Bach Marching Trombone, not a Mercedes

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CharlieA
Posts: 5
Joined: Dec 25, 2022

by CharlieA » (edited 2025-01-06 2:00 a.m.)

I just got my hands on a bach Marching bone/Flugabone and I had assumed that it would be a mercedes (it was being marketed as an 883), I get my hands on it and it just has the bach logo that most the student horns have. I looked around and found a similar horn on reverb being called an MT300. are these horns different or is it just bach changing things to be confusing?
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RJMason
Posts: 390
Joined: Jun 05, 2018

by RJMason »

I’m speculating, but I don’t think the Mercedes line lasted into the 1980s, though there were likely still marching band orders to fill. Yours is probably from the 80s or 90s—same design, but I can’t say if the build quality was consistent.

These horns shine with a proper overhaul. I highly recommend Sweeney Brass in Raleigh, NC. Scott removes the extra bracing designed for marching durability and replaces it with new braces that keep the horn solid while greatly improving resonance.
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JohnL
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Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by JohnL »

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brassmedic
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Joined: Dec 14, 2018

by brassmedic »

[quote="JohnL"]<QUOTE author="CharlieA" post_id="263275" time="1736058276" user_id="16051">I looked around and found a similar horn on reverb being called an MB300.[/quote]
This one?

<LINK_TEXT text="https://reverb.com/item/4776187-used-ba ... ter=seller">https://reverb.com/item/4776187-used-bach-mt300-marching-trombone?page=1&filter=seller</LINK_TEXT>
</QUOTE>
Looks the same to me.
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JohnL
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by JohnL »

[quote="brassmedic"]<QUOTE author="JohnL" post_id="263306" time="1736099125" user_id="119">

This one?

<LINK_TEXT text="https://reverb.com/item/4776187-used-ba ... ter=seller">https://reverb.com/item/4776187-used-bach-mt300-marching-trombone?page=1&filter=seller</LINK_TEXT>[/quote]
Looks the same to me.
</QUOTE>
If that's the one the OP is talking about; it's listed as an MT300 rather than an MB300.
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brassmedic
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by brassmedic »

[quote="JohnL"]<QUOTE author="brassmedic" post_id="263322" time="1736108646" user_id="4102">

Looks the same to me.[/quote]
If that's the one the OP is talking about; it's listed as an MT300 rather than an MB300.
</QUOTE>

I'm sure that's what he meant. Seems like MB would be marching baritone.
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Leanit
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Joined: Sep 04, 2018

by Leanit »

Cloned from the Olds model, right? I think Bach took over that design.
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CharlieA
Posts: 5
Joined: Dec 25, 2022

by CharlieA »

Sorry I meant MT not MB
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JohnL
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Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by JohnL »

[quote="Leanit"]Cloned from the Olds model, right? I think Bach took over that design.[/quote]
The story goes that Selmer USA purchased the low brass (tubas, sousaphones, and baritones) and marching brass tooling when the Olds plant was liquidated in 1979.
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brassmedic
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by brassmedic »

[quote="JohnL"]<QUOTE author="Leanit" post_id="263359" time="1736143539" user_id="3703">
Cloned from the Olds model, right? I think Bach took over that design.[/quote]
The story goes that Selmer USA purchased the low brass (tubas, sousaphones, and baritones) and marching brass tooling when the Olds plant was liquidated in 1979.
</QUOTE>
Makes sense. The parts website says, "Discontinued Bach Mercedes Marching Trombone. Limited supply of parts available. Based off the Olds Company background brass tooling in the late 1970s." There's no mention of an MT300 though.
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Leanit
Posts: 160
Joined: Sep 04, 2018

by Leanit »

Thanks, JohnL. I couldn't remember the details or timing.

I've got an Olds one that plays as well as such a thing can. Pretty nice.
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JohnL
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Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by JohnL »

From what I can find, Selmer USA also bought the tooling for King French horns (1158/1159, not the Eroica/Fidelio) at around the same time.