[TPIN] "True Bach" horns being built

[Vaxtrpts at aol.com]

OK - here is what I know for sure:
I have some friends who either own of work at some music stores, who have  
been long term Bach dealers.
These people have told me that in recent months they have not even accepted  
some Stradivarius models that were shipped to them.  They have taken them  out 
of the case, had the repair people in the shop look them over, and sent them  
back because they were so inferior to what they had been able to sell in the  
past.
 
Here is what I have heard (some here at the NAMM show):
John Stoner, boss of Steinway, which owns Conn - Selmer has threatened to  
have even the top line Bach's made in China.
Some of the parts on the Bach's are already being made in China.
Production is way down and many Bach dealers are now running out of the  
inventory that they already had in their stores.
 
Here is some more that I know for sure.
Since the strike, other companies like Getzen, Schilke, Kanstul, Jupiter  and 
even some of the other very small trumpet companies, are all selling more  
horns.  I know the Getzen can't keep up with the demand for everything from  the 
student models through the Custom, Artist and Genesis models.   (Actually a 
nice problem to have.)  Joe Marcinkiewicz has sold 20 trumpets  just at NAMM.  
A huge amount for a company as small as his.  In some  ways, the Bach strike 
has actually been good for the trumpet making  industry.
The traffic in the Conn - Selmer booth has been the lightest that I have  
ever seen.  (Especially where trumpets are concerned.)  They are just  up the 
aisle from our booth.
OK - that is what I have to report from NAMM.  
Mike Vax