Olds Mendez Model

bulos · Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 9:44 am Post subject:

[quote="bgwbold"]Comparing a Mendez and an Ambassador:

Lining a Mendez and an Ambassador up side by side, I do not see much similarity between the two

. ..........Agreed .......... and not to forget if Olds were to allot let's say 8 hrs fabrication time for the Mendez.........the Ambassador might receive 2 or 3 hrs. .....AND the tolerances would be less precise.........
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Marquis de Sade: "In art, one has to kill one's father."

bulos · Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 9:55 am Post subject: Mendez

last word............I think a good Mendez is comparable to any horn on the market provided you like the blow characteristics.
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Marquis de Sade: "In art, one has to kill one's father."

bg · Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 1:30 pm Post subject:

Had to chime in, although I usually just read what you guys have to
discuss...
My main axe, Brevete #920XX. My backup, an L.A. Ambassador,
from which I removed the "three point bracing" and replaced it with
standard fare.
I have many horns. My Brevete was getting a valve rebuild this
summer. The only horns that could do the job for me were this
Ambassador and my Olds Standard. The Standard is leaking like a
sieve, so I went with the Ambassador. ( Maybe some of you heard
me on it at ITG...).
This weekend, a friend gave me his Mendez model, so that I could
do a valve alignment for him. (It's a 60's Fullerton) I played it next
to my Ambassador, and really could tell no difference in feel, slotting,
accuracy or tone.
While the Olds horns definitely display admirable craftsmanship, and
blow more like my Besson than any Bachs, Benges or Callichios that
I have played, they lack a certain vibrancy, response and stability that you find in the Bessons and in these other brands. There seems to be a density
to the materials that make the Olds horns more sturdy, and on the older
ones (with the smaller bell tapers)even a little more resistant. I must
admit that there are days when this sturdy quality feels great, and
I have always felt that my Ambassador helped me stay focused on
outdoor gigs! The valves on the Olds horns have never quite given
me the even "break" between notes that I get from a Besson or
Bach. I really have no explanation for this phenomenon- its more of
a feeling.
Sorry for rambling. Conclusion?
1. Can't top the old Brevetes.
2. No noticable difference between Ambassador and Mendez.
3. The Olds wrap and leadpipe are faithful Besson copies.

Brevete men: Bobby Hackett, Joe Wilder, Fats Navarro, Lee Morgan,
Mendez, Buck Clayton, Miles.

Olds guys: Mendez, Lee Morgan, Booker Little, Barry Reis,Clark Terry,
Gene Shaw, Jonah Jones, Manny Klein, Sonny Berman.

Brad Goode

bulos · Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 3:46 pm Post subject:

Hey Brad.....I agree the "blow" of my 1935ish Brevette is tops. It has all qualities; it has resistance yet it is open, it is bright or dark depending on how you lean on it, truly a spectacular horn but it is F R A G I L E and the valves are prone to hangups . Hell if I put the 2nd valve crook in "upside down" the valve hangs in the casing. I have a similiar vintage Rapuano Besson and that horn has better valves but it is a smaller bore and feels stuffy in the middle and low range. BTW this Brevette is a ML+ apparently ealry on the Brevettes were bigger then the Mehas and the Rapuanos or "Fabrications" as they are called were M or M-
PS: this Olds http://www.paulayickvintagebrass.com/Trumpets/Olds%201498%20LLM/
wil give any of em' including the Brevette a run and add to it that Olds quality.
_________________
Marquis de Sade: "In art, one has to kill one's father."

bg

Here's a related line of questioning; (Maybe Paul can help!)
The earlier Bessons were .445 bore horns. I have played
a 1907 Besson C trumpet, which belongs to Steve Winans.
I may go so far as to say that it was the nicest horn I have ever tried.
In my collection, my two favorite smaller axes are the Martin
Handcraft Imperial M bore, and a mint condition Dansant.
Could it be that the Dansant is a Rapuano copy, and the Handcraft
a copy of the other version? They are both straight .445 bore horns.

BG

Forte · Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 4:48 pm Post subject:

"BeboppinFool"
Hey, Robert . . . sold it a year ago . . . hence the "have had" in front of that list of trumpets. Sorry.

Rich

[/quote]

Hi,
Sorry, I just got a little too excited when I saw French and Olds in the same sentence. I got a chance to play a French Model Olds once, and it was delicious.

Thanks,
Robert

bulos