Woltjer

I have a 1967 Olds Ambassador Cornet and have a few questions:

1. What mouthpiece should I use? Right now I have two Vincent Bach 7Cs and a Vincent Bach 3C (which I prefer). I could also buy a new Monette mouthpiece since I live near Portland, Oregon. My birthday is on November 25, and my parents would buy any mouthpiece I ask for, except maybe some priceless antique.

2. How much is it worth? Just wondering, because it was given to me by a private lesson teacher. It is in perfect condition, except that the outside isn't very shiny, but I think I could fix that.

3. I have braces and a slight overbite, so when I play high C and above the braces leave an imprint on the inside of my upper lip. Will anything help?

Incase it matters, I am 14 and have been playing trumpet for about 9 years. I currently play baritone in the high school symphonic band because my conductor really needed a baritone, I can play any brass instrument, and I couldn't choose between flute and trumpet.

Woltjer

I don't know why it says special in the title on the other page. I edited it out already.

ComeBackKid

Woltjer - Welcome to TM. We hope that you find some things that can help you as you visit here and that you continue to progress and find satisfaction in playing the trumpet. As far as your questions go, I can really help you with 1 and 2 - maybe not so much on #3 but I'll try. And, congratulations on having one of the finest instruments that you could have to learn on (I'll tell you more at the bottom if you care to read further).
1. Stay with the 7C. I started with a 7C and it worked great but later I decided I needed something more "exotic" - more "sophisticated". I now have 30 different mouthpieces. Some are fun to play around with but none work better than a good old 7C unless it is an Olds 3 which was made for that cornet. Someday, if you decide that you want a different sound such as jazz or ballads, you may look for a specialty mouthpiece but for learning, what you have is fine.
2. As great as your instrument is, it is worth much more to you than to anyone else. Olds made over a million Ambassador instruments so there are a lot on the market. That is good if you want to buy one (or more like I have) but not so good if you want to sell one (it might bring $80-$100 on a good day). So, keep it forever. As time goes by, you will become more fond of it. (more at the bottom).
3. Many students continue to play with braces (I was not one of them which is why I said I may not be the most help here). You can read lots of posts here about that but as long as you don't overdo it and leave your lips a bloody pulp, you will be able to build up a tolerance and continue to play fine with the braces. Do lots of "low impact" practicing to build up your lips.

As far as the baritone goes, it is good to be able to double on different instruments. I played the baritone in high school so I know how that goes. The larger mouthpiece is a bit easier on the braces as well. Some have difficulty switching back to cornet after playing low brass so I would encourage you to practice regularly (daily if possible) on the cornet so that your lips won't "forget" the embouchure for the smaller mouthpiece.

Now, for the "rest of the story". I started playing at age 10 on an Olds Ambassador cornet which my parents bought new for me. I played it for about 10 years and then decided that I wanted a "grown up" instrument so I gave the cornet to my brother and I bought a trumpet. Later I quit playing for over 35 years and only picked up playing again 6 months ago. I wondered whatever happened to my cornet (I hadn't thought about it during all of those years). I asked my brother and he had given it to my nephew who didn't know where it was, so on, so on. But I kept at it and finally found it. It still plays as good - maybe better - than it did when new. I love to play it now and I wouldn't take any amount of money for it. It still had the 7C and Olds 3 mouthpieces, too and they work just great. My grandson wanted to start. What did I buy him first thing? An Olds Ambassador cornet, of course. So, even if you decide to buy something else later on, never give up your Olds cornet. It will be a lifelong friend.
Good luck.

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Come-Back Kid
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Woltjer

Thank you ComeBackKid. I think I'll buy an olds 3 then. I was surprised that these old cornets sound so much better than the new trumpets in my band. Our first trumpet player has pretty much the same cornet as mine and it sounds great. I might sell the Bb trumpet I used when I was small because its nothing like the Olds and use the money for the 3C.

Thanks again,
Woltjer

ComeBackKid

Woltjer - Just a point of clarification. The Olds 3 is an old style mouthpiece and not made anymore. I think you will need to go on ebay to find one (plenty there). That is not the same as a "3C" which is a larger mouthpiece than a 7C. The Olds 3 is probably about the same size as the 7C (I can't really tell the difference by putting them both to my lips). So, if you are planning to buy a new mouthpiece, I would go to a store where they have some demo units that you can try before buying one. As I mentioned, I have 30 mouthpieces, partly because I thought I would like a bigger one. It turned out that actually for me, a smaller one is better. I have no range with a larger one. (I have a very large jaw but very thin lips).

__________________
Come-Back Kid
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Selmer Invicta London (T)
Olds SuperStar (T)
Olds Super (2T)
Olds Special (2T+C)
Olds Ambassador (9T+7C)
Andreas Eastman (2T)
Conn Director (T+C)
King Cleveland Superior (T+C)
Holton (T602+C605 Shep Crk)
Holton Collegiate (T+C)
Blessing (T+C)
Yamaha (T+C)
Getzen 300
Amati ATR213
(+Revelle, Bundy, Alcazar, & ?)

oldlou

Upon a quick visual inspection of one of my Olds 3 and Bach 7C mouthpieces it was readily obvious that the Olds 3 piece has a slightly wider and flatter rim and smaller cup than the Bach 7C. In my case the Olds offering makes for a sligthtly higher top end of my range, but, at the expense of decent tone quality. Everyones facial and dental structure is unique, causing each of us to find that particular mouthpiece to suit the individual. In my case, the Bach 3C is the ,( thus far discovered ), optimum.


OLDLOU>>

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MFfan

I agree with Lou about the Olds 3 of either type being shallower than a Bach type 7c. I have Bach 7c's that I have played for many years for all-around playing, plus some others that never really worked out as well. I often prefer a Vintage Olds 7c (not the same as Bach). I didn't like the playing qualities of an Olds 3 and found I had little bottom range with one, but that's me.

I have also used Bach 7C and 5C for cornet playing, but now use a V cup King 7M and have a Yamaha 11E4 on order to get a more mellow sound I like from a cornet.I used to have an Ambassador cornet and found it to be a fine instrument, but not as refined as the King Master Model and Besson cornets I have now.

Good luck with your playing and welcome to TM

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Woltjer

Thank you all. I will look into the Olds 3 some more, and try out the 7C a bit. I think the reason the 3C works well for me is because I have medium-sized to big lips.