Trombonists that play vintage Bach trombones (NY)

BrianJohnston · 2022-08-30 2:58 p.m.

Hi all,

I wanted to start a thread of all of the pro trombonists I know that are playing Bach trombones from any of the New York/MV eras 30s-60s. Here are the ones I am aware of, please add to the list:

Jay Friedman - MV42

Charlie Vernon - NY50

Mike Szabo - MV50

David Binder - MV42

Rick Stout - MV42

Christopher Davis - MV50

Brian Johnston - MV42

Athos Castellan - NY50

Micha Davis - MV50

mbarbier · by **mbarbier** » 2022-08-30 3:46 p.m.

Rick Stout in Cleveland plays a MV 42 (think he has one with a Thayer and one with original valve)

greenbean · by **greenbean** » 2022-08-31 2:02 a.m.

Are you including the Corp-era horns? Bach made some great horns during those years and, if an orchestral pro is playing one, it is probably one of them!

BrianJohnston · by **BrianJohnston** » 2022-08-31 7:48 a.m.

[quote="greenbean"]Are you including the Corp-era horns? Bach made some great horns during those years and, if an orchestral pro is playing one, it is probably one of them![/quote]

I wasn't originally, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to include those horns as well. As long as there is specification:

EX.:

NY50

MV50

Corp42

biggiesmalls · by **biggiesmalls** » 2022-09-01 12:14 a.m.

Chris Buckholz (Army Jazz Ambassadors lead trombone 1997-2005, currently 2nd trombone Santa Fe Opera) has been playing a MV12LT as his primary jazz horn for a few years.

Vegasbound · by **Vegasbound** » 2022-09-01 3:28 a.m.

Several top freelance players here in the UK play Bach 6’s such as Gordon Campbell,Richard Edwards plans a MT Vernon 16

Pezza · by **Pezza** » 2022-09-01 4:46 a.m.

I play a Corp 12!

JoeAumann · by **JoeAumann** » 2022-09-01 3:39 p.m.

Matt_K · by **Matt_K** » 2022-09-01 4:21 p.m.

You could add the recently retired Bones Malone but it would be easier to make a list of the horns he didn’t play from this era judging by the consignment sale of his horns that went down recently.

BrianJohnston · by **BrianJohnston** » 2022-09-02 11:38 a.m.

[quote="JoeAumann"]Why?[/quote]

Why not?

PVH · by **PVH** » 2022-09-14 1:58 p.m.

Brian,

I have been playing a NY36B for a while now. I have been enjoying it quite a bit.

dukesboneman · by **dukesboneman** » 2022-10-27 10:43 p.m.

I play a Mount Vernon Lt 36

and a 1st year elkhart 12 (Mount Vernon parts)

Massimo69 · by **Massimo69** » 2022-11-19 7:43 p.m.

Gordon Campbell plays a 16 bach corp.

Fidbone · by **Fidbone** » 2022-11-20 4:30 a.m.

[quote="Massimo69"]Gordon Campbell plays a 16 bach corp.[/quote]

Gordon has always played a Bach 6 which has been customised 😉

Oslide · by **Oslide** » 2022-11-20 7:59 a.m.

Do you happen to know in which way it has been customised? Thank you!

BrianJohnston · by **BrianJohnston** » 2022-11-20 9:08 a.m.

[quote="Massimo69"]Gordon Campbell plays a 16 bach corp.[/quote]

Pretty sure he plays a Mt vernon 6...

Fidbone · by **Fidbone** » 2022-11-20 11:35 a.m.

[quote="Oslide"]Do you happen to know in which way it has been customised? Thank you![/quote]

He had the bell stays filled with lead :eek:

Fidbone · by **Fidbone** » 2022-11-20 11:37 a.m.

[quote="BrianJohnston"]<QUOTE author="Massimo69" post_id="194055" time="1668904981" user_id="11717">
Gordon Campbell plays a 16 bach corp.[/quote]

Pretty sure he plays a Mt vernon 6...
</QUOTE>

Could well be, last time I played his horn which was a long time ago it was a Corp with a 7.5 inch bell and lightweight nickel slide. One of the best 6's I've ever had the pleasure of blowing!

Oslide · by **Oslide** » 2022-11-21 3:53 p.m.

By chance just hit upon a very short (1:30) interview with Cordon Campbell where he mentions that he's playing a "Vincent Bach, an old Mount Vernon, V11 bell, original brass".

Took me a while to realize what he meant by "V one one" 😉 .

<YOUTUBE id="jYDqyer1vxA">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYDqyer1vxA</YOUTUBE>

Fidbone · by **Fidbone** » 2022-11-22 2:05 a.m.

Must have changed bell's or full bone at some point.

I've not been with him since he had a full head of hair....... :shuffle:

Massimo69 · by **Massimo69** » 2022-11-22 11:06 a.m.

I seen on his bell 16 corporation anyway maybe mistake...

Massimo69 · by **Massimo69** » 2022-11-22 11:11 a.m.

Birch Johnson mod 6 with 16M slide, Tom Malone 16m mt vernon but he have around 20 of those, Bill Watrous played a Peppy's pettinato customized 16M 1940 bach.

Massimo69 · by **Massimo69** » 2022-11-22 11:12 a.m.

Carl Fontana played a 12 corp customized

BrianJohnston · by **BrianJohnston** » 2022-11-23 12:55 p.m.

[quote="Oslide"]By chance just hit upon a very short (1:30) interview with Cordon Campbell where he mentions that he's playing a "Vincent Bach, an old Mount Vernon, V11 bell, original brass".

Took me a while to realize what he meant by "V one one" 😉 .

<YOUTUBE id="jYDqyer1vxA">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYDqyer1vxA</YOUTUBE>[/quote]

Thanks for this! He's got one of the best trombone sounds i've ever heard.

gbedinger · by **gbedinger** » 2022-11-26 8:42 p.m.

I now play an early Corp 50b.

dukesboneman · by **dukesboneman** » 2025-09-12 2:45 p.m.

I play NY 16, Corp. Lt12, Mount Vernon 12 slide with 1990 8G Bell, Mount Vernon Lt36, Corp. 42BO and Corp. 50B3.

I would love a NY 12

BrianJohnston · by **BrianJohnston** » 2025-09-17 9:40 p.m.

[quote="dukesboneman"]I play NY 16, Corp. Lt12, Mount Vernon 12 slide with 1990 8G Bell, Mount Vernon Lt36, Corp. 42BO and Corp. 50B3.

I would love a NY 12[/quote]

Nice list. I’d like a NY or MV34… someday.

Finetales · by **Finetales** » 2025-09-17 11:49 p.m.

Matt Niess (recently retired lead trombonist in the Army Blues) has played on an old Bach 6 forever - don't know what era though. Anyone know?

robseaman · by **robseaman** » 2025-09-18 9:03 a.m.

I think he is currently playing a Martin Imperial as his Jazz. Large bore he plays Edwards.

Matt_K · by **Matt_K** » 2025-09-19 7:26 a.m.

Yeah, he picked up that Martin at a pawn shop somewhere around 2010, IIRC. It's since been modified by BAC to have a modular F attachment / neckpipe and the Army star on the tuning slide.

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Trombonists that play vintage Bach trombones (NY)