Oh the inconsistency
Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2018 12:34 am
I came back to my home country Thailand during new year holiday, and went to my former band to donate some accessories and snacks from Japan. My band teacher (still there after 15 years) showed me some trombones a local shop brought for him to have band freshmen try, and maybe buy. There are 2 Bachs, or at least he told me they are Bachs. They look like TB400B, .547" bore with F attachment, but with counterweight on the F branch bracing bearing Vincent Bach logo. They are manufactured in Indonesia. He told me the price. You guest. Bear in mind the TB400B sold in Japan (Taiwan-made) is around $2200 per horn.
It was $700.
I was quite sure something is wrong with the horns that make them so cheap, so I tried them, with the permission (and amusement) of the teacher. I used my Yamaha 59 mouthpiece, as well as the "Bach" 6 1/2 AL that comes with the horns.
The first horn was an absolute dog. It felt like someone stuffed a sock, or both socks, into it. No focus whatsoever, no matter high or low, no matter open side or F side. The horn just didn't center. The second is decent as an open horn, free-blowing with brilliance, but there the sock is again as soon as I press the trigger. The valve alignment was OK on the second horn. The first one I didn't bother to check. Fortunately the slides and overall constructions are OK. The teacher told me that there are 2 more horns in this lot, the two are "decent" (tried by a person from the dealer and two grade 9 students), and the grade 6 freshmen bought them. One brought hers to the band yesterday, but I did not have a chance to try it.
I have seen many threads about Bach's inconsistency, but didn't believe it is that bad until then. Same model of horn, same lot, same dealer. Have anyone experienced this level of inconsistency?
It was $700.
I was quite sure something is wrong with the horns that make them so cheap, so I tried them, with the permission (and amusement) of the teacher. I used my Yamaha 59 mouthpiece, as well as the "Bach" 6 1/2 AL that comes with the horns.
The first horn was an absolute dog. It felt like someone stuffed a sock, or both socks, into it. No focus whatsoever, no matter high or low, no matter open side or F side. The horn just didn't center. The second is decent as an open horn, free-blowing with brilliance, but there the sock is again as soon as I press the trigger. The valve alignment was OK on the second horn. The first one I didn't bother to check. Fortunately the slides and overall constructions are OK. The teacher told me that there are 2 more horns in this lot, the two are "decent" (tried by a person from the dealer and two grade 9 students), and the grade 6 freshmen bought them. One brought hers to the band yesterday, but I did not have a chance to try it.
I have seen many threads about Bach's inconsistency, but didn't believe it is that bad until then. Same model of horn, same lot, same dealer. Have anyone experienced this level of inconsistency?