AboutMike Pawul Expertise I am familiar with most trumpets, cornets, and flugelhorns. I can answer most questions about playing and musicality. Best of all, if I can't answer it directly I play regularly in five bands and have several "old timers" that are familiar with most things that I am not. I collect, repair, and refinish old horns and have sold over 350 with more than 230 on ebay
Experience I have played since 1965 and studied with many directors and trumpeters. I have been collecting since 2002 and have over 150 horns in my personal collection. I have done repair and refinsh since 2003 and have done over 500 horns.
Organizations Kosair Shrine Brass Band and Dance Band, The Notables, The Mello Tones, Bourbon City Brass Band,
River Cities Concert Band,
University of Louisville Community Band,
Member of Trumpet Players International Network (TPIN),
Bugles Across America (BAA),
Education/Credentials I played at Brunswick High School. I played through college and have a BS in Business Administration from Trinity College.
Awards and Honors Without being vain, numerous awards and have played in several honor bands.
Question QUESTION: Hiya, Mike!
Rick here from NYC. Your thoughts on a Buescher '49 "Custom Built" trumpet in very fine condition? I may be able to snag one, but I'd like a little history first. I prefer mellower, as opposed to bright, blaring tones from a trumpet, as I've been playing a '57 Reynolds Emperor cornet & enjoy the sound. What say you, oh learned one?
Cheers!
ANSWER: Cheers Rick, The Custom Built was one of Buescher's top lines. They are very well built and have very good intonation. I rate it as a good jazz horn with a nice mellow tone and more dark than bright sound. There is no way it will be as dark as the Emperor though. You can further darken it with a large cup mouthpiece that has a bit of V shape rather than bowl shape. Some of the older Buescher mouthpieces have very nice V shaped cups. In a modern piece Curry has a V shaped cup that sounds full and dark. All I can think of in this case is "try it you'll like it"!
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QUESTION: Oy! Ouch! Out-bid!!
Gone, baby, gone. Can't step away from this machine for a second without someone slippin' in and takin' what you want.
O.k. Here we go again. In what order would you place these? 40's Artist Model Blessing, '26 Buescher True-Tone, or late 60's Reynolds Emperor. Trumpets, I'm talking about. In order of condition I'd rate them...Best: Emperor, Next: tie between the other two.
What do you think?
(Man, I wanted that Custom Built Buescher!!)
-Rick
ANSWER: I know that feeling! I get outbid by sniper programs all the time. I hate that last bid at 3 seconds to go. There is never enough time unless you have started high in the beginning. I like the Blessing Artist the best. They have great intonation and are a good all around horn. But they usually go for about $400-500 and you can get the other two cheaper. The Buescher could be any of their 200+ models and some are not anywhere near the sound of other two you are looking at. I really like the model 9 and 241 best from Buescher. Those have good all around ability. The Emperor was a great horn that had a nice mellow and somewhat dark sound. The late 60's was the time they were joined with Olds under the Norlin ownership.
With any of the three you would get a well built horn that would be able to play most types of music. In order of price versus playability I would go: Emperor, Artist, then Buescher.
Good Luck!
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QUESTION: Well Mike...I won the '26 True-Tone. You'll be pleased to know it is a model 9, much played but well cared for (the seller suggested it is a fantastic candidate for a replate, since the overall condition is so intact, but I kinda like the "worn" look. Any thoughts? What is best to replate with...gold, silver, nickel? This was originally silver, I believe.)
Anyhow, the Blessing came in at too high a price, and I'm still working on the possibility of the Emperor, but it's getting up there.
Anything more you can tell me about the #9 True-Tone? I'd love some more history & opinions.
Thanks again!
-Rick
Answer The 9 is one of their best selling and played models. It has good projection and a tight full sound. It makes a very good jazz or chamber horn. You can move, or pull out, the tuning extension and the horn will play in C, Bb, or A.
I have mine in raw brass. I love the resonance of raw brass! If your's was silver plated I would suggest you have it replated. It will be about $400 to replate and rebuild it to the factory specs with new corks and felts. Gold is cool but will be at least an extra $200. Nickel is a nice alternative but you won't find many shops that will want to do it.
