Saxophones Olds Super saxophone

[ProfJames]

Does anyone own one, played one? Comments please as I am keen to learn more about these horns and how rare they are due to a ship load of them being sunk during the second world war.

 

[rhysonsax]

I have an Olds Super tenor that Griff gave a major rebuild, as I had bought it in a pretty beaten up condition.

It is basically a Martin and so has a great Martin sound, as well as its own unusual looks. Really strong sounding, especially up high. The ergonomics are fine.

I think the story about WW2 ship sinking is probably an internet myth or a load of Olds rubbish.

You're welcome to have a play on my tenor sometime.

Rhys

 

[altissimo]

http://thesax.info/blog/the-olds-super/

http://bassic-sax.info/blog/?p=38037

seems like less than 2000 were ever made

 

[ProfJames]

I am besotted with the Martin Master and now I feel I need to investigate these! Is it a Martin or is there something even more unique about them?

 

[ProfJames]

Also guys.........how much are these horns?

 

[ProfJames]

This one looks new??! http://www.ebay.com/itm/OLDS-TENOR-SAXOPHONE-/301511636480?autorefresh=true

 

[ProfJames]

Looks new to me....http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/1313...&item=131336966860&vectorid=229508&rmvSB=true

 

[Colin the Bear]

I have a FE Olds alto that rattled through the post and suffered some posts being pushed in which knocked the alignment of bell and bow pads out. It plays quite sweetly where it plays. Not a quality instrument but I'll get it fixed up if I have some spare cash.

 

[Ads]

Looks new to me....http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/1313...&item=131336966860&vectorid=229508&rmvSB=true

That one looks a similar build to early Taiwanese Earlhams

This one looks Taiwanese too - the case is a bit of a giveaway here , it`s very Jupiter though the horn isn`t , more Earlham ..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/OLDS-TENOR-SAXOPHONE-/301511636480?autorefresh=true

These could be OK or be Naff.. I don`t know how good 80s generic Taiwanese horns were back then apart from the the earlhams I tried (Tenor) which were pretty poor, quit a way off a decent current Chinese like a Jericho or a Tech setup & fettled G4M . the Jupiters of the era (767) were very good

 

[ProfJames]

Some of them are almost new. Was the Olds company purchased? The older ones look like Martins and the newer ones look like...........not very good.

 

[milandro]

Prof, you are showing two Olds that are certainly abusing the name Olds. In fact they don’t even use the name F.E. Olds and son Made in France, designation! Olds (laser engraved on the tenor? Taiwan on the alto?)

There is very little in the manner of brandname protection once the name is gone and the company is abandoned.

Even when someone like Selmer could (and in my view should) have been prevented someone to start a company called Adolphe Sax and cie. ( the exact name of the adolphe sax company, purchased and rightfully owned by Selmer) they didn’t do it. The guy who started the new company said that he asked Selmer if they did mind and they said they didn’t and apparently didn’t even ask money for the privilege.

Enough of that.

Olds are very well made saxophones but their latest production show some naif detailing although ambitious screw regulation (instead of corks) on both top and bottom stack. I have yet to find one of these last examples with a nice lacquer colour and without many repairs showing that the original soldering had been failing in many parts of the horn.

 

[ProfJames]

Keep away from all Olds then? Even "vintage" Olds?

 

[milandro]

no, not at all.

They are very good horns. You just have to use your brains, eyes, ears and common sense.

 

[ProfJames]

no, not at all.

They are very good horns. You just have to use your brains, eyes, ears and common sense.

That's me out then!

 

[Jeanette]

That's me out then!

Didn't like to say 😉

Jx

 

[ProfJames]

Didn't like to say 😉

Jx

I knew you would be the first!!!!

 

[milandro]

Perhaps this shows the eternal validity of philosophical exhortation “ Know thyself "

 

[thomsax]

Me again! This is a Martin? http://www.junkdude.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=JD&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=PT000000

This is a Olds made by Beaguiner. Beside Pierret buffet stenciled the Opera model. The Ambassador model w or wo solderd toneholes came from differnt manufactors. Some says "Martin"? Personally I think all Olds saxes are made outside USA. I can be wrong, but the "Super" doesn't fit in. It can be the body of the HC Standard (2nd version) but it's not based on the Comm body and toneholes.

The late Olds are from one of the big Tawainesse manufactors. They were imported to USA and they were made ready for the market by Randy Ackerman (Bob Ackemans brother), NJ. I f I remeber right Bob Ackerman told me that they managed to get all four sizes (ss, as, ts and bs) from the same manufactor. And it was not "Jupiter".

 

[jonf]

Seeing that 'Olds' on Junkdude's site reminds me, I had an Olds Parisian Ambassador at one point. Really not very good, pretty poor build quality. Very much an 'economy' model. As ever, buyer beware.

 

[Colin the Bear]

As far as I was aware FE Olds made Brass instruments and bought in their saxophones.