I've got a chance to buy a Tenor...

nick_cook · Jul 16, 2008

[color:green]...does anyone know anything about this make?

My teacher has lent me a Tenor sax to try that one of her other students is selling. I've never heard of the make, but she says it's decent and good for the price (he wants ?150 for it).

It says on it:

'The Parisian
Ambassador
Made in France
exclusively for
F.E.Olds & Son'

and has a serial number 047***

Does anyone know anything about it?
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TomMapfumo · Jul 16, 2008

If the F.E.Olds link is correct it sounds possible - they were much better known for their high brass particularly, and the Olds 'Recording' trumpet has many admirers, though a little less than fans of the 'Martin Committee' beloved of Miles Davis particularly. I guess I know a little more about brass than woodwind at time of going to press.

Let us know how it sounds - its cheaper than many mouthpieces!
Kind regards
Tom

nick_cook · Jul 16, 2008

[color:green]I'll be giving it a blow tonight!!![/color]

TomMapfumo · Jul 16, 2008

I googled 'F.E.Olds Parisian Ambassador Sax' and a Sax On Te Web thread came up entitled
"Parisian Ambassador 053515 - what year?? Looks interesting!

Tom

nick_cook · Jul 16, 2008

[color:green]Hi Tom, That link doesn't work - but I may have already seen it! I found a thread on SOTW.

I've found the F.E.Olds web site too - I'm going to e-mail them for more info!!

Cheers,

Nick[/color]

TomMapfumo · Jul 16, 2008

Apologies for the dodgy link which was edited above while you were posting -sorry about that.

griff136 · Jul 16, 2008

Olds saxes were made by other companies and badged "olds"
these type of hirns are commonly known as stencil horns.

the Olds Super 's were made by Martin (US) not Martin Freres France.
the Olds Opera's were made in France by Buffet same as the "SA 18-20" model (pre dynaction model)
the Olds Parisian were made in France by one of the smaller companies (beaugnier, pierret, leblanc, etc)
I think the olds ambassadors were probably made in the US.

nick_cook · Jul 16, 2008

[color:green]SOTW has a whole section on Olds. Lots of interesting info there. Someone else had contacted Olds, and they had replied saying they were taken over and moved premises in the 80s, and all historical records were lost. So I expect I'll get the same answer from them!!!

Anyway, I'll see how it sounds tonight.

[/color]

thomsax · Jul 16, 2008

Griff is correct. I have a Olds Ambassador (alto, renovation project) and I think it manufactoried by Martin. But some were made by Beuscher.

The late Olds saxes (Pro SS, Fusion) are made in Tawain (ROC). The tech Randy Ackerman (Bob Ackermans brother) was involved and I think thats way they were in New Jersey.

Thomas

nick_cook · Jul 18, 2008

[color:green]Well, I've decided not to buy this tenor. Although I liked playing a Tenor - it was easier to blow than my alto, and the sound was mellower. It doesn't seem to be as well made as my Hanson, and the mouthpiece didn't fit on the crook properly. The cork was compacted and so a rubber band was wound round it to make sure it fitted!! But it still wobbled a bit!! The middle D seemed a bit flat and stuffy to me too. These last two points could, I'm sure, be rectified, but I wasn't blown away by the sax, so I'll give it a miss this time.

I'm glad I didn't win any that I'd bid on on E-bay - this has taught me that I must play a sax before buying one!!! (I was sure I was going buy this one!!)[/color]

TomMapfumo · Jul 18, 2008

Sounds like a good learning experience and that you have made a good decision. Are you going to continue seeking a Tenor, or just stick with the Alto, at least for now?

Kind regards
Tom

nick_cook · Jul 18, 2008

[color:green]I'm going to stick with the Alto for now, but I did like playing the Tenor, so I'll wait 'til finances improve before seriously loooking for one - but keep an eye out for a bargain!!![/color]