Bach abandoning gold brass bell?

[sirisobhakya]

I have seen in a Japanese trombone Facebook group that a Japanese instrument store, and it looks like quite a large store at that, states in its price list that gold brass bell version of every model is discontinued.

Any news or rumour regarding this? It is quite unlikely that Bach will discontinue gold brass bell, but the wording is not just “order stop” but “production stop (製造終了)”.

Artisan parts and other options, such as lightweight slides and heavy bells, are also marked “production stop”, which also seems highly unlikely, especially for Artisan parts.

[chromebone]

That seems pretty unlikely, but on the other hand I wouldn’t put it past Conn-Selmer to do some stupid bean counting measure to further destroy their brands. They probably figure they already offer a gold brass bell on the 88H, so why offer it on some other completely different brand? C-S is making most of their money selling marching arts and student horns; a 42 or 88h is virtually a advanced student model horn nowadays anyway; they are mostly ceding the professional market to the boutique makers.

[Kbiggs]

A quick look at their website shows that gold brass is now offered only on select models, e.g., the open-wrap 42B. It’s no longer available for some models like the 36 or 36B. Curiously, it’s no longer available for any of the bass trombone models.

Again, that’s just what’s on the website. If Conn-Selmer actually discontinued gold brass bells altogether…well, that seems pretty short-sighted and clueless of what the markets are demanding.

[Burgerbob]

Might be a supply issue. They're the only big company and the only one in the US using 80/20 gold brass. Can't be easy sourcing that.

[sirisobhakya]

A quick look at their website shows that gold brass is now offered only on select models, e.g., the open-wrap 42B. It’s no longer available for some models like the 36 or 36B. Curiously, it’s no longer available for any of the bass trombone models.

Then the price list states the same as the website: the 42BO is offered with gold brass bell, along with A47 and A47I (but with “please contact” on the latter two), but not any other model. Sterling silver bell is also discontinued.

[hornbuilder]

I contacted Jeff Christiana (director of sales) at Bach to get his take. His reply after seeing the screenshots of this discussion.

"As a standard bell model on the price list/catalog, gold brass is not offered. However, it can be ordered as a custom option".

[jonathanharker]

Agree with @Burgerbob, sounds like supply issues. In the Sam Quinones Perfect Tuba book, after discovering old Yorks were made from 80% gold brass, they get Zig Kanstul to make a replica York bell out of 90% red brass for a Holton tuba in 2009, because they couldn't source any 80% gold brass sheet; the alloy (C43600) was no longer made in the US. So Conn-Selmer must be importing it from somewhere?