jazz9

Hello everyone. I wanted to ask if anyone had ever heard of or played this instrument. Right on the bell it says "DESIGNED BY VINCENT BACH- MERCEDES II." From the looks of it, it is an extremely old instrument, and it plays like one. The reason I even played it in the first place was that I forgot my horn at home and had to use it as a replacement for a day. I'm thinking it would be a pretty sweet horn if there was some serious work done to it. It is silver with some brass looking stains and some of the black stains described in a thread on this forum. Thanks

Jazz9

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Bach Strad 37

screamingmorris

It is generally acknowledged that the Mercedes II was greatly inferior to the original Mercedes, as Googles searches will show.

Trumpet: vincent bach mercedes 2

On the other hand, on rare occasions I have read people saying that they really like their Mercedes II a lot.

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So some possible explanations are that the original Mercedes was so great (just below a Strad) that there was no way that the Mercedes II could ever compare to it, or perhaps the Mercedes II of the 1970's had the same problem as the Conn Connstellations of the 1970's (poor quality control so that both good and bad specimens were coming out of the same factory every day).

- Morris

Brass crusader

Hi guys
I played a Mercedes II, and thought it played like a student horn...it was in a rental fleet at a shop. I'm currently in the market for an original Mt. Vernon or N.Y Bach Mercedes, or Mercury.
However, as morris said, it could be a good specimen.
If it works for you, you're in luck!
Cheers

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~Brass Crusader

Yamaha Xeno Custom w/ reverse leadpipe
1947 Olds Super Recording trumpet
1947 Olds Special trumpet
1952 Olds Ambassador cornet
1967 Olds Special cornet
1970's Yamaha 631 Flugel w/ Rose brass bell
1970's Conn 17b Coprion director
Other assorted Conns and Olds
Yamaha and Bach Mouthpieces
1929 Martin Handcraft "The New Master"
1935 Conn 22B NY Symphony Special tpt
'83 Callet New York Super Large Bore trpt.
'35 Conn 32H trombone

jazz9

To tell you the truth, it played like pure crap, but it didn't feel like it had been cleaned or serviced for years.

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Bach Strad 37

trumpetera

My first "own" horn was a Mercedes II tht my parents rented from the music school.

I was the first "owner", and thought it was fantastic! I was 9 years old.

A few years ago, I helped that school out when their trumpet teacher was sick, and after work,I went int to the instrument storage room.

Didn't think it would still be alive, but there was "my" mercedes lying in it's case!

It was quite beat up-ben through a few "artists" since my days, but I picked i up and played it.

WOW!

I wanted o take it with me, an asked if it was for sale-but no luck. :(

I'm sure they were not built like the old ones-one can understand this just fom looking at one- but "my" horn could easilly be used by me on a daily basis.

Hope this rant helps!!

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Co-principal trumpet Gothenburg Opera Orchestra
Principal trumpet Stockholm Baroque orchestra

www.opera.se
www.stockholmsbarockorkester.nu

jazz9

Well this one has been at the school since at least the 70s, but I don't know who had it first. It has just been sitting in its case on the top of the shelf until we got a new band director. He uses it for class demonstrations, but I hate it. It plays terrible, but I don't know what work it needs.

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Bach Strad 37

sistertrumpetdoc

My parents bought me a brand new Mercedes II in 1972 when I was a freshman in high school; I LOVED It! It sounded GREAT, was absolutely Beautiful and a VERY Well Made Instrument! I feel now as I did back then, that this trumpet is in no wise inferior to the Mercedes, a.k.a., the Bach Mercedes I. A friend of mine had a "Mercedes I," he let me play it and I could Honestly NOT Feel or Hear ANY difference in quality of play. If I could find a "Mercedes II" in good condition, I would buy it, if the price was reasonable! It is Definately NOT just a "Student" trumpet!!!!!

vrrodri

I have one in good condition, just cleaned it. How much are you looking to pay? I am in San Antonio. Tried to PM you but there is a glitch not letting me.

kjley

I have a question, I just came into contact with a Mercedes II and I don't know if it's a student or proffessional horn. I need a trumpet for college and I may be able to buy this one, but only if it's a proffessional horn. Can someone help me? Will it be worth my money to purchase it? I'm seeing many differnt opinons in this thread and I want as many as I can have. Thank You!

soundgrazer

The Mercedes II is not a professional horn. It is not as good as the old Mercedes. I have a 1970s Mercedes and I can say it is very well built (but really heavy.) The Mercedes is an intermediate model but I do not like it. I find it extremely tiring to play even though other people on this thread think they are awesome. It boils down to finding the right horn for each individual. I still think Bach makes great horns but I will take a Strad lightweight over a Mercedes ; they are NOT the same. My advice is go lightweight for lead and projection and heavier to blend in church music (where the Mercedes does a nice job.) Also try a lot of horns. Bach may not be your horn!