[Trombone-l] Olds Super originally comes with springs?

[Eric & Candice Swanson]

Hugo García Sampedro wrote:

>Hello
>
>Some months ago I've purchased a Super Olds trombone
>(I already asked some questions about it on the list
>and I got a good number of answers!)... In that time I
>was to busy to "explore" the instrument well enough,
>but now as I'm in summer vacations (I belong to south
>hemisphere) I began giving time to it, playing it and
>I "discover" that no matter what mouthpiece I use on
>this trombone (from a bach 6-1/2AL to the original
>Olds 3 provided), it is always sharp... I need to set
>the tuning slide all the way out (to it limit very
>close to the "drop point") to become more in tune... 
>
>I don't know if anyone out there might have an
>explanation for this pitch problem ... ¿do this
>instruments originally got springs on the slide (conn
>style)? ... this could be an explanation as the
>springs may locate the 1st position in a more open
>point, lowing down the pitch of the instrument...
>
>  
>

Hugo,

No, the Olds didn't come with springs in first position.  There is a 
chance that the tuning slide was shortened at some time to allow for 
someone to play with extended positions (playing first position out a 
couple inches, and all the other positions similarly long).  That would 
account for the extreme sharpness.  You could have some length added to 
either end if you like the horn enough to bother with it.  It would 
require a very good repair technician, but it's not impossible.

Eric Swanson