Jude

While I was trying to persuade one of the guys at the store where I take lessons to sell me a "generic spring" to replace one in a Chinese trumpet the owner - a trumpet player - walked by and blanched. (No, I assured him, I wasn't telling people I got it from him.) He then pulled out the most beautiful horn I've seen yet, a Getzen 390 SMPU (?) and told me to try it. I've got some sense of proportion (my abilities vs those of any marketable trumpet) and demurred, but he forced me to blow it. Sweet, even the blats. I got safely out of the store without it, but he gives me a week to weaken. I went on the web expecting to find it selling for half the price a brick-and-mortar store had them for, but it's about the same, $850 (and he would have given me something for my Chinese wonder, just to get it out of circulation, I suppose). If you're looking for a gorgeous horn, there's one at Central Music in Brockton, MA. (What I really need is more practice time, not time spent working to buy a better horn.)


Jude

Vulgano Brother

Remember that scene from Transformers where the car picks out its owner? Maybe it's fate at work.....

Warren

I'd trade my girlfriend for a getzen any day. Even an intermediate model.

Jude

Fate, or the Universe, or something, gave me a pat on the back for passing this particular horn by. This demonstration and try-out were conducted at the height of what will be known here in years to come as the Blizzard of Ought Seven. All the big businesses in Boston released their employees early, right into the beginning of it, and the roads were already parking lots on my way to my lesson (I was going in the other direction, we got up to 20 mph on occasion). The plows couldn't get out because of the traffic, and cars were being abandoned along the edge of the highway by the time I started the trip back. The car shuddered occasionally, but I figured it was just frozen slush somewhere in the front end, and continued day-dreaming about silver trumpets. The next day the car wouldn't start - a loose cable. Breaking down in the dark during a snowstorm on impassable roads with a brand-new trumpet in a good, solid (heavy) case is an experience I am just as glad to have been spared. (My niece spent 10 hours in her car travelling - if that's the right verb - from one side of Providence to the other.)

You can see why I have friendly feelings toward this horn and would like to see it end up in a good home.

Jude

Jude

Hmm, I know his wife ... a very efficient lady. I don't think I'd suggest making the offer. If you were asking.

Warren

Such a great pity...Oh well, guess I'll just have to do the honest thing and go and buy one.

Brett Getzen

Hmmmm, Warren if you can send me some pictures I could probably work out a deal for you.

On a serious note, was this a new 390? I'm not sure what the SMPU was. If you look around you can find a 390 for less than that too. The minimum advertised price on those is between $700-850 depending on the finish (lacquer or silver) and the case. You should be able to find them for less than that.

Brett Getzen

Jude

Hi, it's a brand new instrument, silver, with 1st-valve saddle and 3rd-valve ring. Gorgeous. (I didn't pay attention to the case - there was one, that's all I noticed.) No idea about the SMPU - I called the store the next day to make sure it was still there and get the model no. - maybe it's a distributor code? The advantage for anybody within a drive of the store is that it is physically present for testing and doesn't have to be back ordered if you have a high-school student who is hoping for one for Christmas. It's not in the window, so unless you're calling around you could miss it. Probably a little far for Warren to go to take a look at it, unfortunately.

I really need lessons more than a new horn, but the valves were soooo nice. (Were they oiled before shipping?)

Jude (OP)

Brekelefuw

Getzen valves are legendary for their smoothness. Oil only makes them better. A good valve will run fine without oil (although ALWAYS oil your valves)

Jude

Saved! Don't write, don't call, it's found an owner, no idea who, but in time for Christmas.