paperarmytank

I've heard that horns made in the 40's are usually pretty decent, even student models. Is it true that they were called student models just because they didn't have some pro features (fancy case, silver finish) or because they had more student-like features (lyre holder, adjustable third valve ring)? It would make sense because the use of mass-production machinery probably wasn't as prevelant in those days. I know Olds Ambassadors I pretty sought after. Any opinions on this subject? If I were to find something along those lines, is it a keeper?

__________________
Just blow, man. Just blow.

MUSICandCHARACTER

This is generally true. The Olds Ambassador was much more than a student horn. The problem lies with the valves. After many years they can leak and get sloppy. Hard to judge on eBay if an older horn has decent valves. But usually if the price is low enough, it is not a big risk.

Jim

__________________
Dr. Jim Fox
Licensed Mental Health Therapist
Mouthpiece chart: www.ibowtie.com/tmptmpccharts.html

TheLawTalkingGuy

Actually. an adjustable third valve slide ring wasn't always the mark of a student horn; the fixed rings were seen on custom horns made for a certain player, with a certain size hand. Many pro level horns from that era had adjustable rings.

__________________
John Underhill

bigaggietrumpet

The leadpipe also wasn't as good as on some other horns. I always felt it a little restrictive (then again, that happens to me on most horns). And I've noticed that most Olds valves from say, the LA era and early Fullertons, usually will leak somewhat and not be quite as tight. Still very playable, though, I use my Studio heavily.

__________________
Michael Smith
Hullabaloo: The official band of Texas A&M Basketball
Kanstul 1537/ Schilke 14
LA Olds Studio

Robert Rowe

Most seem familiar with the Olds Ambassador (was my first horn, when I was a student -- still have it).

Wanna get "shocked" ? Try to acquire a vintage Martin Indiana, or a vintage Blessing Standard?

I have several vintage Martin Committees and Blessing Super Artists; hence, my experienced perspective.

Robert Rowe

__________________
" ... Ya cain't polish a turd ...!" (old Southern expression)

~~ Love animals ... don't eat them. ~~

bandman

I think there were many good beginner model horns made in the 1970's and 80's. I consider those horns to be vintage even though some other people will disagree. The hardest thing is to find an older student horn that was well cared for by the student owner.

My students have been using Yamaha beginner trumpets as my trumpet of choice since the early 1990's, but before that my student trumpet of choice was the King 601. I found them to be well built from about 1978 to 1988. After that the quality of the King horn started to fall behind the Yamaha. Many of my students also used the Conn beginner trumpets during the 1980's but in the 1990's I started to see a great fluctuation in quality from horn to horn from Conn.

I always had to be careful with the Olds trumpets. I loved the Ambassador, but Olds made some real dog horns. One of my students in Beginner Band right now is playing on a sweet Super Olds Recording! I love that horn, and I can't wait until he gets to high school and they tell him to go buy a Yamaha Xeno. I'm going to be there that day having a serious discussion with the high school band director. His Olds Super Recording plays as well or better than any Yamaha I've ever played.

__________________