| "so many people don't like them (Bachs)"
I think that's mostly piling on and bashing a good thing. Haman nature demands a certain degree of this. The accountant in me used to make me constantly seek a better "bargain", thus I had a series of excellent Yamaha. Finally, I ran into my Selmer and all frugalness went out the window in favor of a really "special" horn that I love. I was never a Bach basher, BUT I never owned one and I always told anyone that would listen to go try a Yamaha, Schilke or Kanstul.
There may have been a period not long ago when Bach's quality dipped substantially below the price point, but I never played any of those Bachs. The ones I've played had a great tone, decent intonation and were reasonably well assembled, given the price. All the Bach imitations that I've sounded very fine in their own right, BUT none sounded exactly like a Bach (I'm not saying the Bach sound is superior, but that I haven't heard an imitation that sounded the same). If you want that exact sound you'll need to play a Bach, or at least a Bach rebuild, like a Laskey or Malone.
That is an interesting question, "why hasn't anyone exactly reproduced the Bach 37 sound?" Seem to me that the materials and measurements are known. Maybe all the copiers want to "improve" the tone by using more copper or a different bell taper or etc., etc. I haven't tried a Zeus, but from the description of the materials it seems highly unlikely that it sounds like a Bach 37. (Adding that to my "To Do" list).
Dave |