TromboneChat

Returning to trombone after a long absence. I was going to rent a student trombone to start, but have the chance to purchase a Selmer Bolero for $320. Very similar I think to the King 3B I once had. Ideally, my only trombone would be with F attachment, but I can’t afford that right now anyway. Maybe I can rent one?

Anyway, I’ll spend the morning hitting instrument stores and looking at rentals, then make a decision on the Bolero.

Any thoughts on the Bolero?

The Bolero is an excellent instrument. If it’s in good shape, that is a very good price.

Second that, the Selmers were excellent. And $320 is a steal for any non-student horn unless there’s serious damage.

Really good price. Could probably sell it for more later to get the horn you want.

I would jump on the Bolero. It is my #1 choice out of the stable that I play and plays bigger than a 3b.

I would snap up that Bolero!

I think it's unanimous!

OP: you are of course obligated to post pics here after you get it (or it didn’t happen!).

I purchased the horn, will pick it up tomorrow, and of course post photos!

So here it is. Slide is 8/10, a little spotting, needs a deep clean and slide realignment etc, but the right horn for me now at the right price. Original Selmer mouthpiece.

Hi, Glad you are happy with your Bolero; I had a Model 23 "Special" some years ago. It was a small bore and ideal for jazz lead. It came with an original Selmer, Paris double cup mouthpiece which was an interesting item. Both long gone but I do currently have 3 different Henri Selmer, Paris trombone mouthpieces.
Two small shank pieces marked Model 40, sizes 2 and 5 (23.5mm and 25mm cup diameters) and a Model 44, large shank, size 4 (24.5mm cup diameter) These are much smaller than current usage but my information sheet also shows Trombone Basse sizes range from 24.5mm to 25.5mm.!!! I don't know the date of the leaflet I have but I would assume it is 1960/70s.
What are the markings on your mouthpiece?

Cheers

Stewbones43

One more Thumbs up for the Bolero, I love mine, it's become my main horn in a stable of 3bs. I love the wider slide and the Conn-like thinner slide grip.

Here's a photo of the mouthpiece, not cleaned up yet. Silver, the only marking is the word "Selmer." The rim is nicked, and the shank has been bashed a bit. I'm not sure it can be rescued, but I don't know yet what I'd replace it with.

But would love to know more about it.

pbone3b wrote: ↑Tue Jan 16, 2024 7:14 am One more Thumbs up for the Bolero, I love mine, it's become my main horn in a stable of 3bs. I love the wider slide and the Conn-like thinner slide grip.

I’m loving it so far. What mouthpieces are you using with it?

Stefano wrote: ↑Tue Jan 16, 2024 7:39 pm

pbone3b wrote: ↑Tue Jan 16, 2024 7:14 am One more Thumbs up for the Bolero, I love mine, it's become my main horn in a stable of 3bs. I love the wider slide and the Conn-like thinner slide grip.

I’m loving it so far. What mouthpieces are you using with it?

I’m using a Bob Reeves, Brass Ark, Clarke 6.5AL
https://bobreeves.com/mouthpieces/#trombone

that looks pretty dang good, especially for that cheap. congrats

Stefano, That is not a French, Henri Selmer, Paris mouthpiece. That gothic script was used by Selmer of London and may have been used by the US branch of Selmer- it has a typical US shaped blank. The correct mouthpiece for your Bolero should have the same emblem as the one on the counterweight of your trombone, i.e. a circular laurel(?) wreath with Henri Selmer Paris written in the wreath.
These mouthpieces are quite rare but, if you would like to try one, I am happy to sent the size 5 over for you to try. If you like it, you keep it and we can work out a price (nothing ridiculous!) If you don't like it, you send it back to me The size 5 is similar to Bach 7 rim size but the rim is slightly flatter. The mouthpiece is in very good condition with no loss of silver plating and no insertion marks on the shank. The rim has no chips, dents or scratches and the shank end is round and true.
All you need to do is send me your contact details; (name and address) We can use email from now onwards for better security. My email address is [email protected] Sorry I can't do photographs. The 43 in my signature is the year I was born and I am still trying to get a grasp of the 20th Century never mind the 21st.

Cheers

Stewbones 43

Emailing you . . .

Congrats, Stafano. I'm very jealous.

I picked this up at https://www.thebrass-exchange.com/ a few months ago.
Quite small, I don't know if it was original equipment with the Bolero or not?
*replacing Humungus images

pbone3b wrote: ↑Thu Jan 18, 2024 7:47 am I picked this up at https://www.thebrass-exchange.com/ a few months ago.
Quite small, I don't know if it was original equipment with the Bolero or not?

Pbone3b

Yes, quite small-23.5mm cup diameter. Smaller than a Bach 22. I use my size 2 for alto trombone. The size 5 is around the Bach 7 size.

Do you use the mouthpiece or was it not suitable?

Cheers

Stewbones43

stewbones43 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 18, 2024 5:30 pm Pbone3b

Yes, quite small-23.5mm cup diameter. Smaller than a Bach 22. I use my size 2 for alto trombone. The size 5 is around the Bach 7 size.

Do you use the mouthpiece or was it not suitable?

Cheers

Stewbones43

Using a more 6.5AL-ish

Similar here, Faxx 6.5 AL on Bolero.

BTW, the serial number on this Bolero is 4625. HOWEVER, I don’t think anyone has managed to date a Bolero using the serial number. I emailed a repair tech there. We’ll see . . .

Stefano wrote: ↑Sun Jan 21, 2024 12:17 pm BTW, the serial number on this Bolero is 4625. HOWEVER, I don’t think anyone has managed to date a Bolero using the serial number. I emailed a repair tech there. We’ll see . . .

Mine is 5381. With some other members here on the forum, we figured that meant it was made before 1968. So yours is even older.

Stefano wrote: ↑Sun Jan 21, 2024 12:17 pm BTW, the serial number on this Bolero is 4625. HOWEVER, I don’t think anyone has managed to date a Bolero using the serial number. I emailed a repair tech there. We’ll see . . .

We have 2 in the house, hubby's Bolero is serial # 45XX,
mine is 70XX. There are some minor differences, the biggest one being his has a narrow silver-colored Kranz around the bell rim, mine does not. Both have Bolero engraved on the lower cork barrel but the lettering on mine is much larger.
Does anyone know how many were made, and when they stopped production? It would be nice to know an approximate year that they were made.

Based on my recollection from that time period, the Selmer Bolero and Largo trombones were manufactured from about the mid-sixties to the mid-seventies. Both came as either a straight trombone or with F attachment. The Bolero was .509 bore with 8" bell (8 1/2" with F attachment), the Largo was .547 with 8 1/2" bell (9" with F attachment). Early versions (roughly, those made in the '60s) had the Kranz on the bell. This was dropped in the later versions. When these models came out, not long after Selmer had purchased Bach, they were advertised as all-new designs by Vincent Bach, featuring one-piece, hand-hammered bells. Supposedly, Bach had trained the French craftsmen in his method of bell construction. In the U.S., the Bolero was sold with a 12C mouthpiece, the Largo with a 6 1/2 AL. I believe that Selmer may have had a "Bolero" model many years earlier, so Selmer Boleros may not all conform to this description. The earlier version would have had a much smaller bore and bell size. That's about all I can recall.

SteveM wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 9:03 am Based on my recollection from that time period, the Selmer Bolero and Largo trombones were manufactured from about the mid-sixties to the mid-seventies. Both came as either a straight trombone or with F attachment. The Bolero was .509 bore with 8" bell (8 1/2" with F attachment), the Largo was .547 with 8 1/2" bell (9" with F attachment). Early versions (roughly, those made in the '60s) had the Kranz on the bell. This was dropped in the later versions. When these models came out, not long after Selmer had purchased Bach, they were advertised as all-new designs by Vincent Bach, featuring one-piece, hand-hammered bells. Supposedly, Bach had trained the French craftsmen in his method of bell construction. In the U.S., the Bolero was sold with a 12C mouthpiece, the Largo with a 6 1/2 AL. I believe that Selmer may have had a "Bolero" model many years earlier, so Selmer Boleros may not all conform to this description. The earlier version would have had a much smaller bore and bell size. That's about all I can recall.

My Mid-late 60s Bolero (sn 5381) has a Kranz lacquered the same color as the rest of the bell.

I wish that I'd kept my Bolero, but I sold it in the mid-80's after I got married. The horn probably would have lasted far longer than the marriage, but that's a whole other topic!