Expert: Mike Pawul - 3/28/2008

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.