C Trumpet
2007 Bach Stradivarius “Chicago” C, model 229* large bore
This is by far one of the best playing trumpets I have ever encountered. There really is no other way to describe it than, “It just sings.” It feels as if the notes are just popping out of the bell and that I had nothing to do with it, the trumpet is doing all the work. It is an amazing horn, and frankly, I do not deserve it. That’s why a horn like this makes me strive to be a better player, to try just a little harder each time so that one day I might be able to see what this trumpet can really do. This trumpet is a reproduction of the C trumpets that Vincent Bach made for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1955. The Chicago Symphony absolutely sets the standard of excellence in all facets of music, and Bud Herseth, who sat principal from 1948 to 2001, is an inspiration to trumpet players everywhere. Those vaunted Chicago C’s are still in use by the symphony and are a kind of “holy grail” to trumpet aficionados. Conn-Selmer, who now owns the Bach brand, finally realized that trumpet players would do about anything to get their hands on those horns and decided to do a reproduction. They did meticulous research to get them just right, and the workmanship is top notch. They even created a new leadpipe mandrel based on Bach’s 1947 design to create parts for these horns, used a lightweight bell to closer match the thinner gauge of brass they used in the era, and returned to nickel slide ferrules which the company abandoned on silver plated instruments for cost reasons several years ago. This model is quite a bit different from the standard Bach C’s, but it all adds up to one of the sweetest trumpets I’ve ever played—or ever expect to. Just sitting and looking at it makes me smile.
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