randallged

I'm new to this site... please pardon my ignorance if this is the wrong thread for my question. I'm looking at at buying a Bb horn with a SMALL bore of .450". Has anyone played a horn like this? Does resistance=control?

tatakata

no

JDay

I thought I had already posted this, must have messed it up somehow...

So I got the Olds horn from my friend the other day. Turns out I was wrong again. it was not wasn't an Ambassador either. I was quite surprised to open the case and find a Old's Opera in excellent condition. Only a little lacquer wear, and some semi stuck slides for 30+ years of storage. It is ironic that it is also a .468 bore horn, but I should be able to have fun playing back and forth between it and the Silvertone (Blessing Super Artist stencil). I am also going to take them to one of my German Band buddies and compare them to his Flip Oaks Wild Thing. That should be an interesting experience. So far they seem to be alot alike, but the Opera with it's two tone silver plate and Brass finish is by far the better looking!

Cheers!

Jumpinj

Personally I think it comes down to the horns design. I have a Mambo which is a .468 bore and it is really open, but I recently found a steal on a 72 Olds Superstar Ultrasonic which is a .460 bore. The Olds has a straight through mouthpiece to bell design and it is just as free blowing as my Mambo.

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Horns:

Bach 180ML 37 Strad w M/K rounded Sterling tuning slide
Stomvi Mambo
72 Olds Super Star Ultra Sonic-- Original and near mint condition
79 B&S Exquisit B-flat

Mouthpieces:

Monette B4S
Monette B4L
Bach 1.5C in GP
Shilke 12A4a

rowuk

No ignorance on your part!
The bore alone is simply not significant. I have a rotary Bb with a bore of around .450 that can hold its own with any large bore orchestral instrument that I have ever played.
Resistance alone also means nothing. Proper resistance can mean efficiency BUT also can mean that you cannot get rid of your air in a natural amount of time. The bore size does NOT determine the resistance!

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Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

Jude

What does it determine/affect? There must be some reason for having different bore sizes. No?

talcito

Lets' take this discussion to another level........Polybore trumpets like the Raptor and Bobby Shew Horns start at like 450 and go to 468. Is this a way of fine tuning what is the optimal bore?

JDay

As time has passed I have found the Old's Opera to be a great horn. Even though I would love to keep the horn, (It was given to me by a friend) I keep trying to suggest that he get back into the saddle so to speak. He has not taken me up on it yet, but just in case I though I had better start looking for a good horn if he asks for this one back...

I love the Olds Opera and after some reading decided to try an Olds Special or Olds Super. I came across a good deal on a '77 Olds Special, and it is a great horn. Then out of pure luck I bid on, and won (much to my surprise) a '64 Olds Super for $235.00. ( Did I mention I also picked up a LA vintage Ambasador Cornet for $25.00 shipped, needs a pinky ring and a little solder work to fix a broken brace. )

So the Question is: Should I expect the Super to play much differently from the Special, and how will it likely compare to the Opera? And what do I need to buy my wife so that I can sleep inside tonight?

Thanks!

veery715

1. The Super will be brighter than the Opera.
2. Just give her $260 and let her decide. We don't know what she's into (other than you) but she might enjoy eBay too. Maybe just having you happy is good enough for her. (note my sig)

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Music = Love

gdong

I like larger horns because they don't back up on me. I play a fairly large back bore mouthpiece too. I like the way it goes. I was on a 0.680 horn, now im on a 0.700 horn. But i play a very small bore flugel. Find something that feels as natural as possible. Be happy.