Late TruTone tenor

[mark_m]

I'm awaiting arrival, in a couple of weeks, of a very clean, single-owner silver TT tenor, 2552xx, I guess that's late 1930 or so.

I understand the New Aristocrats and Aristocrats are a substantial leap forward from the TT's, 'though I've played neither (beyond the 15 minutes I had with the TT, which has some obvious leaks). Since I don't have the horn yet, I'm just anxious to learn as much as I can while I'm waiting, scoping out mouthpieces etc.

Das Boot recently mentioned the smaller bell of the earlier Aristocrats, and I'm wondering if a late TT would share the bore of those first 'Crats - ?

Anyone know of any sites where I can load up on TT info, to help me pass the next couple of weeks? It's going to be a tough week when it arrives, as my C-melody will be freshly overhauled and back in my hands about the same time (hasn't been playable for decades)- yikes!

[Dave Dolson]

mark_m: I have little experience with later vintage Bueschers (the ones I played were okay), but I can't imagine anything better than my True-Tone alto and straight soprano (the alto is early '20's, the soprano is late '20's). In my time I've played a ton of various makes and models (like test-driving cars - and owning a lot over theyears), and if there was something better available, I woulda bought 'em (I have bought a lot of other horns, too, but the TTs are first-call for serious work). A good overhaul should make yours play. DAVE

[morgan]

I dunno about a substantial leap. Those TT Tenors are monstrously good.

[paulwl]

As far as web sites with T-T info - the best is probably right here. try the search function (hint: it's usually spelled True-Tone :-) ). The tenors are great - wonderfully responsive, clear-toned, easy-playing horns. The only issue I find at all difficult with them is that G thru A in the first octave don't vent well, causing them to be less flexible in tuning. They're right on pitch at the "top" of their voicing, but the rest of the horn will voice up still higher with the throat, embouchure, etc. This can lead to problems if you need to tune a little sharp with an ensemble. But mpc choice and regulation, or venting fingerings, can reduce the problem. Outside of that it's as well in tune as any tenor of that era, and better than most.

The New Aristocrat tenor is just about identical to the T-T except for some updated keywork. One superspecialist told me he found it a little brighter in tone, but I'm undecided. The first octave voicing issues remain.

The #270k-290k Aristocrat tenor is an extensive redesign and plays and feels like one - easier in voicing and tuning, definitely capable of louder, brighter tone, but also capable of that extra delicacy and focus that people expect of Bueschers.

I don't think you can go too far wrong with any of these three, although I might class the Aristocrat as the most versatile.

[mark_m]

Ah, music to my ears, as it were. I'm now looking even more forward to this horn.

An old family friend sold it to me, he bought it new with newspaper money. He'd bought it new in '35, so I expected an early Aristocrat or New Aristo., of which I've heard such great things. He hadn't played it since probably 1940 or so, and is liquidating assets to secure the future for his wife.

The only sad thing is his wife had a repad done recently, and I can see that it's a bit sloppy, hot glue visible on the edges of a couple of pads, and a few leaks. Hopefully my tech can get it playable without too much $$ and I'll play it a year or two before it needs anything more. It's all nice and tight, only one small dent where one of the bell keyguards got bonked, otherwise perfect and not even any wear on the silver.

Re. the spelling - thanks for the clarification, I had a bit of trouble reading it on the horn, didn't have my reading spec's with me:)

[paulwl]

Well, thanks for taking the nit picking so good-naturedly! :D

As to the bought-new issue, obviously music stores in the depression years had a lot of back inventory. The horn was undoubtedly "NOS" when bought, and probably at a discount. It would have taken a paper boy in the 1930s half a lifetime to sock away the $120 or so for a brand new tenor.

One other thing...People will get on you like shine on blue serge talking about what mouthpiece to use with this horn. I recommend you start off with two:
a) your current favorite, and
b) the type of piece that comes (or should) with the horn - ie: a big round chamber with a close facing and stiff reed.

Those two setups will give a "baseline" for you as a tenor player, and for the horn. The big chamber sound is important in understanding where these horns come from, although they weren't necessarily "built to sound" that way (as some will maintain). Think of it as a "control" to experiment from as you find your voice on the horn.

Have a blast and keep us updated on your experiences.

[mark_m]

Thanks for the thoughts. It has a mouthpiece which he says is what came with the horn, but it had no markings at all. I should have it here in a couple of weeks and will have more time then to study and play it, and will report back then...

[mark_m]

Horn is scheduled to arrive this weekend!

I'm new to tenor, and this purchase really came up unexpectedly - I really have my hands full already with bari and alto, and my old C-melody is coming out of the shop soon, I will be on horn overload for a good while...

Still interested if anyone else here is playing TT tenors, what mouthpieces you've been using and in what musical context. I'm presuming this horn falls into the realm of good classical horns but hoping it will also have the flexibility to travel down many other roads as well, given the right mouthpiece (and player:)...