“A tenor bass isn’t enough. A modern bass is too big.”
The Bach 45B from MT. VERNON’s final period fits perfectly in between.
[Overview]
Vincent Bach, Bass Trombone 45B. 9-inch yellow brass bell. F-tube, traditional wrap style. Rotary lever, ball-joint type. 13.90 mm slide bore. Lacquer finish.Manufactured in 1963.Included: Mouthpiece (MT. VERNON 3G), genuine hard case
[Condition]
Lacquer has chipped off over a wide area of the bell, gooseneck, tuning slides, slide barrel, and outer slide, with scattered scratches. There are traces of repairs for minor dents on the bell body, tuning slide curves, and inner slide. The interior has been cleaned, and the soft parts have been replaced. All slides have been serviced and inspected.
[Features & Appeal]
The Vincent Bach 45B is a single-rotary bass trombone manufactured from 1935 to 1969. This particular instrument dates from the final period of production at the Mount Vernon, New York factory. At first glance, it closely resembles the standard 42B model; however, while the 42B features an 8.5-inch bell, the 45B has a 9-inch bell. The bell throat is also slightly wider, clearly indicating that it was designed specifically as a bass trombone.
What is interesting is that the 45B is not merely a “transitional model preceding the 50B.” Bach had simultaneously begun marketing the 50B—which featured a larger bore and bell—alongside the 45B. In other words, during the 1930s, the prevailing philosophy was not to rely on a single specification for bass trombones, but rather to select the appropriate sound character and volume based on the requirements of the composer and the piece.
The slide features the same .547-inch single bore as the 42B. Combined with a 9-inch bass bell, this produces a sound that is distinctly richer and deeper than that of a tenor bass, yet without becoming as large as that of a modern standard bass trombone. It offers light responsiveness in the high register and a solid, bass-like fullness in the low register. It is precisely this exquisite balance that makes the 45B so appealing.
Playing it with the included Mount Vernon-era Bach 3G mouthpiece further brings out its character. This is where the 45B truly shines—in situations where a tenor bass feels a bit lacking, yet a modern bass trombone produces too much volume. It is a bass trombone from an era whose intended use differed from today’s, making it extremely rare today.
*Please note that we cannot accept returns or exchanges for this product except in cases where it is unplayable. Thank you for your understanding.
