Page 1 of 1
Bach 42 with Rotax rotor
Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2021 3:42 pm
by havard
A tech here in norway just replaced the stock valve and neckpipe with a Rotax valve and open («M») neckpipe .
The horn - a corporation Bach from the 70s- plays SO much better ! Fuller sound and much more open low range but still with the nice vintage feel of closed wrap .
It is a shame that Bach does not replace their stock rotor valve with a rotax . It was an easy fit said the tech , and the valve itself is so smooth .
Re: Bach 42 with Rotax rotor
Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2021 3:45 pm
by Burgerbob
Good valves, but that would increase the price of a standard 42B by probably $1000... that's a non-starter for a few reasons.
Re: Bach 42 with Rotax rotor
Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2021 3:49 pm
by havard
I guess not that much more expensive if they use the rotax as their standard stock valve .
It is worth it though . It now plays as open as boutuque horns but still with the vintage Bach feel .
Re: Bach 42 with Rotax rotor
Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2021 3:53 pm
by Burgerbob
The Rotax itself is very expensive (there's a reason Edwards stopped using them), plus the cost of new tooling, wrap, training for technicians, R&D for the new setup, plus some extra for perceived value (Bach 42B now with Rotax™!!)... $1000 is probably on the low end of price increase.
That's not to say I wouldn't love a stock 42 with a good valve at the same price as the 42B, but I doubt they'll change anytime soon. The 42 with Meinlschmidt is very good.
Re: Bach 42 with Rotax rotor
Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2021 5:11 pm
by pedrombon
My '80s 42BG with Rotax valve is amazing, and I have the same lever! I also replaced the stock neckpipe with a Bach "M" and it got better, but later I replaced it with a Brad Close copper open neckpipe and it got even better.
Re: Bach 42 with Rotax rotor
Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 6:06 am
by spencercarran
Burgerbob wrote: ↑Wed Jun 23, 2021 3:53 pm
The Rotax itself is very expensive (there's a reason Edwards stopped using them), plus the cost of new tooling, wrap, training for technicians, R&D for the new setup, plus some extra for perceived value (Bach 42B now with Rotax™!!)... $1000 is probably on the low end of price increase.
That's not to say I wouldn't love a stock 42 with a good valve at the same price as the 42B, but I doubt they'll change anytime soon. The 42 with Meinlschmidt is very good.
They could also just slap on the mid 20th century King rotors that power Gen II Conns; seems like a cheap and simple improvement that wouldn't require anything they don't already have in-house.
Of course Conn-Selmer has had all these properties for a couple decades and chosen not to go that route. Perhaps their finance/marketing people think it wouldn't be worthwhile.
Re: Bach 42 with Rotax rotor
Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 6:23 am
by Bonearzt
The $1000, at minimum, increase would price the popular horn out of most school age family's budgets.
It is a standard for most high school trombonists here in Texas.
And for some, the standard valve works just fine as it has for the last 40-50 years...