Violins and other instruments - http://theglassviolin.com

Editor's picks

• 

  Stradivari's Genius: Five Violins, One Cello, and Three Centuries of Enduring Perfection

  Book (Random House Trade Paperbacks)
  

  Rating (17 reviews):

  (4.6/5)

  

  Simply the Best

  Quick, name a violin maker. For most people, there is only one name that comes to mind, Stradivarius (or in non-Latin form, Stradivari). It is not so surprising that the name lives on: "More than 250 years after his death, Stradivari's violins and cellos remain the best in the world." So writes Tony Faber in _Stradivari's Genius: Five Violins, One Cello, and Three Centuries of Enduring Perfection_ (Random House). The master made more than a thousand instruments and six hundred are documented as still surviving. Faber has chosen six Strads upon which to fasten a story of art, history, and science. He admits they aren't the most celebrated instruments, nor are they all now used by famous players (in fact, only two are being played at all). But in examining them, we get an idea of what makes the brand so special, and why they are so fervently beloved by listeners and players, and sometimes so firmly locked up by museums and collectors that they cannot come out and play... 5/5 R. Hardy "Rob Hardy" (Columbus, Mississippi USA) - See all my reviews, May 29, 2005

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  Lord of the strings

  Like most people, I had heard of the renowned Stradivarius string instruments, but aside from a vague idea about how well made, rare, and expensive they are, I knew little else about them. If you are in that same category, then author Toby Faber's passionate and well-written Stradivarius: Five Violins, One Cello and a Genius is worth a look..I didn't say it is a must-read, because any conclusions one draws about these outstanding instruments after reading the book's 300 or so pages comes from a kind of triangulation based on the six chapters, one each about the six best-known examples of violin-maker Antonio Stradivari's work. Each story is compelling in a different way -- my favorite is about the so-called "Messiah," believed to be the only Stradivarius in existence that has never been played -- but the quality of each tale varies a bit.One of my favorite quotes from the book is from the writer George Eliot. "Tis God [who] gives skill," she wrote, "but not... 4/5 Eric J. Lyman (Roma, Lazio Italy) - See all my reviews, November 4, 2004

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  Do we know Stradivari's secrets yet??

  Some will be curious to see if Toby Faber has any new or definitive revelations as to just what exactly were the deep secrets of Antonio Stradivari. While he doesn't quite completely reveal the mysteries of Stadivari, author Faber does present the two most probably technical hypothesis in the very last chapter as to what exactly was responsible for producing the legenday Stradivari tone and power. Hint: one has to do with a pretreatment of the wood and the other what appears to be a unique "base coat" applied prior to that famous red varnish. But, you'll have to read it to find out exactly what.This book follows the paths of five Stradivarius instruments throughout history - from the 18th century workshop in Cremona through the 19th and 20th century's wars, virtuosos, concerts, and tradings to the present musicians who play them now. Highlights for me were the chapter on Paganini (who collected many Strads but favored his mighty 'des Gesus') and the later chapter... 3/5 Alan Lekan (Boulder, CO) - See all my reviews, June 6, 2005

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  List Price: $16.00
  

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• 

  Song Violins Full Size 4/4 Stradivarius Factory Direct Mid-Grade Student Violin

  Musical Instruments (Song Violins)
  

  Rating (3 reviews):

  (3.7/5)

  

  Customs Fees & Repair Fees

  This violin arrived from China (after them mailing it twice) with $23.00 in customs fees. It required $130 worth of work to repair a crack and do the set up before it could be used. It did have an adequate bow and case. 1/5 Diane K. Wilson - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Song Violins Full Size 4/4 Stradivarius Factory Direct Mid-Grade Student Violin This violin arrived from China (after them mailing it twice) with $23.00 in customs fees. It required $130 worth of work to repair a crack and do the set up before it could be used. It did have an adequate bow and case. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , January 7, 2013

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  Excelente producto es para que mi hijo esté en las grandes orquestas sinfónicas de Venezuela y lo mejor que lo entregaron antes

  Excelente producto es para que mi hijo esté en las grandes orquestas sinfónicas de Venezuela y lo mejor que lo entregaron antes de la fecha estipulada. 5/5 Ramon Salas - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Song Violins Full Size 4/4 Stradivarius Factory Direct Mid-Grade Student Violin Excelente producto es para que mi hijo esté en las grandes orquestas sinfónicas de Venezuela y lo mejor que lo entregaron antes de la fecha estipulada. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , December 18, 2012

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  great price fast service.

  i just have one word, BEAUTIFUL! it's everything it says it is. although the first time it came it was cracked somewhere through shipping but i just emailed them, with pictures and they sent me a new one and i love it! the sound and the look are amazing.i recommend this violin for everyone. 5/5 Amanda M. Kaschke (Redding, CA, USA) - See all my reviews, March 24, 2009

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  List Price: $299.00
  Price: $195.00
  You Save: $104.00 (35%)

  Solid spruce faceplate; solid maple back and sides

  Ebony fingerboard & fittings

  Bridge, Brazilwood bow, rosin, fine tuners & case; ready to play

  Blocked at all corners and lined on all edges for better quality and sound

  Wood naturally dried over 5 years; absolutely hand-carved

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• 

  Stradivarius

  Book (iUniverse, Inc.)
  

  Rating (3 reviews):

  (4.7/5)

  

  Stradivarius

  This is a delightful, well written book with much insight and an obvious love of music. The author spans many years in his tale of a Stradivarius violin from it's beginnings in Cremona, Italy through palaces of Europe, a hut in the Korean war and finally to a young prodigy deep in the southern U.S. The characters are well thought out and written. The plot lines believable and interesting. I loved this book and think it's a shame that more people didn't take the opportunity to read a wonderfully written story full of heart, wit and charm. 4/5 Danielle Douchet (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews This review is from: Stradivarius (Hardcover) This is a delightful, well written book with much insight and an obvious love of music. The author spans many years in his tale of a Stradivarius violin from it's beginnings in Cremona, Italy through palaces of Europe, a hut in the Korean war and finally to a young prodigy deep in the southern U.S. The characters are well thought out and written. The plot lines believable and interesting. I loved this book and think it's a shame that more people didn't take the opportunity to read a wonderfully written story full of heart, wit and charm. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , January 1, 2000

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  wonderfully nice read!

  This books is a total favorite. It's a love of people and their various personalities and passions as well as a simple told story of the history of a Stradivarius interwoven in the midst of the main story of a West Virginia'redneck' or country boy Ailey Barkwood who has this odd love of classical music that seems out of place to his venue of birth. He is of course a child prodigy.This is a very pleasant and easy read despite the seeming headiness of the subject.I would recommend to anyone. 5/5 Bruce O. Deming "Book reader" (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews, March 7, 2012

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  Universal Appeal

  As a librarian, I have given this book to virtually every one of my regular readers. Despite their widely varying tastes, I have never had one negative reaction. It is a charming gem. It's worth reading just to experience the wise and gentle approach to conflict resolution that resonates and builds throughout the book. I have given it to many teens, as well. Even the boys will admit to liking it. Give it a try. 5/5 librarian booklover (Iowa) - See all my reviews This review is from: Stradivarius (Hardcover) As a librarian, I have given this book to virtually every one of my regular readers. Despite their widely varying tastes, I have never had one negative reaction. It is a charming gem. It's worth reading just to experience the wise and gentle approach to conflict resolution that resonates and builds throughout the book. I have given it to many teens, as well. Even the boys will admit to liking it. Give it a try. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , February 6, 2006

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  List Price: $16.95
  

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• 

  Antonio Stradivari: His Life and Work (1644-1737)

  Book (Dover Publications)
  

  Rating (6 reviews):

  (4.5/5)

  

  One of the essential texts

  This is perhaps the most important book ever published relating to the topics of violin making and the unchallenged greatest maker of all times. The Hills are the most respected scholars, ever, of the violin, and this was a landmark publication in 1902 and remains so. Under the quaint language is the information that subsequent scholars have used as the basis of their understanding of Stradivari's work (and stolen for the basis of many of their own articles and books), and almost everything written in the book is still considered accurate--an unprecedented event in violin publishing, where there's much more myth than fact in many books, especially those of the past, many of which are essentially fiction posing as non-fiction. There is simply no reason not to own this book if you are interested in violins. 5/5 J. Darnton "Michael Darnton" (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews, December 3, 2000

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  It remains the definitive text a century later

  The style may seem quaint, but if you have spent any time at all reading scholarly works from this time period, you will find that Hill's prose is far from unreadable. By and large, I continue to find Hill's style to be readily approachable after 3 decades worth of repeated readings.In any case, the prose is not what makes this work invaluable. Like another reviewer stated, you cannot do any study of Stradivari instruments without first consulting Hill, and Hill remains the foundation of all scholarly work concerning Stradivari, even a century later. While not exactly for laymen, nonetheless this book is relatively accessible to those who have only a passing knowledge in stringed instruments. For those more expert, Hill remains the essential starting point. If you have a young violinist in your family, I would recommend this book as a gift. I still have my decades-old book, received one Christmas long long ago, and I am glad that I got it. 5/5 chefdevergue (Spokane, WA United States) - See all my reviews, June 20, 2005

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  Excellent book for violin lovers

  I bought the authors' book regarding Guarneri family because this information is not available in Wikipedia. From this book I learned that the authors are expert violin makers. The Guarneri book demonstrated the authors' serious research efforts. This makes me buy this book. As in the Guarneri book, this book has many nice color photos and black/white photos. The discussion about material, construction, and varnish are all very interesting and well explained. The dimension information regarding Strad, Amati and Gurneri violins are informative. I highly recommend this book to everyone who loves violin. 5/5 Penny Johnson (California, USA) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Antonio Stradivari: His Life and Work (1644-1737) (Paperback) I bought the authors' book regarding Guarneri family because this information is not available in Wikipedia. From this book I learned that the authors are expert violin makers. The Guarneri book demonstrated the authors' serious research efforts. This makes me buy this book. As in the Guarneri book, this book has many nice color photos and black/white photos. The discussion about material, construction, and varnish are all very interesting and well explained. The dimension information regarding Strad, Amati and Gurneri violins are informative. I highly recommend this book to everyone who loves violin. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , April 2, 2010

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  List Price: $14.95
  

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• 

  Song Violins Full Size 4/4 Stradivarius Factory Direct Premium Professional Violin

  Musical Instruments (Song Violins)
  List Price: $3,500.00
  Price: $2,599.00
  You Save: $1,000.00 (38%)

  Wood naturally dried over 10 - 15 years; absolutely hand-carved

  Solid spruce faceplate; solid maple back and sides

  Blocked at all corners and lined on all edges for better quality and sound

  Ebony fingerboard & fittings; flamed back

  Bridge, Brazilwood bow, rosin, fine tuners and case; ready to play

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• 

  The Lost Stradivarius

  Book (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform)
  

  Rating (4 reviews):

  (4.5/5)

  

  Timeless ghost story

  The ghost story is by & large ideally realized as a short story or at most novella -- the greatest masters, such as M. R. James, never even attempted the novel form; & those who did both short stories and novels, such as E. F. Benson, only the short stories are of outstanding merit. At novel length they tend to bog down considerably or else descend into tedious gothicisms & inessential asides. But Falkner's THE LOST STRADIVARIUS is a perfect gem of a novel, a timeless tale of weird & awe inspiring ghostliness, easily in the top ten of Victorian ghost novels, in an unfailingly elegant style.-Jessica Amanda Salmonson, Violet Books 5/5 Jessica Salmonson (jessica@violetbooks.com) - See all my reviews This review is from: The Lost Stradivarius (World's Classics) (Paperback) The ghost story is by & large ideally realized as a short story or at most novella -- the greatest masters, such as M. R. James, never even attempted the novel form; & those who did both short stories and novels, such as E. F. Benson, only the short stories are of outstanding merit. At novel length they tend to bog down considerably or else descend into tedious gothicisms & inessential asides. But Falkner's THE LOST STRADIVARIUS is a perfect gem of a novel, a timeless tale of weird & awe inspiring ghostliness, easily in the top ten of Victorian ghost novels, in an unfailingly elegant style.-Jessica Amanda Salmonson, Violet Books Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , October 19, 1998

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  In excelsis, de profundis

  John Meade Falkner did not seem to consider novel-writing the most important thing in his life; he wrote three novels in a matter of less than ten years, and spend the rest of his life as an antiquarian, a librarian, and the top executive of a major munitions manufacturing firm. But the three Gothic novels he wrote are all one of a kind and were written with an incredible sense of surety and deftness. THE LOST STRADIVARIUS is a beautifully constructed ghost story, concerning a Victorian Oxford student and music aficionado who discovers an eighteenth-century Italian musical suite; when he plays a certain section of it with his friend in his rooms in Magdalen Hall, a presence seems to stir around them. This only starts the tale, which manages to synthesize a fantastic array of fin-de-siecle concerns, including homoeroticism (as Tom Paulin suggests in his brief foreword to this nice little Hesperus edition, the figure of Oscar Wilde surely haunts this work as much as the fictional ghost... 4/5 Jay Dickson (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews, January 31, 2007

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  Outstanding read be prepared to use google to look up antiquated terms

  Read this book in one afternoon sitting, really enthalled with story line. Imagine relatives and an adult friend telling you about the Father you never met. Hard to imagine this author only wrote 3 books for publication but given all of the other things he accomplished in his life it is understandable. Meant to excell at everything he set his hand and mind to accomplish and did so! You will have to work through turn of the century phrases and terms but then that is the case with any book from this era. In addition to everything else it was FREE! I am older (66) so might appreciate this more than younger generation but will meet all the desires of any avid reader. 5/5 Fanclemente - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: The Lost Stradivarius (Kindle Edition) Read this book in one afternoon sitting, really enthalled with story line. Imagine relatives and an adult friend telling you about the Father you never met. Hard to imagine this author only wrote 3 books for publication but given all of the other things he accomplished in his life it is understandable. Meant to excell at everything he set his hand and mind to accomplish and did so! You will have to work through turn of the century phrases and terms but then that is the case with any book from this era. In addition to everything else it was FREE! I am older (66) so might appreciate this more than younger generation but will meet all the desires of any avid reader. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , February 23, 2011

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  List Price: $20.99
  

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  Stradivarius

  eBooks (eBookIt.com)
  

  Rating (3 reviews):

  (4.7/5)

  

  Stradivarius

  This is a delightful, well written book with much insight and an obvious love of music. The author spans many years in his tale of a Stradivarius violin from it's beginnings in Cremona, Italy through palaces of Europe, a hut in the Korean war and finally to a young prodigy deep in the southern U.S. The characters are well thought out and written. The plot lines believable and interesting. I loved this book and think it's a shame that more people didn't take the opportunity to read a wonderfully written story full of heart, wit and charm. 4/5 Danielle Douchet (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews This review is from: Stradivarius (Hardcover) This is a delightful, well written book with much insight and an obvious love of music. The author spans many years in his tale of a Stradivarius violin from it's beginnings in Cremona, Italy through palaces of Europe, a hut in the Korean war and finally to a young prodigy deep in the southern U.S. The characters are well thought out and written. The plot lines believable and interesting. I loved this book and think it's a shame that more people didn't take the opportunity to read a wonderfully written story full of heart, wit and charm. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , January 1, 2000

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  wonderfully nice read!

  This books is a total favorite. It's a love of people and their various personalities and passions as well as a simple told story of the history of a Stradivarius interwoven in the midst of the main story of a West Virginia'redneck' or country boy Ailey Barkwood who has this odd love of classical music that seems out of place to his venue of birth. He is of course a child prodigy.This is a very pleasant and easy read despite the seeming headiness of the subject.I would recommend to anyone. 5/5 Bruce O. Deming "Book reader" (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews, March 7, 2012

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  Universal Appeal

  As a librarian, I have given this book to virtually every one of my regular readers. Despite their widely varying tastes, I have never had one negative reaction. It is a charming gem. It's worth reading just to experience the wise and gentle approach to conflict resolution that resonates and builds throughout the book. I have given it to many teens, as well. Even the boys will admit to liking it. Give it a try. 5/5 librarian booklover (Iowa) - See all my reviews This review is from: Stradivarius (Hardcover) As a librarian, I have given this book to virtually every one of my regular readers. Despite their widely varying tastes, I have never had one negative reaction. It is a charming gem. It's worth reading just to experience the wise and gentle approach to conflict resolution that resonates and builds throughout the book. I have given it to many teens, as well. Even the boys will admit to liking it. Give it a try. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , February 6, 2006

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  List Price: $9.75
  

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• 

  Stradivari's Genius: Five Violins, One Cello, and Three Centuries of Enduring Perfection

  eBooks (Random House)
  

  Rating (17 reviews):

  (4.6/5)

  

  Simply the Best

  Quick, name a violin maker. For most people, there is only one name that comes to mind, Stradivarius (or in non-Latin form, Stradivari). It is not so surprising that the name lives on: "More than 250 years after his death, Stradivari's violins and cellos remain the best in the world." So writes Tony Faber in _Stradivari's Genius: Five Violins, One Cello, and Three Centuries of Enduring Perfection_ (Random House). The master made more than a thousand instruments and six hundred are documented as still surviving. Faber has chosen six Strads upon which to fasten a story of art, history, and science. He admits they aren't the most celebrated instruments, nor are they all now used by famous players (in fact, only two are being played at all). But in examining them, we get an idea of what makes the brand so special, and why they are so fervently beloved by listeners and players, and sometimes so firmly locked up by museums and collectors that they cannot come out and play... 5/5 R. Hardy "Rob Hardy" (Columbus, Mississippi USA) - See all my reviews, May 29, 2005

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  Lord of the strings

  Like most people, I had heard of the renowned Stradivarius string instruments, but aside from a vague idea about how well made, rare, and expensive they are, I knew little else about them. If you are in that same category, then author Toby Faber's passionate and well-written Stradivarius: Five Violins, One Cello and a Genius is worth a look..I didn't say it is a must-read, because any conclusions one draws about these outstanding instruments after reading the book's 300 or so pages comes from a kind of triangulation based on the six chapters, one each about the six best-known examples of violin-maker Antonio Stradivari's work. Each story is compelling in a different way -- my favorite is about the so-called "Messiah," believed to be the only Stradivarius in existence that has never been played -- but the quality of each tale varies a bit.One of my favorite quotes from the book is from the writer George Eliot. "Tis God [who] gives skill," she wrote, "but not... 4/5 Eric J. Lyman (Roma, Lazio Italy) - See all my reviews, November 4, 2004

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  Do we know Stradivari's secrets yet??

  Some will be curious to see if Toby Faber has any new or definitive revelations as to just what exactly were the deep secrets of Antonio Stradivari. While he doesn't quite completely reveal the mysteries of Stadivari, author Faber does present the two most probably technical hypothesis in the very last chapter as to what exactly was responsible for producing the legenday Stradivari tone and power. Hint: one has to do with a pretreatment of the wood and the other what appears to be a unique "base coat" applied prior to that famous red varnish. But, you'll have to read it to find out exactly what.This book follows the paths of five Stradivarius instruments throughout history - from the 18th century workshop in Cremona through the 19th and 20th century's wars, virtuosos, concerts, and tradings to the present musicians who play them now. Highlights for me were the chapter on Paganini (who collected many Strads but favored his mighty 'des Gesus') and the later chapter... 3/5 Alan Lekan (Boulder, CO) - See all my reviews, June 6, 2005

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  List Price: $17.95
  

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• 

  Bach 180S37 Stradivarius Bb Trumpet

  Musical Instruments (Bach)
  

  Rating (8 reviews):

  (4.9/5)

  

  The Bb Standard Professional Trumpet

  I am a professional trumpet player, collegiate and public school teacher. Although the price has gone up significantly since I purchased mine, this is one of the best professional Bb trumpets on the market. This line of trumpet is used in almost every professional musical outlet in the world from the US Marine Band to the NY Philharmonic. If you are looking for THE trumpet to buy and have until you die, this would be THE horn to purchase. With that said, it is always better to try out the instrument at a music store first. This way you can form your own opinion on that instrument. Since thousands of trumpets are manufactured yearly through the Selmer [Bach] Corporation, you are bound to get better horns than others. Plan on spending a couple of hours at the music store trying horns out. When I was a TA at Penn State University, the marching band purchased 50 new Bach 37's in silver. Out of 50, I would have loved 30 of them myself while the other 20 were still quite good but... 5/5 Mitchell P. Gabel (Las Vegas, NV) - See all my reviews, May 2, 2009

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  Great all around horn

  Though I have never owned a Bach "strad" I have borrowed and played them many times. They are great, all around horns. Great balance, very good intonation, suitable for jazz, concert and orchestra work. I always found they adapt well to different mouthpieces depending on the type of work. A Bach Strad with a big Bach mouthpiece (say, a 1C) produces a huge sound; fit a smaller and/or shallower mouthpiece and you're set for jazz ensemble or something lighter. I think it is hard to go wrong with this horn. Also, the "C" and "D" trumpets are very nice as well. 5/5 Steve Frazier (Seattle) - See all my reviews Though I have never owned a Bach "strad" I have borrowed and played them many times. They are great, all around horns. Great balance, very good intonation, suitable for jazz, concert and orchestra work. I always found they adapt well to different mouthpieces depending on the type of work. A Bach Strad with a big Bach mouthpiece (say, a 1C) produces a huge sound; fit a smaller and/or shallower mouthpiece and you're set for jazz ensemble or something lighter. I think it is hard to go wrong with this horn. Also, the "C" and "D" trumpets are very nice as well. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , July 22, 2004

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  The Best Trumpet Ever Made!

  I have owned this trumpet for 30 years now and it has only gotten better with age. If you are a serious player or want to only buy one trumpet for life...this is the one. Mine was purchased brand new for much less, but if it were stolen I would pay this amount to replace it the very next day. The tone, valve action and playability is better than any other higher end trumpet that I have played and/or owned over the decades. This trumpet has been the industry standard since before my parents purchased mine for me in high school and it remains the standard today for the simple reason it is the best trumpet ever made. 5/5 Ren Bisson - See all my reviews This review is from: Bach 180S37 Stradivarius Bb Trumpet I have owned this trumpet for 30 years now and it has only gotten better with age. If you are a serious player or want to only buy one trumpet for life...this is the one. Mine was purchased brand new for much less, but if it were stolen I would pay this amount to replace it the very next day. The tone, valve action and playability is better than any other higher end trumpet that I have played and/or owned over the decades. This trumpet has been the industry standard since before my parents purchased mine for me in high school and it remains the standard today for the simple reason it is the best trumpet ever made. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , October 6, 2012

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  List Price: $3,810.00
  

  The depth and color of sound, coupled with the even intonation and response, make the 180S37 a top choice.

  In concert halls around the world, professional trumpet players will be found playing the Bach Stradivarius 180S37 Silver-Plated Trumpet.

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  Stradivarius

  Book (Ashmolean Museum)
  List Price: $65.00
  Price: $40.95
  You Save: $24.05 (37%)

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