Getzen 900 question???

supportlivejazz · Heavyweight Member Joined: 05 Jan 2003 Posts: 3757

This trumpet was described by the seller as a "Getzen 900 SWT" model with a serial number of p09xxx. It had "Eterna by Getzen" on the bell. I am interested in which variation of the 900 series this would be. I guess that the S is for silver, the T for trigger, but the W does not ring a bell. I suspect it is not the newer Classic, but don't know when they were started and when this serial number was made. Any info about this model, year of manufacture or info on the 900 model variations and playing characteristics would be great as I am interested in owning a Getzen.

_________________
2 Olds Amb. LA Trumpets
'39 Olds Super
'48 Holton Model 48 Trumpet
'49 Martin Committee Trumpet
'59-'60 f. Besson Brevete Trumpet
'39 Blessing Artist Trumpet
'60's King Silver Flair
'48 Olds Special Cornet
'77 Getzen Flugel

[ This Message was edited by: supportlivejazz on 2004-05-22 21:41 ]

[ This Message was edited by: supportlivejazz on 2004-05-24 17:03 ]

_Daff · Heavyweight Member Joined: 08 Jul 2003 Posts: 1431

P00100-P02064 were made in 1992.

Horn of Praise · Posted: Sat May 22, 2004 9:17 am Post subject:

My Eterna 900 Classic is G073xx. Mary Rima (at Getzen) told me that it was "born" between the end of 2002 and beginning of 2003.

Be well.
_________________
PAUL NELSON - Eclipse White Lightning / Getzen Eterna 900 Classic / Monette B4LD / Blue Juice

supportlivejazz · Heavyweight Member Joined: 05 Jan 2003 Posts: 3757

This is a response from Mary Rima at Getzen... " I am responding to your inquiry regarding the Getzen ETERNA that you recently purchased. That is a 900S-T from approx. 1996. The designations, mean it is a 900 Eterna, silver plated, with trigger. Some people refer to it as a 900S-WT (900S - with trigger). It is a medium large bore .460".

Thanks Mary.

_________________
Conn 6B
1940s Blessing Artist
Olds LA Special Model Cornet

"I'm not apologizing, I am what I am. There'll be no compromising, I don't give a damn."

_Daff · Heavyweight Member Joined: 08 Jul 2003 Posts: 1431

Hmmm. The serial number and Mary's response don't match. Check this link...

http://www.musictrader.com/getzen.html

supportlivejazz · Heavyweight Member Joined: 05 Jan 2003 Posts: 3757

Not sure why you see a problem. P02xxx is 1992 according to the site you mention and she says that P09xxx is 4 years later. Why not? Anyway, I have in the past found her to be very reliable.

[ This Message was edited by: supportlivejazz on 2004-05-25 06:14 ]

_Daff · Heavyweight Member Joined: 08 Jul 2003 Posts: 1431

Oops, sorry....brain disengagement.

supportlivejazz · Heavyweight Member Joined: 05 Jan 2003 Posts: 3757

Does anyone have any experience playing a 900 Eterna from the mid 1990's? What are they like? My onle getzen experience is with 70's 700 and 70's Eterna flugel... also Super Deluxe from the 50's. They all were nice horns. The valves on all were very good.

gustav · Posted: Wed May 26, 2004 11:49 am Post subject:

It is my understanding that when they went away from the original design. The previous owner,Not the Getzen Family, Changed the lead pipe. to a smaller one , not like the Severinsen Model. some other changes were made also. Maybe Brett can be more informative on this matter.

farmbrass · Posted: Wed May 26, 2004 1:39 pm Post subject:

Hi

I have one. I really like the way it plays. It slots very easily. Plays easily and open. You know all about the valves. I tend to use a slightly shallower mouthpiece with this horn since it is a just a bit dark for my tastes, not quite like the original Doc Getzens. I think the Classic 900 might have a slightly more satisfying (to me) tone, but, overall it is a very nice trumpet obtained at a very nice price just over a year ago.

Keith

[ This Message was edited by: farmbrass on 2004-05-26 16:39 ]

[ This Message was edited by: farmbrass on 2004-05-26 20:34 ]

murph66 · Posted: Wed May 26, 2004 5:05 pm Post subject:

I seem to recall Brett said the Eterna 900S Classic is a remake of the original Eterna Severinsen model- not an exact duplicate as the same metals were not available. I have one of the large bore Severinsens that plays very well- as I've said before, the horn is capable of more than I am.

_________________
1920 Vega trumpet
1953 Conn Cornet
1962 Selmer ParisTrumpet
1977 Getzen Eterna Severinsen trumpet
mouthpieces
Shilke 12B4, Shilke 12A4A, Shilke 13C4 , Bach 3C

[ This Message was edited by: murph66 on 2004-05-26 20:06 ]

supportlivejazz · Heavyweight Member Joined: 05 Jan 2003 Posts: 3757

The info I am interested in relates to the 900 model that preceded the Classic. As Mary Rima said, this is a 1996 production horn, .460 bore. So it is not the Classic, but the model that was being built just before the Classic was introduced. There have been several posts about the Classic, but I can't find clear info about the mid to late 1990's horns.

jgadvert · Posted: Wed May 26, 2004 5:24 pm Post subject:

I wonder how (there not being the exact metals available) effects the playing/sound produced of the new classic model versus the original.

I'd like to see a complete list of things that were altered, slightly gradually changed with the Eterna before they went back to the classic design...and the thoughts of the builders/designers..as how these changes were hopefully improving the original design. So far I have heard mention of the bell and the leadpipe being altered.

farmbrass · Posted: Wed May 26, 2004 5:39 pm Post subject:

Well I know for sure the bracing is diffrent. I have a 1980 900 and a 1999 (approx) 900. The 1999 (pre classic) has a vertical brace on the lead pipe, while the old 900 has the brace on the slide. THe horns aren't THAT different, but while the 1999 plays quite well, the 1980 is a bit better.

supportlivejazz · Heavyweight Member Joined: 05 Jan 2003 Posts: 3757

farmbrass... can you descrbe the way each plays and what the differences are and why the earlier model is a better player? Thanks.

farmbrass · Posted: Thu May 27, 2004 6:45 pm Post subject:

I just got done comparing my two Getzen 900s and they played as I expected:
First the bell on the 1980 model is about 3/8 inch smaller diameter than that of the 1999 model. The tuning slides are more or less interchangeable. I had no problem playing my 1980 with the 1999 tuning slide. The 99 slide has no brace and is rounded. This opened the 900 up slightly. The '80 slide would not quite align with the 99 horn, and I didn't want to force the issue. The 99 is just slightly easier to play. It slots just a bit more securely while slurring arpeggios. I found myself overshooting a bit with the 1980 horn. This is likely more my limitation than the horn. Both played more or less equally well above the staff. I like the 1980 below the staff. It had a richer sound. Overall I like the sound of the 80 model better. I think it has more high freq overtones and is just a bit richer in the lows too. But within my limits, both horns are great and a blast to play. If I had to keep one, I'd keep the 80 model. It is simply more fun to play.

I used a Curry 50m for the comparison

Keith

[ This Message was edited by: farmbrass on 2004-05-27 21:48 ]