autefrum

I also tried this technique – using tinymce as a settings array element with theme_advanced_buttons1:

wp_editor(
    $content,
    $editor_id,
    array(
      'media_buttons' => false,
      'tinymce' => array(
        'theme_advanced_buttons1' => 'bold, italic',
      ),
    )
);

but it just shows up the full set of default tinymce buttons int the editor.