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markag Regular Member
Joined: 27 Dec 2021 Posts: 24 Location: Illinois
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2022 8:46 am Post subject: Considering picking up a 74 Olds Ambassador to tinker with |
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A local guy near me has a 1974 Olds Ambassador trumpet listed for $75. I'm considering picking it up to tinker around with.
I'm interested in getting a practice horn that I can use for learning how to solder, swap out parts for, do some custom work on, etc. I figure this might not be a bad horn to start with and won't be much out of pocket to learn on.
I've heard statement about Olds being a one tolerance shop, meaning that the valve block on this horn, in theory, should be up to the same quality as their top line horns of the time.
I currently play on a Bach LR43, so I'm not in need of a horn. I'm looking for a platform that I can learn on and maybe make changes to be something fun to play for different scenarios.
Any thoughts, suggestions, common things that people like to do with these horns? |
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stuartissimo Heavyweight Member
Joined: 17 Dec 2021 Posts: 974 Location: Europe
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2022 8:52 am Post subject: |
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IIRC some people replace the leadpipe and say it really improves the playability. Not sure what kind of leadpipe they used though, but you can probably find posts in the TH archive. _________________ 1975 Olds Recording trumpet
1997 Getzen 700SP trumpet
1955 Olds Super cornet
1939 Buescher 280 flugelhorn
AR Resonance mouthpieces |
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kehaulani Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 9003 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2022 9:00 am Post subject: |
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Why don't you buy it and find out? _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn |
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homebilly Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Dec 2010 Posts: 2197 Location: Venice, CA & Paris, France
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2022 9:12 am Post subject: |
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i think that it is a great idea!
$75 is maybe on my high side but a perfect price
for that horn if it is in good condition
if it comes with a case even better
practice on it so you can work on mine
my brother may have buffed that one as he worked at the plant in those days buffing horns
good luck and keep us posted _________________ ron meza (deadbeat jazz musician) & (TH 5 post ghost neighborhood watch ringleader)
waiting for Fed-Ex to deliver a $50 trumpet to my door. shipping was prepaid by seller of course!
http://ronmeza.com
http://highdefinitionbigband.com |
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LaTrompeta Heavyweight Member
Joined: 03 May 2015 Posts: 867 Location: West Side, USA
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2022 10:32 am Post subject: |
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You really can't go wrong with anything made by Olds. $75 is a great price so long as it's in one piece. _________________ Please join me as well at:
https://trumpetboards.com |
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bach_again Heavyweight Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2005 Posts: 2479 Location: Northern Ireland
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markag Regular Member
Joined: 27 Dec 2021 Posts: 24 Location: Illinois
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2022 2:05 pm Post subject: |
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Based on the pictures in the listing, it doesn't look like it's in bad shape from the outside. The seller says the slides move, and the valves are smooth. We shall see what it's like when I get a chance to check it out. It looks to have the original case and comes with two mouthpieces (don't know what they are).
Here is the main picture.
This started because I was searching local listing for used trumpets that at a minimum could be a valve block donor that I could build into something custom down the road. So if anything, this would could be a practice horn to learn soldering and some basic brass instrument repair / build techniques on if it doesn't play well.
I did some searching and found out that some people put Bach 43 or other lead pipes on these to improve the playing characteristic. That might be a fun project to take on. Especially since my daily driver Bach LR43 is starting to get some internal lead pipe red rot after 25 years. If I could learn to swap lead pipes myself, I could take on that work when the time comes. _________________ Bach Strad LR43 - Late 90s - Harrelson mod kit & M/K sterling silver semi-round tuning slide
ACB Doubler Flugelhorn - 2021 - Raw Brass |
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TheHighNotes Regular Member
Joined: 08 Aug 2022 Posts: 43 Location: Texas
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2022 5:43 pm Post subject: Re: Considering picking up a 74 Olds Ambassador to tinker wi |
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markag wrote: | A local guy near me has a 1974 Olds Ambassador trumpet listed for $75. I'm considering picking it up to tinker around with.
Any thoughts, suggestions, common things that people like to do with these horns? |
Clean it up and sell it for $300............ |
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homebilly Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Dec 2010 Posts: 2197 Location: Venice, CA & Paris, France
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2022 6:59 pm Post subject: |
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offer him $50 and see what he says
my beater is one just like that one
in the 771k range if i remember right
it also has the stopper ring on the third valve slide throw
with a nib on the bottom of the ring to stop the slide
a great horn to dismantle and learn from for sure
mine doesn't play badly at all just not like my other way earlier
Fullertons or LAs
i paid $40 for that one with the same case as yours _________________ ron meza (deadbeat jazz musician) & (TH 5 post ghost neighborhood watch ringleader)
waiting for Fed-Ex to deliver a $50 trumpet to my door. shipping was prepaid by seller of course!
http://ronmeza.com
http://highdefinitionbigband.com |
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markag Regular Member
Joined: 27 Dec 2021 Posts: 24 Location: Illinois
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Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2022 7:52 am Post subject: |
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homebilly wrote: | offer him $50 and see what he says
my beater is one just like that one
in the 771k range if i remember right
it also has the stopper ring on the third valve slide throw
with a nib on the bottom of the ring to stop the slide
a great horn to dismantle and learn from for sure
mine doesn't play badly at all just not like my other way earlier
Fullertons or LAs
i paid $40 for that one with the same case as yours |
This one is even newer (890K serial number range).
I'm tied up with off-site work training over the next few weeks. I told him if he still has it when I'm back, I would like to check it out. I was already thinking of offering $50 and see what he says. Even if it is a clunker, it would be good to practice soldering on.
I would like to learn how to swap a lead pipe because my Bach 43 is going to need a new leadpipe in the near future. It would be nice to be able to do it myself. _________________ Bach Strad LR43 - Late 90s - Harrelson mod kit & M/K sterling silver semi-round tuning slide
ACB Doubler Flugelhorn - 2021 - Raw Brass |
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homebilly Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Dec 2010 Posts: 2197 Location: Venice, CA & Paris, France
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Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2022 8:56 am Post subject: |
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that sounds like a plan
good luck. you'll have fun getting your soldering chops together
keep us posted _________________ ron meza (deadbeat jazz musician) & (TH 5 post ghost neighborhood watch ringleader)
waiting for Fed-Ex to deliver a $50 trumpet to my door. shipping was prepaid by seller of course!
http://ronmeza.com
http://highdefinitionbigband.com |
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