TromboneChat

hello!

I just received a Straight Corp 42 serial number 16xxx bach from my tech and noticed that the tuning slide receiver/ bracing is about a quarter inch shorter than the same parts on my Bach Corp 42 serial number 40xxx.

The 16xxx tuning slide fits the bracing and is also a quarter inch shorter than the 40xxx tuning slide.

Additionally, the 16xxx larger tuning slide pipe has a slightly smaller diameter than the same on the 40xxx.

It is to the point that the tuning slides aren't compatible between the two instruments. I've had the 40xxx tuning slide on multiple 42s with no issue, except when it is a straight 42.

My questions are: Did Bach change the bracings between straight 42's and f att 42's? Is this possibly a custom? Is this just an example of Bach inconsistency?

Thanks!

May have been cut down by someone. 42s are a bit long.

Burgerbob wrote: Fri Jun 27, 2025 5:09 pm May have been cut down by someone. 42s are a bit long.

Thanks Aiden. That's what I'm guessing too, but don't know enough straight vs f attachment Bach Lore to know for sure.

It's interesting that the diameter of the tuning slide receiver and the tube are slightly smaller than my other tuning slides, to the point that it fits in my other 42 but has a slight wiggle. The smaller tube diameter seems uniform between my other tuning slides.

16XXX is pretty early, tubing size may have changed (or the supplier, or something) in that time. I'd say that's pretty normal Bach variance. When I have Bach parts that interchange between periods I just feel lucky!

Hold on…. Older Bach tuning slides are longer. On all medium large and Bass horns. I have shared a pic here before. They changed some time, I want to say in the ‘70s, but I forget. To Aiden’s point, even the shorter version still needs to be cut down for some people.

As for diameter, I’m surprised it doesn’t fit. That should be (nominally) the same. I have tuning slides from NY, mt Vernon, 70s, 80s, 90s, and some parts I bought in the 00’s. They all fit fine on diameter.
Stock NY (a 34, same tuning slide)
Stock MtV
Stock current (albeit from ~98 or so)

Cheers,
Andy

They also offered different lengths of tuning slides as an option after the change. Not that it would affect that 16XXX

Every Bach I’ve owned, with the exception of a 36, I’ve had to cut the tuning slide legs. I’m not the only one. I just thought it was a Bach design feature!

On a more serious note, I sometimes wonder whether the shift to comparatively larger mouthpieces in the last 30 years has affected this. A larger, deeper mouthpiece will affect the length of the vibrating air column, leading some players to cut the tuning slide legs to bring the horn up to pitch.

That's part of it, but Bachs were also just too long.