I have a 70’s king 601 trumpet and sounds great, I play in a concert/symphonic band

Hi Sean , I have quite a collection of vintage horns , around 16 including two flugels and a valve trombone . None of them are duds and I can choose to play any of them at home very happily . Do you think that the lack of compression on old horns with worn valves is something to worry about ? In my experience , as I have become a stronger player , the horns have sounded and played better . The vintage instruments are so durable and usually very forgiving . Buying an HT-3-jazz mouthpiece from the Horntrader has been my best equipment choice and that factor has helped me to achieve the sound I have been looking for . This mouthpiece has a flugel-like cup and produces a very mellow sound which is even from low and through the mid-register . I can't comment much on it's high register performance .

I just picked up a 1955 Olds Ambassador Fremont, CA. for CDN $40. Had to solder off the tuning slides to get them out. Might need some plating on the valves due to lack of use. Plan to have it restored. Every vintage Olds I've listen to is awesome!

I bought a dingy 1901 Conn New York Wonder cornet. Bought it for $200. Had the valves replaced. It played better than any new cornet I had ever played. Had it restored for $800 by Robb Stewart. Silverplated with gold plating inside the bell. Looks brand new and was cheaper and better than any new cornet. If you know what you’re looking for, you can get an incredible instrument for less than a new horn.

To me, vintage horns have a very high build quality, these American makers back in the day, Buescher, Olds, Martin, Conn, Holton, Boston Co., Keefer ect. These guys produced very high quality instruments and the hand assembled process that made a lot of these vintage horns would be far far more expensive nowadays. Vintage horns also have their own sound and feel as well.

Just got a Keilwerth Toneking de luxe for 110EUR, it's a german made copy of the King Super 20. I brought it to a shop, they will fix some small dents, clean inside and out, check, fix valves if needed for another 100. The silver plating is almost perfect, needs a little polishing. Music, and especially jazz is about feeling, and holding an instrument like this with its history feels different for sure. I was looking for something to learn on, this may not be the best for that, but couldn't resist. :D

Just bought a 50th Anniversary Bach Stradivarius in silver . It’s built old school 1965. So I have a new old horn. I agree with you . Old upper class horns are a better buy. Horns like the Olds or King ,or Getzen have a great sound .A good mouthpiece really helps like a Monette.I forgot the Conns

Totally agree with you. I just bought an Olds Special, a Conn 22B, and a King Super 20. For the combined price they all beat a new Bach Strad.

Old horns are built better. Just bought a Selmer Coronet designed by Bach. Plays great and clean. Couple tiny dents . I love it

I’m kinda upset that all horns are made to be the same. There’s not creativity in horn designs in the big brands, Getzen has definitely made some interesting designs like 3003 but they’re all p much the same and it’s a little annoying in my opinion. Strads, Xenos, etc all p much the same but a little different from each big brand. Vintage horns have so much character to them w their past designs from their decades and their sounds are unique to themselves

I agree I have a couple vintage trumpets that I've paid $200-$$400 that can play with some of the best

All of your points are excellent. Id add tho that if the horn is for a 5th grader starting band, they obviously wont know a good used trumpet from a bad one. They prob wont take as good care of it, even if they are trying to be concientious. They may also value appearance over sound whereas an adult player may actually take a perverse pride in the fantastic sound of a very ugly appearing horn.

Agreed. I picked up a '68 Olds Ambassador for around $125 and it's🔥Just needed a good valve cleaning. It's a great player and it slots wonderfully.

1942 King Liberty is my go to trumpet

Thanks for this video. I have my Olds Ambassador from the early 60s, my King Tempo cornet from 1964, my King Trumpet, my Holton by Leblanc, my Getzen and my Lingatone. Also the Marhillon Valve Trombane and all Instruments are old, have theire own caracter and I' m in in love with them. The history, the Tone and also the price. It's search and feel in love with old brass and music history. Like old cars and vintage Vinyl. I'm not a collector, more a enthusiast Love, peace and harmony Bernward

About a year ago I got my hands on a huttl super deluxe Bb/Atrumpet for 300 and it plays way better than my strad 37 I got. I’m a junior trumpet major and I also work for a repair shop full time and after fixing some issues from someone who formerly repairs the horn it is a very very high end horn. You can really find some gems if you get lucky on more obscure professional vintage instruments for sure.

I have a variety of vintage trumpets, but I also got two recently made trumpets, a BAC Hollywood, and a Margewaite, both made in China. It seems like both trumpets from China use a very similar valve section and valves. The design of the trumpets is different, but both are reverse lead pipe. The BAC design produces a sound profile that listeners say they like a lot, and the Margewaite is brighter. There is a difference in the "EQ" of the new horns and the vintage American made horns, I have three vintage Conn pro trumpets, but it's possible the best tone comes from a W.M. Frank 'Biltmore' which I notice has a wide throat to the section leading up to the bell -- my mutes just fall all of the way in without corks touching. Doesn't look like an expensive horn however. Seems like a good horn for warm tone, the Margewaite RL design that I have has a sort of standard trumpet sound. Used to have a Bach 37 RL, it was kind of harsh on the higher frequencies, I thought. If you sit around on eBay waiting for trumpets to list, you can get an LA Olds Special for about $350 with worn lacquer but no other damage. I got a 1947 and a 1955 this way. They have the cool side-lever water keys. Sold them however. The 55 was heavier and easier to play, actually. This is a secret thing and I hope collectors don't drive prices up. Oh! The new Margewaite was a little over $200 including shipping, had no logo on it, and benefited from Bach springs and Yamaha brass valve guides. They look different but they fit correctly, Yamaha brass guides. I have no idea if it will hold up over time, but playability with some mods is excellent. If nothing else, it would be a nice looking horn for marching band use. Even with vintage USA horns, I have to get used to how to play that individual instrument well. I'm pretty sure some people are ordering trumpets from China with their brand laser engraved and selling them for thousands. But for a student an Olds Special in good but ugly condition can be had, people don't search for that model as much, so they sometimes go for less than an Ambassador. The early all-brass ones and 50s version draw limited interest, but are awesome. But if you can spend $1,700, get an Olds Recording and be done with it, those Eastman horns cost more. I will stop talking.

I am brand new to trumpet (thanks quarantine) I just purchased a 1948 Olds Ambassador for $300. I haven't played it yet. I'm getting it serviced and cleaned this weekend. Listening to you, I think made a good purchase. What would be an equivalent new trumpet?

I would say on certain models this applies but it has been my experience the years vary...the best Schilke were based made pre ‘82 just as the best Bach’s were made up until the beginning of the ‘70’s...with Conn, Besson, Benge, I would say up to the early sixties....just my personal experiences

Anything is good in my eyes

My 1970s YTR-632 is awesome, purchased for $300. My RMC era Reynolds Contempora is my go to horn right now, $200. My 1951 large bore committee has more holes than when it was new, but definitely plays the way it should, $2000. My LA Special Cornet went to a female friend and probably isn't being played right now, $200. My cousin's son has an Indian head Martin Indiana cornet that has nothing wrong with it and cost $40. Honestly I didn't want to let him have it. Its a waste but you have to encourage the next generation, at least let them have the opportunity. I always wanted a pocket trumpet and found a $80 Selmer Prelude in brand new condition. I don't have a Jupiter 416 or Carol Brass to compare it to but it's plenty good enough for what it is. Decent student level Pocket trumpets respond well to a good heavy mouthpiece. Mine is paired with a Harrelson 7c that I got for $15. The red laquer Prelude with a giant megatone style brass 7c looks like dope, sounds ok too... Not up to par with the pro horns, but arguably better than that Indiana Cornet depending on the resistance preference. I have a $700 Maurice Andre Selmer Piccolo that sounds awful, but I suspect the fault is not in the instrument there. I later dropped it on some rocks in the Pacific, did not alter the playing characteristics one way or the other... still sounds like a wounded duck. I got it to work on my upper register, and for that it is very good. Used is by far the way to go. I'd be interested in trying a DaCarbo and an Inderbinen as Roy Hargrove played those but they are in the 4-5k area... if only one could show up locally for the $3-700 range... If I were looking at a new Monette I'd probably try for an old jazz legends' vintage horn for around the same money... In some world where $20k trumpet budgets and vintage legend horns grew on trees...

I feel like older stuff made with actual care can only be matched/exceeded by custom builds like Harrelsons who also take great care in making their horns

The 50th Anniversary Bach Stradivarius is built old school circa 1965

Hey @thebrasscellar, I’ve really enjoyed your videos. Planning on doing any more? Let me know if you would be open to chat sometime. I’m new to the vintage world but am quickly falling in love. No worries if not, thanks!

I have a few vintage trumpet and many other instrument in my coleccion tha I want to sell out do to my age.I cant play no more and is a tormen for me just to look at them.

Don’t buy Chinese junk. I bought a new Getzen 700 s demo for $960. It’s a great horn .