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Post by Village Idiot on Feb 15, 2023 22:12:56 GMT -5
Visiting my folks last Sunday I came home with an alto sax and a trombone. About this trombone. It might have been my brother's, which would mean it was a typical high school trombone. It might have been my grandfather's, who played in jazz and big bands for many years and never skimped on quality, so it might be something a player might actually want. It is either a piece of crap or it is not a piece of crap. Either way, it could use some polishing. What can you tell me by this picture, Epaul?
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Post by Marty on Feb 15, 2023 22:18:39 GMT -5
Find the model and serial #.
A quick look on Reverb tells me it is probably a Ambassador model. On Reverb $200- $450. That OLDS badge was common on student models.
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Post by Village Idiot on Feb 15, 2023 22:26:29 GMT -5
I'll do that in the morning. It will be a snow day, so I'll have all day.
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Post by John B on Feb 15, 2023 22:34:10 GMT -5
Does it have an f-trigger?
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Post by Village Idiot on Feb 15, 2023 23:49:03 GMT -5
No.
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Post by epaul on Feb 16, 2023 0:10:54 GMT -5
You will want to check out the serial number on that horn. But with the rectangular weight and the double brace on on the tuning slide, it could be a Olds Recorder from the Olds Mt. Vernon factory, which was closed in the early 1950s when Olds moved production to Indiana. If so, think of it as the trombone equivalent of a pre-war Martin. Tommy Dorsey famously played that model for much of his early career before switching to King. If it does date from the Mt. Vernon era, you have a horn that could go for six-seven grand.
Send me your Social Security # and bank account and routing numbers, and I will be able to line you up with a rich Nigerian prince who will pay triple the going rate that rare find of yours. A credit card number or two would expedite the money transfer to your account. He will buy the horn now sight unseen and pick it up later when he flies over to the States to take in the Minto Lutefest (a big deal with Nigerian princes)
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Post by Cosmic Wonder on Feb 16, 2023 0:13:54 GMT -5
I don’t think it’s a trombone. It looks like a portable hot water radiator to me. They were popular in the Midwest for heating up the outhouse. Fill it with water, put it in the wood stove for an hour or so and see if it still works. If it doesn’t you could maybe turn it into a trombone.
Mike
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Post by epaul on Feb 16, 2023 0:32:59 GMT -5
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Post by Marty on Feb 16, 2023 10:18:45 GMT -5
Cheri is out of surgery, as she was told by many here " piece o cake". The girls took her to breakfast, or most likely they talked her into taking THEM to breakfast.
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Dub
Administrator
I'm gettin' so the past is the only thing I can remember.
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Post by Dub on Feb 16, 2023 12:24:43 GMT -5
Cheri is out of surgery, as she was told by many here " piece o cake". The girls took her to breakfast, or most likely they talked her into taking THEM to breakfast. Wonderful. Glad to hear. Pleas give her our best.
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Post by Village Idiot on Feb 16, 2023 13:36:22 GMT -5
I'm glad it went well, Marty. Please say hello to Cheri for me.
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Post by Village Idiot on Feb 16, 2023 23:03:14 GMT -5
I am learning a lot about trombones, and for that alone I'm glad I posted this and that I have one in my home. Like a non-guitar player might think a guitar is a guitar, me the non-trombone player thought a trombone is a trombone. This is not so. I've been reading about trombones a lot today. I'm coming to the conclusion that this was my grandfather's trombone, not top of the line, but quite adequate from its time. I found this: And then I found the serial number. I had to learn a lot about trombones to learn that. 994937. So I assume it was made in the early 1950s and is a well-made and very playable trombone, not worth millions. Epaul, if you can forgive my wardrobe malfunction at the Duck Band outdoor performance at the I-94 Tower City North Dakota rest stop last January, which was all Tamarack's fault in the first place, would you be willing to express any thoughts? Especially obvious ones?
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Post by Marty on Feb 17, 2023 9:31:04 GMT -5
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Post by epaul on Feb 17, 2023 11:23:33 GMT -5
For the record, I regard your Tower City wardrobe malfunction as a blessing. It got us our next 8 gigs.
I don't have any thoughts in particular regarding the trombone. It's only value will be to you. And if you find value in it, that is the best any horn can deliver.
Is it playable? Does the slide move freely/easily. If doesn't, but the inner slide looks to be straight and the chrome finish looks ok, it may just need to cleaned and lubed. Cleaning is soap and water. Lubing is with a dedicated lubricant intended to be used on a trombone. Any music store or Amazon will have trombone slide lubricant. A perfectly good "home-style" slide lubricant is applying a thin coating of Pond's cold cream and then spritzing it with a light spray of water (from a spray bottle). (don't use motor oil). The tuning slide (in back) will likely be stuck, if it is, don't worry about it, you can do all the tuning you need with the main slide)
If it is playable, try playing it. Youtube will offer all you need to get started (type: how do I learn to play trombone or Trombone lesson). This may open doors you didn't know existed. (or it may open doors best left shut)
If it is playable, all slides working, including the tuning slide in back, you could perhaps gift it to a possible grandkid or some other kid. I would only consider this option if the slide moves effortlessly and quietly. If it doesn't, it will do the kid a disservice and lead to frustration/quitting (and for three hundred bucks or so, you can find a used Yamaha 354 that plays like a professional instrument ((and is still shiny)).
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Post by John B on Feb 17, 2023 12:00:43 GMT -5
My dad still has his Conn 88H, bought new in 1957 for $400. He skipped Interlochen that summer to work at a factory to earn enough money for the trombone.
He did offer to let our son use it, but I thought we'd be better off getting something with less sentimental value. So I'm still on the hunt for a trombone with an f attachment. Collin auditioned for district with a solo and as part of a trombone choir. However, as a freshman he can't move on to state. He's hoping to join a jazz band next year (his high school has 3).
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Post by epaul on Feb 17, 2023 12:23:48 GMT -5
Now a 1957 Conn 88H is a horn that has value (collectable, held in high esteem by trombone players (many of whom are willing to pay good money (2-3 grand) to get one). The 88H had a design that stood the test of time and is still in serious use today.
Conn is Gibson, Bach is Martin, and Yamaha is Taylor.
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Post by dradtke on Feb 17, 2023 12:44:50 GMT -5
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Post by epaul on Feb 17, 2023 12:54:58 GMT -5
John, if your kid is interested in both jazz band and regular band, I strongly recommend getting him a medium bore instrument with the F attachment. (I recommend a medium bore instrument for a developing player, regardless).
A medium bore horn (.525) with F attachment will work great in both Jazz band and the full school band. It will have the snap for jazz but can still sound full and rich for regular band. And as a younger player, a medium bore will allow him to master, and control, the horn more easily and he will be a better, stronger player. If he goes on to play in college, switching to a large bore will be no issue and the .525 will still work fine for jazz band or he can get a small bore. There are two likely medium bore options, both of which can be found in good numbers new and used, the Bach\ 36/F and the Yamaha 640. (the 640 is my band horn of choice, and money has not been an object for me, so far anyway).
Trombone bore size refers to the diameter of the receiver (the part of the trombone that holds the mouthpiece). Very simply: the smaller the bore, the less air is required to get things moving; the larger the bore, the deeper and rounder the tone. Jazz horns have a small bore (easier to play high and long with a brighter, snappier tone) while orchestral horns have a large bore (fuller, louder, deeper tone).
So, again, simply. Jazz horn small bore. Orchestral/band horn large bore. Medium bore splits the difference.
Some say a medium bore can do everything well (me among them), others say it is a horse without a stall. I have every bore size there is. And for general band use, the horn I like best and play the best with is the medium bore, my trusty Yamaha 640. (at home, in the basement, it's my small bore jazz horns all the way!)
Small bore: .485" to .508" Medium bore: .525 Large bore: .547 Bass trombone: .564
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Post by billhammond on Feb 17, 2023 12:58:53 GMT -5
I used to be a medium bore, but now it seems I become more of a large bore every day.
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Post by epaul on Feb 17, 2023 13:04:39 GMT -5
Used Yamaha 640s (in good shape) run $1500-2,000. New $2500
Used Bach 36/F (in good shape) run $2000-2500. New $3600
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