Bach Stradivarius Trumpet Comparison

This family of trumpets lives up to the Stradivarius name. Designed 80 years ago by Vincent Bach and still made in the USA today in Elkhart, Indiana, Bach Stradivarius trumpets are recognized as some of the finest trumpets in the world. And we offer them with our 45-Day Complete Satisfaction and Lowest Price Guarantees. Stradivarius trumpets are offered with a broad array of features; the charts below will help you pick out the model that's right for you.

Bells

Fullness of sound and projection are the hallmarks of the Bach Stradivarius trumpets. The one-piece bell construction allows unrestricted vibration of the bell. Bells with fast tapers generate dark, warm tones, while slow tapers produce bright tones. Stradivarius trumpets are available in a number of different tapers, each with a unique tonal quality.

• 37: provides rich, compact sound with great projection
• 43: broader, brighter open tone
• 72: darker strong, powerful sound
• 25: sharper and slightly tighter with more focused projection
• 38: compact, fluid sound
• 239: big, rich, dark sound

The bell's material is also important to the trumpet's tone. The high copper content (85%) in gold brass makes it softer and redder than yellow brass (70%), yielding a warmer tone. For a focused sound with great projection, Sterling Plus bells—seamlessly constructed of 99.9% pure silver—create a full complement of overtones.

Mouthpipes

Like the bell, mouthpipes with fast tapers produce warm tones and slow tapers create bright sounds. Reversed construction allows a more open feel with less resistance by eliminating a step at the main tuning slide and maintaining a longer taper length for improved intonation. The rounded main tuning slide crook option eliminates tight bends so the air moves freely for a more open feel.

• 25: provides some resistance and is effective in centering or tying together tone production
• 25-Open: more open and free-blowing
• 7: more free-blowing with a darker tone
• 43: more flexible and open feeling with less resistance and a brighter sound
• 25C: same features as the 25
• 25A: longer version of 25C

Bore

The bore size also plays a role in a trumpet's tonal quality, but it's not as important as many musicians think. Most players opt for a medium-large bore. Larger-bore trumpets may have greater volume and carrying power, but they require more effort to play. The Vindabona dual bore has a medium-large valve section and a smaller inner diameter on top of the main tuning slide for a dark, warm sound.

• M: medium, .453" (11.51mm)
• ML: medium-large, .459" (11.66mm)
• MLV: Vindabona, .453"/.459" (11.51/11.66mm)
• L: large, .462" (11.74mm)
• XL: extra-large, .468" (11.89mm)

Another important feature of all Bach Stradivarius trumpets is the use of Monel pistons. The non-corrosive metal, hand-lapped fit, carefully aligned ports, and enclosed bronze springs ensure light, trouble-free action for years, and the nylon guides eliminate valve noise. All Bach Stradivarius trumpets include a mouthpiece and case.

180 Series Bb Stradivarius Trumpets

The 180 Series trumpets are the most popular Bach trumpets and are good for all-around playing. Shared features include standard-weight body and bell and standard 25 mouthpipe (except on XL and Vindabona bore models).

LR180 Series

The LR180 Series trumpets have a unique configuration allowing for the quick response of a lightweight model along with the projection of a standard model. They feature lightweight bodies, standard-weight bells, and reversed construction 25LR mouthpipes (longer form of 25 with less resistance).

LT180 Series

Players who want a lively trumpet with a quick response prefer the LT180 Series trumpets. Shared features include a lightweight body and bell, and standard construction 25 mouthpipe (except for 72 bell).

Bach Custom Stradivarius Trumpets

Musician's Friend has put together a few of the most popular custom orders for Bach Stradivarius trumpets. Now you can get your trumpet exactly how you want it without having to wait for it to be built.