Olds Recording vs Olds Opera

[APatts1990]

Hi all!

Long time - First time.

I've gone through much of the threads on Olds instruments (specifically cornets), and I haven't be able to find any thread that compares Olds Recording cornets and Olds Opera cornets.

Have seen a couple of each floating around and have been wondering, what peoples thoughts are? Which cornet is better for all-around playing?

For reference, I'm definitely more of an ensemble player - No matter what cornet I've played over the years, I've never had issues with blending (whether in brass band, concert band, etc.).

Thanks for any help!
_________________
Aaron
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King Legend 2070L SP
John Packer JP152 C-Trumpet
1955 Olds Recording Cornet
Besson Sovereign 928
Yamaha YFH 6310

[JonathanM]

Great thread thought, and welcome to TrumpetHerald.

I've looked online fairly seriously tonight and have not found one Olds Opera Cornet for sale. Not at Ebay, Reverb, Google Shopping...Nothing! Not even CenTex Brass, a great TH supporter.

I've had 3 or 4 Olds Recording Cornets, and to my way of thinking they are a superb cornet. Quite compact (especially for not having a Shepherds Crook) and a real joy to play. Dark but not dead; they are certainly one of my favorite cornets. Of course I like the Olds Special Cornet VERY much, and I've got a great Olds Super Cornet now.

I just got my first Olds Opera a few months back - but it's a trumpet. The trumpet is large bore, and I did notice that the Olds Opera Cornet is listed in the old ads as 'Extra Large Bore'; they're a fairly big blow. The trumpet version has a modest size bell though, which makes it not only manageable but also pleasurable. And the tone... Dark, big, and hauntingly lovely. Now you've got me wondering about the Olds Opera Cornet. Hopefully someone will pitch in soon.
_________________
Jonathan Milam
Trumpets: 18043B, 18043*, 18043 Sterling Silver +, 18037 SterlingSilver+, Benge 4x, Olds: '34 Symphony, '47 Super, '52 Recording
Flugle: Strad 182
Puje: American Belle
Cornet: Olds Recording & Super

[stuartissimo]

[APatts1990]

Thanks both!

I may end up going with the Recording, seems to be a very good offer (based on what I've seen lately). Will likely report back in the new year.

@JonathanM - There was an Opera listed on a Facebook group. But it was an older post than I thought. The list was showing as pending so I reached out but got no response. Also, love your vids.

@stuartissimo - Thanks for the other thread link, there's so much on here it's sometimes hard to narrow things down. Reminds me of a couple of years ago when i got my King Legend trumpet and I scoured the forums....

Best,
Aaron
_________________
Aaron
-----
King Legend 2070L SP
John Packer JP152 C-Trumpet
1955 Olds Recording Cornet
Besson Sovereign 928
Yamaha YFH 6310

[huntman10]

Having played, owned, and enjoyed all the "catalogue" of Olds cornets from the late LA and Fullerton period, except for the Mendez, and having written the Opera review on the Olds Central site, it boils down to a personal choice. I sold the Opera (went through several, some better than others) and presently have a Fullerton and LA Recording cornet (Fullerton on the marketplace, for full disclosure).

Honestly, the first Opera I had was a pretty early Fullerton model, and was an easy playing horn, good for technical solos or section playing, but not as "expressive" as the Recording.
I did have a couple that didn't seem as agile as that first one.

Also, full disclosure, I found the Opera, with it's great big mute swallowing bell to be not all that different than my Olds tri-color Special. Find one with the 3rd slide set up for tuning the low D and C#. If you get the Opera, you will need a set of mutes with more cork on them, too.
_________________
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.

[APatts1990]

Hi again!

Just thought I'd update:

Ended up getting a Recording corne from @huntman10 (a wonderful seller to do business with)!

I brought it out to my church brass band tonight, and it is absolutely amazing! I usually play a Besson 928 Sovereign and the Recording seems to play a bit easier - I felt less tired at the end of rehearsal than usual!

The Olds blends really well with the section (not something I've every had an issue with), and I think using a flugel mouthpiece really helps that. The Recording has the larger receiver so my trusty GR 64 FL fits perfectly. To note, I've been using the GR FL piece for years in cornets - just fitting in the receiver without issue (because I never ended up getting a cornet mouthpiece). So having a horn that fits the mouthpiece is just an added bonus!

Thanks again @huntman10!

Happy playing all![/quote]
_________________
Aaron
-----
King Legend 2070L SP
John Packer JP152 C-Trumpet
1955 Olds Recording Cornet
Besson Sovereign 928
Yamaha YFH 6310

[huntman10]

Thanks so much. I enjoyed our communications, too!
_________________
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.

[Denny Schreffler]

I've played a Recording cornet only casually, when trying out one that belonged to a friend, but I played an Opera extensively, so I'll speak to the Opera other than to say that the Recording that I played (and heard a lot while sitting next to) played and sounded like a good cornet.

The Opera that I had was like something from another planet that was imbued with super powers. It took what it was given and created an output that could be startling. I handed it to a principal player from a first-class orchestra who was slumming/sitting-in with a community group, and he had the same immediate feeling that I had. It interested him enough that he borrowed it for a week to really get into it.

He returned it wishing that he could have had a use for it.

The horn came to me rather than me finding it. I had no real use for it at the time, and I didn't spend any time trying to find the right mpcs or tweaks that might tame it.

I sold it at a premium price on ebay (shudder) to a player/collector in Australia several years, thinking that if I were playing in a Dixie band, that might be the perfect fit.

Well, I'm playing in a Dixie band, and among three Conns and one Holton, I'm always wondering how that Opera cornet would fit in.

—Denny

- forgot to mention going back to an an earlier poster, yes, I had to have a set of mutes (cup, harmon, and straight) corked specifically for the Opera cornet.

[jeirvine]

[APatts1990]

[quote="jeirvine"]