Used Bach Strad vs New: 5 Things to Check Before You Buy

A used Bach Stradivarius can cost less than half the price of a new one, but only if you know what you're buying. In this video we count down the five checks every experienced player should run before choosing a used Strad over a new one. You'll learn how to read a Strad serial number (and what a letter at the start really means), why the era matters, from hand-assembled Mount Vernon horns to early Elkhart to the 2006–2009 strike years and today's automated production, the ten-second valve compression "pop" test, how to spot red rot and a hidden refinish, and why the real price of a used Strad is the asking price plus whatever it needs from a repair tech. Prices mentioned come from individual dealers and one repair shop's posted price list at the time of research and may change. Claims about strike-era horns are presented as the striking workers' claims. Which Strad would you hunt for? Team Mount Vernon, team early Elkhart, or team brand-new? Tell us in the comments, and subscribe for straight answers about trumpet gear every week.