Review: Olds Special Cornet; Bronze, Nickel-Silver and Brass

A great playing and sounding vintage horn here; the Olds Special. Very attractive as well with the Bronze tip on the bell, a good amoung of nickel-silver and brass. This horn is from the early '60's. Jonathan Milam

[@teaddict-]

Been looking at a late 50s olds special and came upon this video of yours. It sounds beautiful

[@JonathanMilam1]

I’ve had two other Olds from ‘57-‘59 recently and they were excellent players. So, Olds was putting out some extraordinary horns then. Every horn is different but some from this vintage are indeed, well, special. :)

[@michaelmcgregor6126]

I love this horn, I own this same make and model, my parents bought it for me in the early seventies. It is a great sounding instrument.

[@brokenwrench1]

i started in 64 with one of these and then upgraded to the 1966 olds studio. for nearly 25 years the band director promoted olds cornets for all beginners the special was a much better playing horn than the ambassador entree level student horn but the special was only about $50 more and held their resale value better.

[@JonathanMilam1]

Great comments - thanks for posting. I had an Olds Recording cornet that I picked up a few years ago. In fact, I made a vid of it and my Special. I thought the sound was so similar - I just kept the Special; I really like the little baby. I've tried to pick up an Olds Special trombone but haven't had any luck. I'm such a hack on trombone I've about given up hope anyway...lol. Again, thanks for posting. Take care, have happy holidays - and especially a safe, joyous and prosperous new year.

[@oldtimedrumcorps]

Hello Jonathan , Just purchased a '64 Olds Special cornet. Fullerton . Cant wait to get it for Christmas the sound and the look and your playing convinced me to try it out among all the other cornets available at this price range. I dont believe I will be dissapointed . Thanks, and To You and Yours have a Blessed Christmas .

[@JonathanMilam1]

Ah, great news! The Special is, well, special! I have had 3 and really like them. When you get yours in and are acquainted with it give us an update. Details are great - they make this channel what it is. Thanks for listening and especially for commenting.

[@oldtimedrumcorps]

@@JonathanMilam1 Heres an update horn came beautiful. Gave it a warm soapy bath and oiled . Nice sound with stuck Bach 7 mpc. and had a few issues horn was sent to Charlie Melk to do some work . Valve #2 was hanging up at bottom of stroke high spot in casing. mpc stuck ,slide 1 and tuning stuck as well let the pro do the repairs . Needs new felts corks and springs . Did what I could. Never force anything ! .I know when to give it to a pro. I will try to get you some pix when i get it back and some more update on how it plays .I found a Bach NY MT Vernon 10.5 cornet mpc . Needs replating and slight shank rounding, although probably not the sound I want . Its a classic NY MT Vernon mpc and deserves a recon . I might try your advice on the Curry or Wick . Thanks

[@JonathanMilam1]

Thanks for the update! Charlie seems like a class guy. I once put an ad at TrumpetHerald for a little part I needed and was shocked when Charlie contacted me with the part at a very reasonable price; I was very impressed! We need to know our limitations at repair. Once I decided to replace a thumbhook with a ring... Did you know that if you overheat a slide when soldering that the whole slide comes apart? :) I am thrilled with my Curry Vintage Cornet mouthpiece; I think I've used it on every demo I've done for cornets since I got it - just a great piece. Frankly, I should try to get one of those for a trumpet. Again - thanks for the update. When you get the little beauty back let us know how much you love her. :)

[@oldtimedrumcorps]

@@JonathanMilam1 got the special back from Charlie Melk a few days ago . He did everything and a bit more . I'm very pleased and would recommend him to anyone . Fair pricing as well . Dents removed . Stuck slides freed , valve no 2 work fine . New corks felts springs .This was one of those closet queens by it,s very nice condition has about 95 % of its lacquer left It plays very well it came with a 7c Bach. I will have to try the Curry and Wick mpcs but I dont want to lose anything above the staff with a deeper mpc as I do much of my playing on this now vrs the Trumpet. I usually use a Bach 3 E sometimes . Schilke 14B on it . My question is as this really a good student cornet, have you ever tried the Bessons or Bach or Schilke Yamaha top of the line Cornets . Just how fair is it to compare ? I have heard some opinions on TrumpetMaster and TrumpetHerald . Personally from an amateur stand point I would say it must be huge . Thanks , keep on reviewing its fun.

[@JonathanMilam1]

@@oldtimedrumcorps Great question; how does the Olds Special compare to more common, pro cornets today... Now you've got me thinking. I've played Schilke cornets but not in many years. More recently I did have a Bach Strad cornet and also a Yamaha pro cornet, I think it was a 6335. The Yamaha was just a few months before I started making KZbin vids (I think I started in 2012). My Special, in my opinion, provided a warmer tone than either of the Yamaha or the Strad. For me, that's what I want in a cornet. I know a cornet can sound like a trumpet but that's not what I've been looking for; I prefer a warm sound, that's my 'cornet concept'. With vintage horns, I've compared it to a Conn Connstellation, King Silversonic, King Master and the list goes on and on. I've got two Youtuve reveiws where I think my Special sounded almost identical to an Olds Recording. So, I think the Special is, well, special. If you walk into a British Brass Band they may not be thrilled; I think they have specific brands they are accustomed to. Every horn is different but the above is my opinion. :)

[@SmeeUncleJoe]

Thanks as always Jonathan. Perhaps you could include serial numbers with these reviews. I understand, as an example that Olds produced "Special" cornets intermittently spanning decades. Cheers.

[@JonathanMilam1]

Michael: Greetings and thanks for your comment. This is a great cornet, isn't it? I've had several others through the years but none that delivered as nice a tone. Not that it's everything but theses are great looking horns, too. Again - thanks for your comment.

[@brokenwrench1]

thank you Jonathan for doing these great horn reviews. i still believe the older model horns are better than the new cheap horns made overseas today. olds , reynolds, conn and beuscher for the longest time built all their models to the same pro standards. all had precision ground valves. monel was a cost cutting adaption that came later. bach strads used nickel chrome valves until they switched to monel in the mid 50s..

[@JonathanMilam1]

Until someone has held a really nice old Buescher or Conn or Olds in their hands they probably wouldn't believe it but you make a great point. I've had several really nice newer Yamana 8335 RGS horns that were impressive; valves like butter, good fit and finish. I had one lovely Henri Selmer Chorus trumpet, again, nearly new that was impressive. One lovely made Jazz, by Kanstul, but some of the Conn horns come to mind, as well as Bueshcer, that were just goregeous and obviously really well crafted. Again, you're right; things seemed to change by the time I was born - in 1960. Mass production and less pride of cratsmanship. Sad. Great points - thanks for bringing them up. Have a safe and happy new year!