TrumpetMaster - View Single Post

trickg · 04-19-2004, 10:53 PM

I thought that I would drop a note in here about a couple of modifications that I had done to my Large Bore Bach Strad.

When I bought this trumpet almost 7 years ago, it was hand picked out of a lineup of roughly 20 some different Bachs of all different bores and configurations, at Chuck Levin's Washington Music center, so even though the horn is a good horn, it was bought with the idea that I was going to break into the area's legit/wedding scene to make some extra cash. What I actually ended up playing was a lot of Latin Band, Big Band, and Rock band, and it my opinion it functions much better as a legit horn than a rock band horn....

Until now.

I recently had a friend of mine make a couple of small modifications that has had an interesting impact on how this horn plays and handles. For starters, I had the forward brace between the leadpipe and the bell moved back toward the valve casing about an inch or so. I also had the rear tuning slide brace removed entirely. I left the Bach heavy valve caps on it.

These modifications have livened this horn up quite a bit, and the result so far is that it doesn't seem like I have to work quite as hard to get through a rock band gig, and it also seems to be a little more loose in the slotting, although it maintains it's focused sound. Does that sound strange? It also seems to be a little brighter.

I still have all of my parts and so far, I haven't paid a cent for the modifications. Todd, the guy who did them, wants me to be sure that this is what I want before we make it permanent by buffing and cleaning some things, and spot plating where needed. I'll continue to give it a workout and see how it goes, but I think that these changes are going to stay.

Has anyone else ever done anything like this to their Strads? If so, please share your experiences.

04-19-2004, 10:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
trickg Forte User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Glen Burnie, Maryland Posts: 2,054	My Modified LB Bach Strad I thought that I would drop a note in here about a couple of modifications that I had done to my Large Bore Bach Strad. When I bought this trumpet almost 7 years ago, it was hand picked out of a lineup of roughly 20 some different Bachs of all different bores and configurations, at Chuck Levin's Washington Music center, so even though the horn is a good horn, it was bought with the idea that I was going to break into the area's legit/wedding scene to make some extra cash. What I actually ended up playing was a lot of Latin Band, Big Band, and Rock band, and it my opinion it functions much better as a legit horn than a rock band horn.... Until now. I recently had a friend of mine make a couple of small modifications that has had an interesting impact on how this horn plays and handles. For starters, I had the forward brace between the leadpipe and the bell moved back toward the valve casing about an inch or so. I also had the rear tuning slide brace removed entirely. I left the Bach heavy valve caps on it. These modifications have livened this horn up quite a bit, and the result so far is that it doesn't seem like I have to work quite as hard to get through a rock band gig, and it also seems to be a little more loose in the slotting, although it maintains it's focused sound. Does that sound strange? It also seems to be a little brighter. I still have all of my parts and so far, I haven't paid a cent for the modifications. Todd, the guy who did them, wants me to be sure that this is what I want before we make it permanent by buffing and cleaning some things, and spot plating where needed. I'll continue to give it a workout and see how it goes, but I think that these changes are going to stay. Has anyone else ever done anything like this to their Strads? If so, please share your experiences. __________________ Patrick Gleason email me at: trickg1@hotmail.com "What we do in life echoes in eternity" "At my signal, unleash hell." - Maximus Decimus Meridius