Holton T101-102 Trumpets

PSU Brass Guy · Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 4:15 am Post subject: Holton T101-102 Trumpets

Has anyone had any experience playing these horns? I have read reviews that they say these are really good and could be a real sleeper.
I like the thought of having a Strad without having a Strad. I am especially interested in the T102 which is supposedly more open that the
T101

Thanks

PSU Brass Guy
_________________
1994 Bach Bb 43 Lightweight
1969 Bb Getzen Eterna Large Bore
1969 Getzen Eterna C Large Bore
2005 Getzen 3850 Custom Bb Cornet
2005 Kanstul Custom Piccolo
1977 Couesnon Flugelhorn
1878 Courtois Cornet
1966 Olds Ambassador

gtromble · Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 5:58 am Post subject:

The T101 was originally based on Mt Vernon Bach tooling. Does anyone know if the current horn is the same? Looking at the pictures on the Holton website, it looks different than what I remember the old ones looking like.

Galen

textr · Heavyweight Member Joined: 10 May 2004 Posts: 1678

The T101 is a great horn. Yes, it is a recreation of the Mt. Vernon.
The T101 s that they are making today play better than the Bachs that they are producing today. The T101 is lighter than the Bachs . I believe
that the T102 and T103 are comparable to the Bach 43 abd 72 bells , it seems that I read that somewhere. Holton also makes a T105 which a lightweight versoin which is really a fine horn.

textr · Heavyweight Member Joined: 10 May 2004 Posts: 1678

The old ones had two braces but the more recent ones have only one brace , I believe that is the only difference though.

Pat · Veteran Member Joined: 18 Nov 2001 Posts: 396

When I bought my 37 Strad about 4 years ago, one of the many horns I tried was a gold-plated T-105. It was a really great horn. I just couldn't "pull the trigger" at the time and buy a Holton instead of the Bach. The Holton, though gold-plated, was only slightly more expensive than the silver Bach. I regret the decision to this day. --BTW I tried it out at International Music up there where you are in Chicago.

Tempo-rary · Veteran Member Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 232

textr · Heavyweight Member Joined: 10 May 2004 Posts: 1678

I see your point , I wasn't really aware of a T104 model until I saw one on ebay a few days ago. I just remember seeing the T101s from the early eighties and recall them to have two braces like a Strad, but then a few years ago when I reaquainted myself with the T101 at TMEA I saw that they only had one brace, whichever , the recent ones I have played on play great. I would like to play a T102, but you don't see them around
very much , at least not in this neck of the woods.

gtownlead · Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2005 7:24 am Post subject:

Does anybody know anything more about the T104. One was given to me by a friend and I havn't been able to find much information about it. Im thinking it may just be a T101 with a first valve trigger but I dont know.

textr · Heavyweight Member Joined: 10 May 2004 Posts: 1678

Well, lo and behold , there is a Holton T102 on ebay , which was not on there when I posted a few minutes ago .
It looks to be in great shape too.

Tempo-rary · Veteran Member Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 232

Well dang. I suppose I am as curious as the next guy and may just plunk down a few bucks and get a 101 and 102 just for curiosity's sake. The 101 seems to be a no-brainer, (I'm fully qualified here), and I'm partial to the Bach 43, so the 102 makes sense.

Although I have to admit owning a NY Bach made by 'the man' is cool, I'm not all that hung up over the brand stamped in the bell of an inexpensive trumpet. Everyone loves beating the 'system', so I'm cool with getting one of these that has the potential to sing like the McKoy.

My only hesitance is the era, whether to grab a newer one that appears fairly commonplace, or to hold out for a sixties model.

textr · Heavyweight Member Joined: 10 May 2004 Posts: 1678

I was looking at the Leblanc wesite and they mention the T102 and the T103 so I guess they still make 'em. I see your point though, but I bet you would not be unhappy with a newer model T102. In reading the website it occurs to me that I might be all wet about the comparisons to the 43 and 72 bells , but Icould sware that I read that somewhere.
It states that one main difference is the leadpipe and the more rounded tuning slide.

textr · Heavyweight Member Joined: 10 May 2004 Posts: 1678

I think that the T104 was Holton's answer to the Conn Connstellation. because if you look at the wrap they seem similar, although I could be wrong.

Tempo-rary · Veteran Member Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 232

Between this thread and one from just a few days ago, there seems to be conflicting reports regarding desirable vintage/era and 'clone source'. Regarding the T101, are any of you versed enough to know from direct experience which to look for? So far the reports are conflicting.

tooslick · Veteran Member Joined: 19 Dec 2003 Posts: 117

I have a 1990's T101 and it does play just a bit stuffy. Intonation and slotting are right on. It's a very nice horn but I have a couple that play more open.
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1925 Cleveland Greyhound peashooter
1927 Conn 22B
1990's Holton T101

trumpet71 · New Member Joined: 21 Jan 2011 Posts: 2

The Holton T-101 is quite simply the best playing horn I've ever played. And I've played plenty over nearly 30 years. In terms of sound, intonation, and versatility, it is far better than my 1982 Bach Strad 37, which I used to think was a good horn. IMO I don't find it to be stuffy at all.

SMJ · Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 12:50 pm Post subject: T101

I worked at the Martin plant and was part of the engineering team that developed T101,T102,T103 and many others since 1980. I can say that all of the T101's were good playing horns ,but some were tighter in the upper register (from high C and up) than others.the tighter ones would tend to back up rather than open up in the upper register. If you run across one of the more open ones it will be exceptional.
Also the model used to create the T101 was an extremely good playing 37 Bach with a 25 leadpipe made in Elkhart, not Mount Vernon . It was supplied brand new off the shelf from a dealer at the time. I took it apart--we measured and qualified every specification and I reassembled the horn.
After reassembling it still played very well.
We used no old tooling from anyone. All tooling including bell mandrels were made to our specs in our corporate tool room at Leblanc and all tooling was brand new. I am sorry if anyone out there may have been told about Mount Vernon and old tooling but it's really not true. [/u]

pfeifela · Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 1:26 pm Post subject:

Within the last couple of years there was "close out" sale ( I don't recall where) mentioned on TH where they were selling new T101's for about $650 if I remember correctly. It stuck in my mind as one of the best values I recall seeing.......
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Larry Pfeifer

supportlivejazz · Heavyweight Member Joined: 05 Jan 2003 Posts: 3757

Robert Rowe · Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 4:12 pm Post subject: Re: T101

SMJ · Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 5:16 pm Post subject: Thank you Robert

I will be glad to share whatever I can remember along the way.
F.Y.I. my name is Jim Stella.
For nearly 4 years I have been the plant manager at the Getzen Company. Prior to that I have split my time between being the product development engineer at Vincent Bach and managing and building horns at the Martin Plant in Wisconsin since 1980.
I love this business and have met some great people along the way.