The Bach 42 — Still the One Everyone Else Is Trying to Copy
There's a reason the Bach Stradivarius 42 series has been a fixture on professional stages, in orchestra pits, and at conservatories for generations. It's a horn that serious trombonists point to the way guitarists point to a good Les Paul — it's simply what a professional symphonic trombone is supposed to feel and sound like. The 42BOF takes that foundation and brings it forward with a European-designed Open-Flow valve and bell-free bracing, two refinements that make a real, audible difference once you're in the chair.
The 42BOF was developed in 2018 as a centennial model to mark 100 years since Vincent Bach founded his workshop. Jay Friedman, principal trombonist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, was involved with the design of this trombone — and his fingerprints are all over the valve section in particular.
If you're a working orchestral trombonist, a serious university student, or a seasoned professional looking for a horn that can handle anything the repertoire throws at you, the 42BOF has been designed with exactly that kind of player in mind.
The Bell That Defined Symphonic Trombone
The heart of this instrument is the traditional No. 42 bell: an 8.5-inch, one-piece, hand-hammered yellow brass bell. Yellow brass sits in a sweet spot that delivers warmth in the low register and clear definition up top — it responds to the player's air and embouchure rather than forcing a single character on you. The one-piece construction means no seam to interrupt the vibration of the metal, which translates to a more open, resonant sound overall.
What makes the 42BOF's bell section particularly interesting is the bell-free bracing design. By allowing the bell to vibrate more freely, the horn produces a quicker response and noticeably more projection — qualities that matter when you're sitting in a full orchestra and need to cut through without pushing harder than you should.
The Open-Flow Valve: A Real Upgrade
On a standard F-attachment trombone, the rotary valve can sometimes feel like a choke point — the air has to make a tight turn, and the response in the valve register can suffer for it. The 42BOF addresses this directly with a European-designed "Open-Flow" valve that creates an ease of playability in the low register while maintaining a great high range. The open-wrap layout gives the F-attachment tubing a less restricted path, helping the horn feel more consistent across all registers whether the valve is engaged or not.
Jay Friedman has noted that it's the most responsive valve he's experienced on a Bach trombone — high praise from someone who plays in one of the world's premier orchestras for a living.
Slide and Finish Details
The handslide pairs a yellow brass outer tube with chrome-plated nickel silver inner tubes. Chrome-plated nickel silver is the standard for fast, smooth slide action — the surface provides a consistent glide whether you're playing a slow lyrical line or a technical passage at tempo. The clear lacquer finish adds subtle warmth to the overall sound, and it showcases the natural color of the yellow brass beautifully.
This is a large-bore horn at .547 inches — the bore size most associated with the full, symphonic tenor trombone sound expected in professional orchestral and wind ensemble settings.
Product Features:
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Key: Bb/F tenor trombone
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Bore: .547" large bore
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Bell: 8.5" one-piece hand-hammered yellow brass
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Valve: European-designed Open-Flow valve with open-wrap F attachment
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Bell bracing: Bell-free bracing for increased resonance and projection
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Inner slide: Chrome-plated nickel silver for smooth, fast action
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Outer slide: Yellow brass
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Finish: Clear lacquer
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Artist design input: Jay Friedman, Principal Trombonist, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
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Series: Bach Stradivarius — Professional level
Brand: Bach
Model: Stradivarius 42BOF
SKU: 42BOF
Condition: New
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