TromboneChat

Hey there. I've never seen one of these in the flesh, so to speak. Anyone have any personal insight? I read the page below, which gives a less-than-flattering review of the horn, but I'm still intrigued.

http://www.itsabear.com/horns/P24G_S24G/P24G_S24G.html

Looks nice, anyway.

Cool horns, not sure where I would use one today.

I think the single valve examples are just a bit better in all ways... the doubles have crazy ergonomics, and the small valves really restrict the horn.

I've never played the S, but I've owned the P24g and it was one of my favorites. I think the smaller valves might doom the S. The P has a very clear sound. Great for big band where you compete with a strong Bari player. One of the best of the small basses. Olds are very under rated - that said, ergonomics are questionable.

I also have a S20, originally a single valve small bass that I put a Duo Gravis valve set on. It doesn't have all the nickel silver, but it does get on it when you need a lot of edge or bite to complement the tuba. S20 has TIS 9" bell, 555/565 slide.

You could always get one and have the valves replaced. That said I'm sure there are some who have no problems with them, and are quite happy with the S-24 as it came.

I have always wanted to try some Olds basses though. They are a bit unique, with the all nickel silver body and slide with a rose brass bell.

I should say that I had a beater S22 at some point. I really liked it, use it for a run of Carmina Burana. A version of that with a larger valve would be very interesting.

Keep in mind the bell throats are quite small on all these horns.

As the author of the article in question, I'm afraid I have little to add. The S-24G in uncomfortable to play. The small valves don't particularly bother me, but I'm used to playing on similar valves on LA-era Olds basses.

I have never played the older S-22 and S-24G. The P-22 and P24G are the ones I own. I have used both for big band and they were well received. The P-22 looks like a large bore tenor and I've came across one player who used one on third in a big band with a large shank tenor mouthpiece. It is not something I recommend, but I was fooled first until I recognized the model to be a bass trombone.
My trombones plays big, and even more open on the valve. I would use it for big band.

/Tom

The P-22 basses I have seen look to have a rather large bell throat, definitely bigger than what I've seen on a King 5B. There is one at Dillon Music now I was thinking of taking a look at, as a single valve bass has always appealed to me. I hesitated on a Kanstul single valve bass, not the G.R. model, but another model that was basically a Bach 50BO style horn. Didn't get that and I've kinda regretted it.

On the other hand, a second valve really does come in handy a lot, especially when there are lots of low Ds and Cs. I should just hunt down a Doug Yeo model.

I purchased one of these by mail as a Junior in high school in 1979 - and used it for over thirty years as my main (and for most of that time period - only) instrument.

At the time, I lived in a small college town - far from any place that sold high-end instruments - so did not really have a chance to comparison shop. Until playing with the Minneapolis Trombone Choir in the early 2000's, I was almost never around other bass trombone players - so I had little experience with what other bass trombones were like. This was my horn, and I learned to work with it.

I really appreciated the independent valve set up - and particularly liked the G valve for use in the mid-range of the horn. I never really noticed a problem with ergonomics (although, as noted above, I did not have any real basis for comparison). I did always find that low notes with both triggers deployed (mainly D, Db, C, and the occasional B natrual below the staff) felt somewhat stuffy.

A few years ago, I found and purchased a used Rath independent bass with Bollinger tuning (as close as I could find to my preferred F / G setup) - and Rotax rotary valves. I am still getting used to my second valve being tuned to a flat G rather than straight G. I do not notice any real stuffiness with both valves in use - so that downside of the Olds is substantially improved, and I also am appreciating the ease of a much newer slide.

I still have the Olds - and at some point will probably invest in having it restored, to correct various issues associated with age, and years of use.

On balance, I would say that the Olds S 24G is a horn that can serve as a good way to make music - but there are many good horns available today, and for most users, there are probably better options.

Just posted for sale if you are interested. Not mine.

https://www.trombonechat.com/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=12975

I got one my Freshman year in college and played it for about 7 or 8 years, through college and as a part time professional. I really don't remember any big problems but that was 40+ years ago. Did have Larry Minick re-do the trigger system and had Eric Swanson do one of his early open wraps. I don't think it was bad. I made it work and then found a better horn. Back then there weren't a whole lot of choices and where I lived not a lot of places to try those few choices.

I do own a P-24G as a back-up just because..........