Olds Super Reviews This page contains reviews on the Olds Super tenor trombone. Please take a few moments to read my copyright notice and disclaimer if you haven't done so already. Review 1: A 1930s Olds Super A positive review by Andrew Kerensky, freelance UK trombonist and private trombone teacher. F E Olds apparently began making trombones around 1910 and closed up shop in 1979. Apparently, the last trombone they produced was a beautiful Silver Super engraved with "One In A Million" (the serial number on this Fullerton-produced instrument was 1,000,000) which was presented to Larry Minick (a legendary trombone craftsman). Supers are very desirable jazz horns. I believe Supers were first produced in the early 1930s. The ‘Super’ I own was made in Los Angeles and the serial number (11xxx) puts it around 1936. They have nice light-weight fluted nickel slides – that on my horn is as smooth as glass so I guess it was looked after! The slide is dual bore (.485/.500). The bell is made of heavy red brass or copper with a tone ring which I believe to be made of brass. Contrary to what some others say, the bell size is clearly 7 inches in diameter. This is a very responsive horn, the material of the bell and the tone ring give this horn a very dark centred tone. When pushed at volume the tone becomes bright but doesn’t distort. It appears around 1936 F E Olds started to make Supers with slide and bell locks, but my model has neither. I have been told that on some earlier models, locks were a question of personal preference, though by the 1940’s all models had locks. My horn came with an old King M21 mouthpiece (J J Johnson’s personal favourite), which plays and feels excellent. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Andrew Kerensky is a freelance trombonist who hails from Middlesborough, UK. His trombone-related qualifications include a BTEC Music Diploma in Jazz, Popular and Commercial Music, ABRSM Grade 8 and an Adult & Further Education Teachers’ Certificate (City and Guilds). In addition to interests in jazz and contemporary music, Andrew performs with two UK symphony orchestras, namely the Teesside Symphony Orchestra and Cleveland Philarmonic Orchestra. Aside from performing, he also provides private trombone lessons, an activity he thoroughly enjoys. Andrew is an Olds enthusiast - he is currently the proud owner of four(!) vintage Olds trombones - but his current weapon of choice is a Yamaha 695.