Which Cornet would you pick?

[gurrg]

Hi, am gonna buy a new cornet but want to hear which of these you would pick? (brassband)

cornet Getzen Eterna 800 DLX
cornet Getzen 3850 Custom (L)
cornet Yamaha YCR-8335S-02 Neo Silver
cornet Besson 928 Sovereign
cornet Besson 2028 Prestige

[zaferis]

I would play them all and decide which one I like the tone, intonation, and playabilty of the most...

However, I hold the Getzen Eterna's with a high regard - very hard to go wrong with these. I don't like Yamaha's in general, and the Bessons have a rep for intonation and valve issues - so FOR ME an easy choice of this set..
There are other solid cornets out there, I wouldn't necessarily limit my choices to this 5.
And best to always play the particular instrument you're buying before you buy - there is always a bit of variance from instrument to instrument.
_________________
Freelance Performer/Educator
Adjunct Professor
Bach Trumpet Endorsing Artist
Retired Air Force Bandsman

[Dayton]

I feel almost silly saying it because there are so few stores/events where you can try a lot of cornets...but try as many as you can. Thompson Music, J Landress, Dillon Music, the NAMM conference, the ITG conference....

Also, think about what you will use it for. Brass band, traditional jazz, Sousa and Fillmore...? Some lean more in one direction than others.

I haven't played any of the Besson cornets, but really like both of those Getzen models. I find the 800 to be a more versatile horn than the 3850, but the 3850 worked very well for classic cornet literature, brass choirs, etc.

You might also consider the Getzen 800DLX, which is the nicest "all around" cornet I have played. Awesome horn.

[huntman10]

I love my 800 Eterna, but I still get a little twinge of regret when I see my friend playing the 184G Strad I sold him. Kind of off topic, so I apologize.
_________________
huntman10
Collector/Player of Fine (and not so fine) Brass Instruments including
Various Strads, Yammies, Al Hirt Courtois, Schilkes,
Selmer 25, Getzen Eternas, Kanstuls (920 Pic, CG)
Martin Custom Large Bore, Lots Olds!, Conns, etc.

[blbaumgarn]

I think the Getzen Eterna is the horn, trumpet or cornet that I had the most fun and diversion playing. I won't say anything negative about any other horn. The Schilke long neck w/crook is awesome and the Bach Long cornet has a sweet sound. Good Luck
_________________
"There are two sides to a trumpeter's personality,
there is one that lives to lay waste to woodwinds and strings, leaving them lie blue and lifeless along a swath of destruction that is a
trumpeter's fury-then there is the dark side!" Irving Bush

[Rapier232]

The Neo, but I’d buy one not on your list. A Smith-Watkins.
_________________
"Nearly as good as I need to be. Not nearly as good as I want to be".

Smith-Watkins Bb
Will Spencer Bb
Eclipse Flugel
Smith Watkins K2 Cornet
JP152 C Trumpet
Besson Bugle

[etc-etc]

If I am correct, Smith-Watkins horns were made by Kanstul - who makes them now?

[Seymor B Fudd]

The Eterna! If you can handle the 3850 (for me not as easy to play as the Eterna, sounds somewhat "darker") it might be the one.
But the Eterna is a wonderful versatile horn.
_________________
Cornets:
Getzen Custom Series Schilke 143D3/ DW Ultra 1,5 C
Getzen 300 series
Yamaha YCRD2330II
Yamaha YCR6330II
Getzen Eterna Eb
Trumpets:
Yamaha 6335 RC Schilke 14B
King Super 20 Symphony DB (1970)
Selmer Eb/D trumpet (1974)

[TKSop]

Of those listed, Prestige.

But I wouldn't, I'd buy the Eclipse.

[Dennis78]

Either Besson.
Just can’t beat that sound
_________________
a few different ones

[barryj1]

I presently own the Getzen 800 deluxe. Phenomenal instrument and rather easy on the chops. Previously I had the 3850. Equally superb instrument but required more stamina and had a darker tone. With either horn you can't go wrong.
_________________
Getzen 800DLX cornet
Flip Oaks 1X mouthpiece

[kehaulani]

I had a military band and wanted the trumpeters to get cornets, which we would pay for. They, as a section, came back from a shopping trip with Getzens in hand. The primary use was in concert band but, knowing them, they probably made sure the horn was versatile. Getzen.
_________________
"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn

[MalinTrumpet]

When I went to England in the 1980’s I was surprised how many British Brass band cornetists were playing Getzen Eternas. My favorite Brass band cornetist, Phil Smith, also uses an Eterna.
LCM

[Brassnose]

Of course the two Getzens are the coolest looking of the list
_________________
2019 Martin Schmidt eXcellence
1992 Bach 43GH/43
1989 Kühnl & Hoyer Model 15 flugel
1980/2023 Custom Blessing Scholastic C 😎
1977 Conn 6B
1951 Buescher 400 Lightweight
AR Resonance, Frate, Klier

[spitvalve]

I have a serious crush on the Getzen 800DLX. Haven't had a chance to play one, but have seen great reviews and it just looks beautiful in lacquer.
_________________
Bryan Fields
----------------
1991 Bach LR180 ML 37S
1999 Getzen Eterna 700S
1979 Getzen Eterna 895S Flugelhorn
1969 Getzen Capri cornet
Eastlake Benge 4PSP piccolo trumpet
Warburton and Stomvi Flex mouthpieces

[Dale Proctor]

The Prestige has a gorgeous sound, but is pretty expensive and can be a bit of a bear to play in tune. Of those you listed, I’d buy the Getzen 3850.
_________________
"Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away ." - Sir Thomas Beecham

[tomterriff]

I love my Getzen 3850. It was a close call with the Eterna I had before but I fell in love with the richness of the 3850's sound. I also love my Eterna C. I think either of the Getzens would be a good choice.
_________________
Bb -Bach/Blackburn 37G, Shires CLW
C -Bach Chcago
Eb/D - Charlie Melk Bach conversion
Picc - Benchmark, Schilke P7
Cornet - Getzen 3850 Bb, Getzen 3810 C
Flugel - Selmer Paris 62, Selmer Concept

[BigE]

Besson 2028…

[ladsar]

I do have some experience with three of the cornets on your list.

I played on a Neo for a few years. It's a very good cornet. Solid quality, better build quality than Besson cornets in my opinion. I think it's also more versatile than Besson cornets. But for me the sound was lacking something, I couldn't get the BB sound I wanted. I decided to sell the Neo so I could try some other cornets.

My next cornet was a Besson Prestige. It's a fantastic cornet for BB. However, I did a mistake (will never ever do that again) ordering it abroad because I wanted to save some money. I thought Besson had fixed their quality issues, and I also had a 30 day 100% money back guarantee. After a couple of months the 2nd valve of course started to cause me some problems. I sent it back for repairs, but it sadly got some transport damage when it was sent back to me after the repairs. To make a long story short, that was the end of that cornet.

My current cornet is a Besson 928GT. I went for the Prestige earlier because of the main tuning slide trigger. However, the 928GT is a "new 928" that also have a main tuning slide trigger. This time I did of course try the cornet before buying. It was a close call between the 928Gt and another Prestige, but the 928GT is a better match for me.

I have just briefly tried a Getzen Eterna. For me, I couldn't get the right BB sound from it. However, in my opinion it's the most versatile cornet on your list if you are going to use it in other settings than BB.

For playing in BB I would choose a Besson cornet despite my story with the Prestige. It's just about the sound for me. I have learned from my mistakes, so try before you buy. If you like the main tuning slide trigger take a look at the Prestige and the 928GT. If you don't care about the main tuning slide trigger, go for the standard 928.

[ajwan]