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cbtj51 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Nov 2015 Posts: 725 Location: SE US
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Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2022 2:21 pm Post subject: Renewed search for a replacement Mendez. |
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I have been searching for a replacement for my long lost (Hurricane Betsy 1965) LA Mendez that my Dad purchased from a New Orleans pawn shop and presented to me as my first trumpet in 1959. I have auditioned a few over the years and walked away disappointed for one reason or another. At 71 years old, time is running out and I know that there are a limited number of candidates remaining as time goes by!
A retired Air Force General friend has graciously allowed me to evaluate the Fullerton Mendez that his mom bought for him in 1954-55 for the next couple of weeks, but has reiterated that it is not for sale (sigh...). He has been an excellent steward!!! It is, in fact a pristine original example of the model that my initial research revealed was manufactured very early in the Fullerton period before August 1955. The original lacquer has a very beautiful and desirable darker patina and is at least 95% intact, only micro scratches, no dents or evidence of past repair. The valves are matching #s and in beautiful condition with good compression from my limited testing. I have played it for a 1 1/2 hour practice session yesterday after my morning church gig. I played it during a much longer session today along with my own 1971 Benge 5x for comparison. I was amazed at how familiar it (the Mendez) felt in my hand after more than a half century of not holding one for very long. I can also see how the Mendez would influence my eventual taste in trumpets going forward. I plan to play it a lot while I can and will compare other Bb trumpets that I have.
I came away from these initial experiences thinking a lot about my Dad and his decision to purchase my original LA Mendez when I was still a child. I will continue to search for a Mendez to replace my old one if, for no other reason than sentimental, but have now come to realize that there may not be any to compare to this wonderful example currently on loan to me! In retrospect, I am blessed to have once owned a Mendez and equally honored to be able to play my friend's horn if only for a few weeks and I get to spend lots of time with my Dad in my mind while I play!
Life is Short, find the Joy in it!
Mike _________________ '71 LA Benge 5X Bb
'72 LA Benge D/Eb
'76 Bach CL 229/25A C
‘92 Bach 37 Bb
'98 Getzen 895S Flugelhorn
'00 Bach 184 Cornet
'02 Yamaha 8335RGS
'16 Bach NY 7
'16 XO 1700RS Piccolo
Reeves 41 Rimmed Mouthpieces |
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Croquethed Heavyweight Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2013 Posts: 615 Location: Oakville, CT
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Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2022 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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Beautiful horn, wonderful memories.
I hope you find one to your liking. |
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Dayton Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Mar 2013 Posts: 2045 Location: USA
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2022 5:12 am Post subject: |
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Good luck on your hunt! Just FYI, there are four Olds Mendez trumpets for sale on Reverb right now, including a 1967 model. |
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cbtj51 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Nov 2015 Posts: 725 Location: SE US
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2022 5:13 am Post subject: |
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Thank you Croquethed!
If there is a Mendez in my future, Great! If not, for the moment I am playing a Great one!
Thanks for the heads up Dayton, headed that way now!
Life is Short, find the Joy in it!
Mike _________________ '71 LA Benge 5X Bb
'72 LA Benge D/Eb
'76 Bach CL 229/25A C
‘92 Bach 37 Bb
'98 Getzen 895S Flugelhorn
'00 Bach 184 Cornet
'02 Yamaha 8335RGS
'16 Bach NY 7
'16 XO 1700RS Piccolo
Reeves 41 Rimmed Mouthpieces |
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jeirvine Veteran Member
Joined: 29 Apr 2022 Posts: 337 Location: Baltimore, MD USA
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cbtj51 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Nov 2015 Posts: 725 Location: SE US
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2022 6:58 am Post subject: |
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jeirvine wrote: | There are a few on Facebook Marketplace as well. |
Thank you very much for the direction. I am not much of a social media person, so I had not even thought about FB as a resource!
Life is Short, find the Joy in it!
Mike _________________ '71 LA Benge 5X Bb
'72 LA Benge D/Eb
'76 Bach CL 229/25A C
‘92 Bach 37 Bb
'98 Getzen 895S Flugelhorn
'00 Bach 184 Cornet
'02 Yamaha 8335RGS
'16 Bach NY 7
'16 XO 1700RS Piccolo
Reeves 41 Rimmed Mouthpieces |
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Uberopa Heavyweight Member
Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 931 Location: Canada
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2022 7:59 am Post subject: |
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Trent Austin at Austin Custom Brass has one listed on his website. He is well known as a straight shooter on this site. You can buy with confidence. Disclaimer: I have no connection with ACB. |
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jeirvine Veteran Member
Joined: 29 Apr 2022 Posts: 337 Location: Baltimore, MD USA
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huntman10 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 30 Aug 2017 Posts: 693 Location: Texas South Plains
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2022 10:15 am Post subject: |
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That last eBay listing has the plastic spring barrel (as I recall, it was Ryton, a very tough and machinable polycarbonate that I once specified for some very large industrial power plant damper bushings for elevated temperatures in corrosive service). While it is a very tough and precise material, I have always been a bit cautious as an Olds collector, as those parts may not be easily repaired, plus in the period they were used (at the very end of the Fullerton era, before the closing of production, quality control was lacking. Just sayin'! _________________ huntman10
Collector/Player of Fine (and not so fine) Brass Instruments including
Various Strads, Yammies, Al Hirt Courtois, Schilkes,
Selmer 25, Getzen Eternas, Kanstuls (920 Pic, CG)
Martin Custom Large Bore, Lots Olds!, Conns, etc. |
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cbtj51 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Nov 2015 Posts: 725 Location: SE US
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2022 10:44 am Post subject: |
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huntman10 wrote: | ... I have always been a bit cautious ... (at the very end of the Fullerton era, before the closing of production, quality control was lacking. Just sayin'! |
Thank you for that huntman10!
I have walked away from a lot of them over the last several decades for many reasons and production period has been one of the criteria. My focus has mostly been on the LA production, but I have been disappointed by condition and stymied by rarity! After playing my friend's early Fullerton (I wouldn't sell it either if it were mine!!!), I have become more open to at least the earlier period, maybe until 1960. I tried out a few real dogs from the later Fullerton years and that left a bad impression. Mechanical function is a bigger draw than cosmetics for me, but I wouldn't mind getting both!
Maybe someday...
Life is Short, find the Joy in it!
Mike _________________ '71 LA Benge 5X Bb
'72 LA Benge D/Eb
'76 Bach CL 229/25A C
‘92 Bach 37 Bb
'98 Getzen 895S Flugelhorn
'00 Bach 184 Cornet
'02 Yamaha 8335RGS
'16 Bach NY 7
'16 XO 1700RS Piccolo
Reeves 41 Rimmed Mouthpieces |
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