Bach Stradivarius LT12G Tenor Trombone (Sold)

Item Details

This is a model LT12G professional tenor trombone made by the Vincent Bach Corporation in Elkhart, Indiana, USA.  The serial number dates this instrument to about 1978.

The Stradivarius Model 12 is Bach's premier .500" bore Bb tenor trombone.  This LT version has an all-nickel outer slide which is slightly lighter than their brass slide due to the outer slide being assembled without oversleeves.  The harder nickel outside slide tubing adds some brilliance to the sound, and also improves dent resistance.  The 7.5" diameter bell is hand-spun from a single sheet of brass, with the seam being along the axis of the bell and passing under the diamond shaped flange plate.  These bells also receive a proprietary annealing process only done in Elkhart.  The gold brass bell tends to make the tone broader and warmer, with somewhat less projection.  It's subtle.  This is a nice combination for a lively horn with a captivating tone:  nickel + gold brass = German style. 

This LT12G is from the collection of Los Angeles trombonist George Thatcher.  This was his main jazz tenor trombone.  These photos were taken upon arrival here.  Since then, Charles Hargett of Brass Mavens has done an ultrasonic cleaning, slide alignment, and any repairs.  It's as fresh as an older instrument can be, and a little bit shinier than shown.

Condition:  no dents, very good slide action, chrome plating is good with some wear to one stocking, 90% lacquer, some areas of worn lacquer, spots and tarnish.  Includes new Protec MAX306CTS case and George's Bach 6-1/2AL mouthpiece.  Slide action is about as good as a new Bach, so...mostly good, give it A- for age.  For maximum smoothness, use Trombotine on older slides like this.  This is a terrific playing trombone: lively and warm, easy to blow, a fine example of the genre.

If you'd like to make an offer for the LT12G, please send us a note.

Biography of George Thatcher

George Thatcher, 1953-2024, trombonist, performed as a Hollywood freelance recording and symphonic musician, whose career has transverses a wide variety of styles as well as a number of continents. Since returning to Los Angeles in 1988, Thatcher has recorded for such motion picture luminaries as John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, Randy Newman, Thomas Newman and Danny Elfman, on such film as Jurassic Park, Anastasia, Men in Black and the Shawshank Redemption. He records for television, advertising and records, having performed with such artist as Barbara Streisand, Natalie Cole, Neil Diamond, and Frank Sinatra. Thatcher's orchestral associations include performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Long Beach Opera, the Los Angeles Opera, Opera Pacific, the Pacific Symphony, and @the American Ballet Theater, San Francisco and Kirov ballet companies. His work abroad includes positions of principal bass trombone with the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra, principal bass trombone with the National Symphony Orchestra of the S.A.B.C., and principal bass trombone with the Orchestra Sinfonica Municipal de Caracas. Thatcher records for Raptoria Caam Records as a solo artist and as principal bass trombone of the Viklarbo Chamber Symphony. An active symphonic soloist, Thatcher recently performed Maria Newman's Concerto for Bass trombone and Orchestra (Peccavi) with both the Viklarbo Chamber Symphony and the Occidental-Caltech Orchestra in Los Angeles. He also appeared as soloist with the Eastern Sierra Symphony Orchestra, the Palisades Symphony and the Chamber George Thatcher Orchestra at St. Matthew's, and has been featured at many well known music festivals nationwide. On the jazz scene, Thatcher has toured extensively with famed trumpeters Harry James and Al Hirt. While residing in Johannesburg, South Africa he recorded two original solo albums for the S.A.B.C. Thatcher's later compact discs include "Even Call Girls Get the Blues" and "Terrorist".

-Rene Laanen