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Prior to serial number 189,611, Olds cornets had a larger receiver than other standard cornets. See
this factory instruction card provided with a 1959 Olds Special cornet
(Thanks to Steve T. for the image of the card). In general, the
nonstandard large shank is found on
all models made by Olds earlier than September 1956. There are exceptions but they are
relatively rare--probably custom orders or aftermarket modifications. Many students have played these large-shank horns
with a common standard Bach mouthpiece (or other brand) by putting tape around the shank of the mouthpiece, or by simply inserting
the mouthpiece too far and compensating with the tuning slide. Neither solution results in an ideal situation accoustically inside
the receiver pipe. Many people, hearing of the great reputation of these horns, pick one up and suddenly find themselves on an
unexpected quest for an appropriate mouthpiece. Here are a few I have tried, with my opinion about the strengths and weaknesses
of each alternative.
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Yamaha standard-line flugelhorn mpc
Bach standard-line flugelhorn mpc
Bach custom Olds-shank cornet mpc
Mark Curry custom mouthpiece (IMO the best of the four options I've tried)
Other options
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The Yamaha standard-line flugelhorn mouthpieces are probably the cheapest alternative for a new
mouthpiece for your large-shank Olds cornet. (I got mine from Mouthpieces Express for
around $26 plus shipping).
Advantages:
price
Reasonably close-to-correct shank, with a reasonably close-to-correct length
deep V cup (but with a slight curvature--not a pure V).
Readily available--no long wait
Disadvantages:
Shank just a bit too large so it does not insert quite deeply enough, and plays a bit flat. (I can correct for it on all
three of my olds cornets but there's not much room to spare on a couple of horns)
More limited selection of rims & cups than for the standard cornet mouthpieces
Throat hole is VERY large.
Perhaps TOO much of a flugelhorn sound--you be the judge
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The Bach flugelhorn mpc is also readily available ($43 plus shipping at Mouthpieces Express)
Advantages:
price
shank inserts correct depth...an excellent match to the Olds
readily available without long wait
Throat is a more appropriate diameter for cornet
Disadvantages
Quite a bit longer than the Olds, so the horn plays quite flat. I cannot fully compensate for this on some of my Olds cornets. You should try before you buy.
Even deeper than the Yamaha, this is probably too much of a good thing. My cornets sound more like flugelhorns than cornets. Again, you be the judge.
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Bach will make a custom mouthpiece to fit the large Olds receiver.
Advantages:
Correct shank fit and correct length
All standard Bach rims and cups are available
Disadvantages
More expensive (but not too bad, around $50 for my 1-1/2C from Mouthpieces Express)
If you want a true V cup, it has to be a two-piece mouthpiece, driving the cost up near $70 from Mouthpieces Express.
That's more than I wanted to pay for a mouthpiece that cannot be returned if I don't like it (since it is custom)
Prices considerably higher if you order directly from Bach
Long wait to receive your mouthpiece (took about three months for mine)
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Mark Curry (email) (1-800-695-1076) can make a custom mouthpiece that fits well. He actually uses a flugelhorn blank and cuts whatever rim/cup/bore/backbore you specify. IMO this is the
best option in the $50 range (my cost direct from Mark, including shipping). Mark also can make a "replica" mouthpiece with the rim/cup/bore/backbore you specify, if you send him an original Olds.
Update 8/2010: Randy Howard reports: Mark Curry has improved his "support"
for Olds large shank mouthpieces, in that any of his Deep Series or Vintage
Series cornet mouthpieces can be ordered with the correct shank. Rather
than going through one of his dealers, you contact him directly, and he
will make them up. His pricing is just a few dollars higher than the stock
pieces, and his turnaround time is amazing. He made both VC and DC cup
models for me in my rim size, and I had them on my front porch 3 days after
I sent my billing information to him. These look just like his production
pieces, the only difference is an "O" stamped on the shank.
Advantages:
Excellent fit
Top quality mouthpiece construction, to your specifications. Mine is not a true V-shaped cup. Mark calls it a 1-1/2 DC. It is similar to a Bach 1-1/2 B, maybe a bit deeper. Still does sound cornet-like to me.
Disadvantages
There might be a longer wait than for a stock Bach or Yamaha flugelhorn mpc. However, Mark is much quicker than most custom mouthpiece makers. Once Mark received my original Olds #3 mouthpiece for measurements, he made the new mouthpiece the same day!
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Thanks to John McBurney for this info and picture! John says that his standard Laskey 68 DB (left) works just fine in the large shank Olds receiver (surprisingly). Next to
that is the Warburton Olds large-shank reproduction, which is also a great option. then his Old large shank mouthpiece. All three of those fit fine. The mouthpiece on the right
is his standard Bach 7c, which is too small.
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Other options for Olds large-shank mouthpiece replacements
Obviously, you could locate another Olds large-shank mouthpiece. It's hard to find anything other than the Olds 3, which is about like a Bach 7B. You will usually need to do some buffing & replating to get it in useable condition.
A helpful reader has offered another idea. There is a shank adapter that
enables one to use a cornet mouthpiece in a trumpet. D. W. states: "There
is enough material there so that you can turn it down to fit the Olds
reciever. If done properly, it will be quite thin on the bottom end so that
there is no ridge where it meets the reciever." Mouthpiece Express has
them from DEG for about $12. Of course you would need to find someone to
machine them down to the correct outer diameter.
I am also told that Jim New at Kanstul has specs for a threaded shank that
will fit the older horns.
Anyone having information about other options, please send me email so I can share the info here with others.
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