TromboneChat

Hey all,

Just looking for some guidance. I'm in the position to purchase a new Bach valve section for my artisan tenor. I'm assuming that the rotor section is more likely to be set up correctly. Am I right in thinking along those lines?

I would be purchasing from a reputable store so it will come with a warranty in case something is wrong with it.

Some time ago I inquired about an x-wrap at a well known music store. The gist of what they told me was that their technician made some adjustments that made it okay better. So no great or perfect, just better. And the axials are hot or miss. Honestly try before you buy if you can. Good luck!

Fortunately they have a generous return policy so I could try the rotor or axial first. Just trying to pick some brains before that.

Definitely give any of the new Bach horns a through play testing before purchase, and have a good technician go over them if possible. Big concerns I would ask the tech to look for are leaks/compression and that the handslide tubes are straight and parallel.

I have seen some real doozies that should absolutely not have passed QC.

I have not been impressed with anything coming out of that factory for some time, regardless of the instrument.

I purchased two Demo models because honestly the price was right, they played well, and the savings was enough that I could get things fixed and still come out way below the standard new cost. The last NEW Bach I bought had lots of issues from the factory, and that was long before the strike years ago. The fit and finish is just not as good as it should be for the price they charge.

Don't even get me started on their fixtured slide construction that results in few outer slides that are truly parallel.

I would pile on the try before you buy. That being said, nearly every reputable seller has a trial period. I don't think buying new is necessarily good for anyone from price and quality standpoints.

As far as Bach is concerned, I've purchased 3 demo Bach's in the last 6 months and all of them have had zero issues and all played well.

If your buying a Bach artisan valve section, pick what you want since its modular and then if it has issues with alignment take it to a local repair shop for adjustment if your not comfortable adjusting it yourself.

For what it's worth, the shop I'd be going through is Virtuosity in Boston. They've done me right in more than a few ways.

bassbone1993 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 04, 2025 5:05 pm For what it's worth, the shop I'd be going through is Virtuosity in Boston. They've done me right in more than a few ways.

Virtuosity is an excellent shop and I would trust an instrument that they sell to have been gone over properly before purchase.

Def Virtuosity. Any horn Lou Anderson touches becomes magic. He saved my butt a few summers ago. Anytime I’m in Boston I hope a stage hand knocks my horn on the ground so I can have Lou fix it

How far do resellers go though? Bach factory slides are rarely anywhere near straight/parallel. Do they remount the slide? I would consider that to be a virtually essential operation for any new Bach