Olds Trombones

chouston3 · by **chouston3** » 2023-12-28 4:34 p.m.

Does anyone else regularly play on an FE Olds trombone as their main horn. I play on an Olds Super but I do not see them mentioned much.

OneTon · by **OneTon** » 2023-12-28 5:26 p.m.

I play on an Olds Super for circus and outdoor jazz. It is as good as my other equipment. Weight gain and age increased the diameter of my neck. The slide width is small and uncomfortable. So it isn’t in the daily driver rotation.

ghmerrill · by **ghmerrill** » 2023-12-28 5:56 p.m.

I have one (a '47 Olds Standard), but I almost never play tenor. However, on occasions that I have played it in a group, my feeling was that it didn't seem to "blend" particularly well with more modern trombones. Luckily, in the groups I was playing it in, that hardly mattered.

JohnL · by **JohnL** » 2023-12-28 6:13 p.m.

I play an open-wrapped Olds P-24G as my daily driver in a community orchestra and two community bands, and usually some flavor of Olds S-20/S-23-ish for Bones West (playing 4th trombone on pieces with 5-6 parts). On those rare occasions when I get to play small tenor, it's either a P-16 (if I have to blend with other makes of trombone), a P-15 (if I don't need to worry about blending), or an R-20 (if I need an f-attachment).

But none of this if for paying gigs. I don't know of anyone around here who uses an Olds tenor on a regular basis for paying gigs. I did once run into a freelancer down San Diego way who was playing a re-valved P-24G regularly.

JetMech · by **JetMech** » 2023-12-28 7:42 p.m.

I just got my Olds Custom back from getting the slide dialed in and I fully intend to integrate it into the mix. It's just a really nice, effortless horn to play.

hyperbolica · by **hyperbolica** » 2023-12-28 9:57 p.m.

[quote="chouston3"]Does anyone else regularly play on an FE Olds trombone as their main horn. I play on an Olds Super but I do not see them mentioned much.[/quote]

I really enjoy my Recording, although it's not a daily player. The Super is pretty small. Most people going that small have a King 2b or a Bach 6.

If you like it, it doesn't matter what other people think.

pfrancis · by **pfrancis** » 2023-12-28 10:12 p.m.

Ben Patterson played one in the Airmen of Note for his time there and sounded great. I am certain he continues to both play it and sounds great after he has left the band.

Posaunus · by **Posaunus** » 2023-12-29 12:32 a.m.

I use an Olds R-15 Recording (0.495"/0.510" bore) and an Olds T-15 Studio (0.485"/0.500") in regular rotation with my Dixieland ensemble. Both are a joy to play, no need to blend with other trombones. Especially fun to play with our lead player, who brings a different pair of often "historical" instruments (trumpet & cornet) from his large collection every week!

And I'd be willing to bring my Olds O-25 (0.554" bore) to an orchestra gig. (Did it years ago quite successfully. Must try it again.)

TromboneMonkey · by **TromboneMonkey** » 2023-12-31 5:23 p.m.

[quote="Posaunus"]I use an Olds R-15 Recording (0.495"/0.510" bore) and an Olds T-15 Studio (0.485"/0.500") in regular rotation with my Dixieland ensemble. Both are a joy to play, no need to blend with other trombones.[/quote]

How cool! This is exactly me, on 3-horn section gigs.

I have a BEAUTIFUL closet 1955 Recording with counterweight that I play with a Minick mouthpiece and a 1949 Studio with counterweight that I play with a Marcinkiewicz 12 (yeah I'm proud of having 2 Olds counterweights). I can never decide which one I like better, but I like them both more than a Super I used to have. They both blend immaculately with trumpet, which is why I love them. They are not as easy to play as comparable Kings or Williams that I have, or as easy as the Holton 65 I bought from Ben Griffin, which I attribute to the dual bore design of the Olds. Dual bore horns are just quirky at baseline. But I still prefer the Olds for the work I do.

Olds = BIG and CLEAR. Or "Robust; precise", as John Wick would say. A wonderful combination.

I tried an Olds Custom P-16 fairly recently but didn't like it as much (although it was a good horn). Played more like a Bach than the other Olds I've tried. I'd love to try a Radio one day; the engraving alone is sexy enough I'd want to check it out (see JohnL's website for good photos of Olds horns).

TromboneMonkey · 2023-12-31 6:49 p.m.

Edit: duplicate post deleted.

Jimkinkella · by **Jimkinkella** » 2023-12-31 10:02 p.m.

Craig Considine from The Allmighty Senators played a Super for a number of years, he’s since moved on to a Bach

imsevimse · by **imsevimse** » 2023-12-31 10:27 p.m.

[quote="ghmerrill"]I have one (a '47 Olds Standard), but I almost never play tenor. However, on occasions that I have played it in a group, my feeling was that it didn't seem to "blend" particularly well with more modern trombones. Luckily, in the groups I was playing it in, that hardly mattered.[/quote]

I have the same experience with my S-15,. If I remenber correctly I have three Supers, one silverplated and two brass, one is in perfect conditon like new. They play great but do not blend well with modern horns, they have a too dark sound, at least when I play them.

The R-15 I own is different and blends better. But I choose other horns every time, so not my favorite horn compared to the many Conns, Kings and Yamahas

/Tom

JoshE · by **JoshE** » 2024-01-01 7:15 p.m.

I play an Ambassador A-20 with a DE setup and have yet to be held back by it. Granted I'd say I'm just an advanced hobbyist, but I've played about a dozen musicals on it and have done well for myself, provided I've put in the work

MrBill · by **MrBill** » 2024-12-17 6:09 p.m.

I play an Olds 023 Opera most of the time.

Doubler · by **Doubler** » 2024-12-17 7:41 p.m.

My 1950 Olds Studio suits me well. I did add an Ambassador counterweight, however, to improve its slide-heavy feel.

Bonebrain · by **Bonebrain** » 2024-12-24 1:01 a.m.

I have just returned to my Olds family with a recent purchase of a P-16.

My preference seems to be the .500 bore, 7 1/2" bell horns, although I do love the Super as well.

Mainly playing small ensemble jazz it's a perfect fit and a great horn to do battle with trumpets and saxes.

Big sound and very nimble.

I'll probably never catch it!

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