New York Bach Strads

[gregwaits]

Years ago I was gifted a New York Bach 36. It had belonged to a bandleader I had worked with for several years. He took a liking to me obviously.

The horn had a flat French bead, and the bell gauge was heavy. I never measured it though. I really could find no application for the horn. The bell just was not easy to ring.

Were thick gauge bells typical for New York Bachs?

[hornbuilder]

Nothing was "typical" for New York Bach's! It seems experimentation was the only typical, in many areas of construction. I've seen or examples of both heavy and light bells from both NY and MV periods.

[Trevorspaulding376]

I had a New York 8 that was lovely and magical.

Also had a mt Vernon 16 at one time that had the French bead. Really loved that combo

Sorry can’t add much else but my experience with NY and the French bead was positive in both examples

[ngrinder]

I've owned a few NY horns, and that was my experience - dark chocolate on steroids. However, I own a NY 8 now that seems to be just *slightly* thicker than the Mt Vernon horns I have, which are thinner and seem to be quite buffed down, and it's fantastic! Easily the best bell I own. Keep in mind my sample size is quite small.

[Mamaposaune]

I used to have a NY 36B bell section paired with an Elkhart-era 36 slide. Sold it years ago; although there were things I loved about it - it's quick, easy response and a resonance that I could feel and hear on certain notes (not a buzz, this was pleasant) it had a lightweight red brass bell which I felt made it hard to project on in ensembles. )I do not know what type of bead it had.)
Anyway, when I found a mid-70's 36B with a yellow bell and lightweight slide, I just found that I preferred that one over the NY bell.

[hyperbolica]

I've had an MV 36 and a NY 6, both of which were really special instruments. And of course a handful of Elkhart Conns, which I still use as a standard by which to judge other instruments. I'm not one to believe in age related voodoo, but when these horns are in good repair, it's hard to beat them with the best of the newest kit.

[JoeAumann]

Nothing was "typical" for New York Bach's! It seems experimentation was the only typical, in many areas of construction. I've seen or examples of both heavy and light bells from both NY and MV periods.

^What Matthew said.