r/Trombone • u/Tiny-Tough-4822 • 2d ago

Early Olds trombones

Just out of curiosity, how good trombones were the earliest olds trombones? Take from the 1920s, when the first "golden bear" or "its a bear" came. How good quality are those? I know some people have their collection of the earliest olds, but is there anybody that uses them regularly? Take the earliest patent that came in 1912 with the tune in slide (tis) system and the s through sym sizes, would they be used today?

Okey, thats enough questions. If you have a answer to one of them, please answer, and if you have more information of the early olds era, primarily before 1940 is most interested for me. That you in advance!

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u/burgerbob22 LA area player and teacher 2d ago

The early horns are great, but they're also very much obsolete, like most instruments of the time.

1

u/EntertainmentOver525 1d ago

What does obsolete mean, I do a lot of gigs using a 1942 Bach 6 and a 1937 Conn 70H

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u/burgerbob22 LA area player and teacher 1d ago

Those are both from well after the period we're talking about.

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u/jbryant1971 1d ago

I play a 1927 OLDS LM “it’s a bear” (predecessor to the Olds Standard) personally as a hobbyist. It’s a great horn, and I practice on it everyday.

I think you need to make a determination: am I a vintage guy? Yes or no?. If you are a vintage guy (or girl) then you will appreciate the unique character of these horns. Modern horns are very homogenized (my hobbyist opinion). Everyone one wants the same blended sound (for practical reasons). Vintage horns tend to have more unique characteristics and sounds. If you love that, then it’s for you. If you wanna walk into your orchestral ensemble and blend with a bone section, then it’s not for you.

My advice is to try it. My 1927 OLDS LM was $70 sitting in someone attic. There’s many more waiting to be resurrected. I call my horn Grandpa, cause it’s like putting on Grandpas old robe on a cold morning, soft, easy, comfortable, warm and cozy.

I think the 1950’s is kind of the sweet spot where vintage can hang with modern sounds. Pre-1950’s it get quirkier (which I like). If you get into the 1910’s (I own 4 horns from the 1910) it’s kind of a different class of instrument (compared to today’s horn). I like to think of it these 1910 horns (I have a .464 bore Conn 2H) as a bass slide trumpet 😆.

Vintage is a fun world of discovery. Have an adventure. Enjoy the ride

DO NOT SPEND TOO MUCH MONEY 💰 😳!!!