Used Getzen four-valve flugelhorn 896 silver plate. This Getzen Eterna 896 four valve flugelhorn has been placed on consignment. Serial number: KH2575.
Several years ago we had a problem with one of our European distributors. At the time we cut him off and no longer sold him Getzen instruments. His solution was to contract with a Chinese company and build trumpets with the Getzen name on them. He sold these counterfeit trumpets as special student model horns. After some time we finally were able to get him to stop and that was the last we heard of them. However, over the last few days we have received emails from a couple of players (one in Germany and one in Belgium) who purchased what they thought were Getzen trumpets. Unfortunately, they were not.
One of them was a student model and was sold through a dealer. Supposedly a Getzen 130 ATP Student model. A model that does not exist. The second, sold over eBay, is a little more alarming. The trumpet was engraved on the bell with 'Eterna by Getzen' and it was sold as an Eterna II. This trumpet actually had top and bottom caps that looked like real 900 Eterna caps and a receiver very similar to the 900 as well. That is where the similarities ended though.
In an effort to help players tell what they are buying here are a few tips for identifying a real Getzen as opposed to a rip off.
1) All Getzen trumpets use nickel silver pistons and nothing else. If the trumpet has monel it's a fake.
2) All Getzen trumpets have in-line ports on the first slide. That means that the holes in the first valve casing that lead to the first slide are on the same radius with each other and are not off set like the fakes.
3) With very few exceptions, all Getzen trumpets have the serial number stamped on the outside of the second valve.
4) All Getzen trumpets have real mother-of-pearl finger button inserts. A tough one to pick out, but if they are obviously plastic they are obviously fake.
5) All Getzen trumpets feature nickel plated pistons. Therefore, if you can see yellow brass piston liners or spring boxes (the top of the piston where the springs are located) you are looking at a fake.
6) With exception of older trumpets, we don't stamp 1,2,3 on the outside of our valves.
I think that pretty much covers it. If you have any questions about the horn you have just purchased or are thinking about purchasing please email me ([email protected]) or Mary Rima ([email protected]) for help. Also, if you are located in Europe or have friends that play around Europe, please let them know that there are these fakes out there and to tell as many people as they can to beware.
Thanks,
Brett Getzen
History > Getzen History
|