he found a horn he liked better than any he's played yet.

So ... if you don't like a Mt V Bach, cool. But :D ... if you're never going to play it ... maybe you would a very nice guy to sell it to a "player" who's really wanting one.