Bach Classic French Horn Mouthpiece #11, Silver Plated

The history of Bach starts with mouthpieces. A century ago, trumpet player Vincent Bach began experimenting with designs and manufacturing processes to replace a broken mouthpiece. Soon after, Vincent Bach’s mouthpieces, and later his trumpets, set the standard for excellence.

Bach continues that standard today through constant innovation and dedication to the craft. In the Bach workshop, crafting a mouthpiece begins with innovative, yet classic designs and is then carved by a computer-numeric-controlled machine that shapes and cuts solid brass bars. Each step is precise within one ten-thousandth of an inch.

Because no two players have the same lip or tooth formation, what is perfect for one player may be entirely unsuitable for another. Bach produces thousands of different combinations of rims, cups and backbores so that each player can find the best mouthpiece for their individual embouchure.

Vincent Bach was a rare combination of artist and engineer. He constantly changed his mouthpieces in search of the perfect design. It wasn't until the mid 1960's that he stopped and finally settled on more standardized design. It was around this time that the formalization of the 27 throat and backbore to cup letter (A=24, B=7, C= 10, etc.) created a standard for mouthpiece making that is still used today. These standards are now known as the Classic Series.