looking to buy a great CORNET for little money

Ruechel · Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 5:42 pm Post subject:

I want to own an easy to play, great sounding cornet but i don't want to spend Pro-Bb Trumpet type $ on it. (Like below $350?) I would welcome any suggestions from all you Cornet aficionados out there.....same goes for Mpc's: i play a Monette B2 on my Bb which probably puts me in that "mpc is gonna cost more than the horn" type limbo....

peace! Nick

ARB · Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 5:43 pm Post subject:

Any Olds cornet.
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Allen - 'Chops-in-Hotlanta'

00 Schilke S22
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"It's what we think we know that keeps us from knowing"

jhatpro · Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 6:03 pm Post subject:

Get an Olds Ambassador, preferably one made in the mid-50s, right after the company started making them with standard receivers (prior to about 1954 the receivers were larger, which means you'd have to get a custom mp or fudge with a flugel piece).

Don't be dissuaded by the fact that the Ambassador was sold as a student horn. Back then, Olds put the same quality into every horn it made. For example, the valve assemblies in the Ambassadors are as good as those in the Recording. I know because I have an Ambassador (cornet and trumpet), Super (cornet and trumpet), and Recording (trumpet). All have excellent valves.

The main difference between the Ambassador and Super is the absence of a 3rd valve tuning ring and a lst valve thumb saddle on the former. But I've found the intonation is so good on the horn you can play in tune by pulling the third valve slide out as needed and lipping the trouble notes, if necessary.

The Ambassador cornet plays darker than the Super cornet. In addition, it was built like a bridge with thicker-than-normal brass. If you keep close watch on eBay you can probably find a good Ambassador for under $200.

Good luck!
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

bdev · Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 6:06 pm Post subject:

I agree with ARB. An good Olds Ambassador will run you $100.00 - $150.00. I picked up a very nice Olds Studio off ebay for $300.00 and love it. For about 250.00 - 300.00 you can also find a nice Getzen Capri if you're looking for a short shepherds crook cornet. I would stay away from the lesser priced student horns. When it comes to mouthpieces, you're gonna have to try them all until you get the right sound. I would start by keeping with your trumpet rim size and vary the cup depth until you find the right sound.
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Schilke B1L / GRe65M/e65S
Yamaha B.Shew Flugel / GRe65FD
Olds Super Trumpet (LA 1946) GRe65MX
Reynolds Emperor Trumpet (1961)
Bach Strad 37 Trumpet
Holton 25 Cornet / Bach 6
MDT Morrison Trumpet (wind controller)

Bob Cross · Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 7:00 pm Post subject:

It must be unanimous -Olds. I got a restored '48? Olds Ambassador from Borodi Music for $350. I was annoyed that they never sent a mp for the large reciever when I discovered it needed that. But after Mark Curry made a mp with the proper shank, that horn plays amazingly well.

I also bought a great Olds Super from Rich Ita of brassinstrumentworkshop.com who is a class guy in every respect. If you want to pay more to avoid the risk and have some recourse (Rich will let you try the horn) that could be a way to go. I believe he has some Ambassadors in stock.

You can get a Monette B2 copy mp on a cornet shank, I'm sure, from Charles an Kanstul, but I don't know if he could make it for the large receiver model if that is what you get. You might want a bigger mp for that cornet than your trumpet - at least I do. Rich Ita would be happy to talk with you about that too. I really enjoyed dealing with him, although I know I could have taken my chances at ebay for less.

I don't know of anything that is as good a value as the olds - especially the ambassador. It also has a blow more like a trumpet than some of my other cornets.

Bob

_PhilPicc · Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 7:16 pm Post subject:

Any King Master, upgrade King SilverTone. Great horns!!

All of the above are solid horns.
_________________
Philip Satterthwaite

We cannot expect you to be with us all the time, but perhaps you could be good enough to keep in touch now and again."
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atom_anderson · Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 7:49 pm Post subject:

What do you think about the old Getzen Super Deluxe cornets?

jharris2 · Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 11:11 pm Post subject:

Love my Ambassador, large receiver notwithstanding!
_________________
John

2014 Flip Oakes Wild Thing flugelhorn (copper bell)
2014 Flip Oakes Celebration trumpet
2005 Flip Oakes Wild Thing trumpet
2002 Flip Oakes Wild Thing short cornet
1976 Getzen Eterna Severinsen trumpet
1951 Olds Ambassador cornet

ARB · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2003 7:52 am Post subject:

I have an older version of this Yamaha and it's also a great cornet.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2577844087&category=41396&rd=1
_________________
Allen - 'Chops-in-Hotlanta'

00 Schilke S22
77 LA Benge 5X
63 Burbank Benge C

"It's what we think we know that keeps us from knowing"

plp · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2003 4:44 pm Post subject:

The Conn 80-A Victor. Not as much resistence as the Olds, and if you get a shallower mpc. this can sound like a trumpet if pushed. Go with a deeper mpc., and you get a nice rich tone. I like the slotting more on the Victor, and pricewise they are going for about the same as the Olds.

To give the devil his due, the Ambassadors are still great horns for the money.

Dano · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2003 8:24 pm Post subject:

Just spent the last few hours breakin in the new Getzen 481 I found. What a fun little horn!!
My trumpets are a Severinsen Custom and a Strad, and this little horn hangs in their really well for the money!

Atom A ---- I was going to bid 192.50 on that horn! If I wouldn't have messed up my last minute log in!!
Would I have won??? That year Getzen made 3 different bell Configes for that horn
Brass- Copper- Sterling Silver. Copra-Temp was the copper version! The sterling model was where the money was!

[ This Message was edited by: Dano on 2003-12-02 23:27 ]

atom_anderson · Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2003 5:10 am Post subject:

Dano,

I'll let you know how it plays once it arrives.

Oh, and you would have won, 'cause my top bid was $150.

-Atom

[ This Message was edited by: atom_anderson on 2003-12-03 08:11 ]

Tootsall · Heavyweight Member Joined: 05 May 2002 Posts: 2952

Yamaha YCR 2330 is pretty darn fine too if you can find one used and want a shepherd's crook, short bell. The price should be in your range.

BeboppinFool · Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2003 4:34 pm Post subject:

I snapped this one up:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2576479482

The Olds Special is a step up from the Ambassador, and as good as the Ambassador is, these really are at least one notch better. I've had a couple of them; gotten them inexpensively in less-than-perfect condition (like this one), done some repairs and turned them around for a decent profit. Everybody ended up happy. It wasn't until I got my Olds Recording fixed up that I decided to sell my Specials, though.

For the amount of cornet I'm getting (figure $100 max for repairs) I don't see how you can beat these instruments.

You want to spend $350.00? Nah! Too much!

Rich
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