Olds CHR "Custom High Range"

The Olds CHR was designed by William Cardwell following the publication of his patent demonstrating a method for designing a trumpet bell with improved intonation. The CHR was designed using this new bell stem and a visually distinct flare meant to create an extremely bright sound. Olds only produced a few hundred of these trumpets, and a lawsuit from Yamaha/Schilke alleging patent infringement for the tuning bell design threw a wrench in their production and sale. In addition to the tuning bell design, this trumpet also has an uninterrupted leadpipe with no main tuning slide, meaning the internal bore of the instrument is completely uninterrupted from the venturi to the valve section. This model was the most expensive trumpet in the Olds catalog in 1976 with a price of $625, roughly equivalent to $3500 in 2026 dollars.

Despite its marketing as a high-register instrument, the Cardwell-designed bell primarily serves to improve intonation rather than extend the range of the player. The improved intonation pattern makes notes above the staff sit more securely than a historical bell taper, giving articulations a little extra “pop” and making the horn feel more stable in the high register. The tone of the instrument can be quite bright, aided by the lightweight body and lack of bracing, but it has a surprisingly full and stable low register as well.