Consequences of using an ill-fitting mouthpiece (Olds)
- mikeklaas
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Oct 06, 2024
I've acquired a late-60's Olds Studio that comes with the smaller Olds mouthpiece taper. It came with a Bach 12C which was clearly used by the previous owner.
As far as I can tell my option are:
1. Acquire a Olds mouthpiece (I have a beat up one coming from eBay)
2. Have the receiver reamed out (looking into it; first shop was pretty skeptical)
3. Have a custom mouthpiece fabricated (from Doug Elliot or somewhere else)
4. Use standard shank mouthpieces despite not fitting perfectly.
I only have the standard size small shank mouthpieces right now, and I'd rather be able to reuse them if possible. I measure 20mm insertion depth for standard mouthpieces in the horn, compared with 26.5mm insertion in a standard receiver. What non-obvious consequences are there of playing that way? (I'm aware of the obvious one of the intonation being slightly flat)
Thanks!
As far as I can tell my option are:
1. Acquire a Olds mouthpiece (I have a beat up one coming from eBay)
2. Have the receiver reamed out (looking into it; first shop was pretty skeptical)
3. Have a custom mouthpiece fabricated (from Doug Elliot or somewhere else)
4. Use standard shank mouthpieces despite not fitting perfectly.
I only have the standard size small shank mouthpieces right now, and I'd rather be able to reuse them if possible. I measure 20mm insertion depth for standard mouthpieces in the horn, compared with 26.5mm insertion in a standard receiver. What non-obvious consequences are there of playing that way? (I'm aware of the obvious one of the intonation being slightly flat)
Thanks!
- BGuttman
- Posts: 7368
- Joined: Mar 22, 2018
Check to see how badly out of tune the partials are with each other.
I have a 1925 Olds LM that I have used with a standard Bach 4C for years with no ill effects.
I have a 1925 Olds LM that I have used with a standard Bach 4C for years with no ill effects.
- Posaunus
- Posts: 5018
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
The factory-original mouthpiece was an Olds 3. Small but works pretty well in an Olds Studio. You may prefer an Olds 1 mouthpiece (slightly larger, same shank) which also fits the Olds receiver perfectly. Both often readily available used and not beat up. I think the proper shank works much better.
- Dennis
- Posts: 404
- Joined: Mar 24, 2018
[quote="mikeklaas"]As far as I can tell my option are:
1. Acquire a Olds mouthpiece (I have a beat up one coming from eBay)
2. Have the receiver reamed out (looking into it; first shop was pretty skeptical)
3. Have a custom mouthpiece fabricated (from Doug Elliot or somewhere else)
4. Use standard shank mouthpieces despite not fitting perfectly.
Thanks![/quote]
5. Have a machine shop turn the shank of a Morse small-shank mouthpiece down to match the Olds shank.
That's doable once you have an Olds mouthpiece for them to measure. It's also a better option than having the mouthpiece receiver reamed out.
2a. Replace the leadpipe with one set up for a standard Morse small shank. Pulling the leadpipe and having it worked on is probably a better option than trying to use a reamer on it in situ.
1. Acquire a Olds mouthpiece (I have a beat up one coming from eBay)
2. Have the receiver reamed out (looking into it; first shop was pretty skeptical)
3. Have a custom mouthpiece fabricated (from Doug Elliot or somewhere else)
4. Use standard shank mouthpieces despite not fitting perfectly.
Thanks![/quote]
5. Have a machine shop turn the shank of a Morse small-shank mouthpiece down to match the Olds shank.
That's doable once you have an Olds mouthpiece for them to measure. It's also a better option than having the mouthpiece receiver reamed out.
2a. Replace the leadpipe with one set up for a standard Morse small shank. Pulling the leadpipe and having it worked on is probably a better option than trying to use a reamer on it in situ.
- JohnL
- Posts: 2529
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
The answer is: it depends.
Some people use standard shank mouthpieces in Olds receivers with no problems, others report issues. Try it for a while and see how it works for you.
Some people use standard shank mouthpieces in Olds receivers with no problems, others report issues. Try it for a while and see how it works for you.
- GGJazz
- Posts: 243
- Joined: Jul 30, 2022
Hi Mikeklaas.
In my opinion , the best thing would be to have a custom mpc made by Doug Elliott ; so you can choose a size that works for you , having a shank that fits perfectly the horn . This way you do not have to make any modifications to the receiver/ leadpipe etc , which could also change the horn' s response for the worse ...
Regards
Giancarlo
In my opinion , the best thing would be to have a custom mpc made by Doug Elliott ; so you can choose a size that works for you , having a shank that fits perfectly the horn . This way you do not have to make any modifications to the receiver/ leadpipe etc , which could also change the horn' s response for the worse ...
Regards
Giancarlo