So I have this here cornet I picked up off Ebay a year and a bit ago. And it's not really in bad shape at all, but there are a couple of dent "memories" and some really shoddy soldering work (probably someone once sat on it and bent the 3rd slide or some such). It plays SUPERBLY (as this model is wont to do) and was built in 1972 (one of the best years for Getzen).
I send an email with pics to Leigh and have to bug the he11 out of him but he finally comes across with a price to do a restoration, mild customization, scratch finish and gold plate. Then this contest comes along and he confuses the he11 out of me (probably a return for what I did to him) by offering an ALTERNATE 2nd prize (and 3rd... heya there sd).
Well of course I say that I want BOTH prizes... and I want the cornet to be refinished to MATCH an Eclipse trumpet. A few months of watching the expenses and the moolah is stowed away. I send the Getzen off to see "the Man". This is what it looked like when it went over (not that bad, eh?)
Anyway he proceeds to perform his magic on it.
and rips it apart!
After converting the 1st slide to one that can actually be adjusted "on the fly", changing over the Getzen 3rd stopper to an Eclipse model, pulling the dents out and adding the Eclipse finger ring and pinky hook it's ready for the platers.
.
I hope to be able to post a photo or two later this weekend of the finished product.
Oh yeah... about the Eclipse trumpet (MR version) that is going to match it? Here it is...ready to go into the dunk tank alongside the cornet.
Almost seems a shame to cover it up with gold plating, doesn't it?