Unboxing the Getzen Trumpet - Are Getzen Trumpets REALLY Good?

[@BillSmith-rx9rm]

I have a 1975, purchase new when I was in high school, Getzen Eterna Severinson model. And I still have it! Been my only Bb trumpet since 1975. Early this year I decided it was finally time to buy a new trumpet. Got a Schilke B6. Let me tell you, Getzen doesn't play second fiddle to anybody. Unfortunately it is a very underrated brand. I think it is an outstanding trumpet and the Schilke has nothing on it. Back in 1975 I was testing out Bachs and Getzens, and obviously went with the latter. Getzen is a lightweight trumpet, and bright, well suited for lead jazz playing, which is what I was most interested in. The 460 bore allows for a very free blowing instrument. My Schlke B6 is a medium 450 bore and has a very noticeable increase in resistance. Also the bell is designed for a very focused, direct sound, whereas the getzen is designed for a more broad field of sound. The Schilke B6 is even brighter than the Getzen. It was designed for that. It was designed to be a lead trumpet. I had my Getzen totally refurbished and re-silver plated several years ago, so it looks like new now. My favorite thing to say to people who try to denigrate the Getzen brand is, "if it was good enough for Doc, it's good enough for me." I would argue that doc severinson played the getzen during what was his prime years and he recorded the best albums of his career while playing the Getzen.

[@cz3369]

Agree with your review of your ‘75 Getzen 👍….I bought my 70s D S Getzen in ‘82 for $200 with superb valve action along with great sound-true to this day!!

[@randygerber1565]

Interesting post, thank you. I bought my Schilke B6 in 1975. I was 16. It's still my main horn. When EBay came around, I had the chance to buy and play several of my childhood dream horns. Call it my mid-life crisis....a 1968 Severinson Eterna, and 1965 Bach 37, early Elkhart, A couple of Benges, and a couple of Caliccheo's. Still have the Ultra. Also a Schilke Picc and a Schilke C trumpet. Played them all for a while, and then sold them at my cost to students at the music school on town. Now of course, wishing I had hung on to everyone of them.

[@BillSmith-rx9rm]

@@randygerber1565 The only trumpet I have ever played that I liked better than my getzen was a mid '70s model benge that another band member let me play. It was extremely easy to blow, very lightweight, very bright. I loved it. When I bought my V6 last year, I was fluctuating between the X3 and B6. Now I think I wish I would have gone with the X3. But the B6 is a nice horn, but I just don't like the resistance. I blew very hard and I'm a very powerful player and it just seems restrictive and constrictive to me.

[@jimscarlett]

I still love my Getzen USA Custom I got in high school almost 20 years ago. Getzen valves are magic.

[@lenzotrumpet]

Ok I am going to try to leave a comment..My grandpa brought me a Getzen trumpet. a student trumpet and I loved it was well built.He my Grandpa got me the trumpet because he didnt. want me to rent..He also liked Al Hirt said that Al Hirt made the trumpet sing.."

[@MrCrescendo]

I had a 70s Getzen Eterna Doc Severinson model in High School. Awesome horn.

[@ChrisDavisTrumpet]

I remember that trumpet! Yes, it was a great trumpet. Do you still have yours?

[@MrCrescendo]

@@ChrisDavisTrumpet Sadly, no. I sold it when I went to college and stupidly stopped playing trumpet at all for the next 20 years. Now I'm back playing better than ever. Thanks for your youtube content. I get a lot out it.

[@MarkMcCluney]

And 'sizzle baby!' is going to be my new catchphrase! Very enjoyable video mate, thanks so much.

[@ChrisDavisTrumpet]

Thanks for your comments, Mark!

[@MarkMcCluney]

I've only started watching and I want that case already!

[@ChrisDavisTrumpet]

Right!?! It’s a beautiful case!

[@Matraka2000]

I like the sound. At the end trumpets at this level sound all very good, it just a matter of preference, feeling and budget.

[@d-rumusic4662]

Great playing bro, i appreciate your sound and style on that appliance... Getzen looks good

[@markmetzler9108]

I have a 1973 900s. I have become somewhat attached to it. I find it can fulfill every trumpet challenge and does it with style and grace. It may not be perfect for a specific focus, but has been a go-to for every need I have come across. As an amature, I can only say it was a perfect fit when I bought it in High School. No regrets, EVER! NOT for sale (yet).

[@MarkMcCluney]

And that remark about acids/oils in the skin is most helpful to me. I consume watch straps prodigiously and eventually realised that it's something in my skin - it has now occurred to me why I'm leaving tarnish marks on my silver trumpet. Thank you Chris, there's an eye-opener right there. Loved Misty, by the way...

[@ChrisDavisTrumpet]

When I was child, my first trumpet had lacquer that started “disappearing!” I thought someone was playing a cruel prank on me (since it had been done before). It took years for me to learn it was my own hands that did it … slowly with time.

[@karlrovey]

Silver also tarnishes naturally from air exposure. I notice tarnishing on parts of my trumpet that I never touch.

[@gavintempleton7264]

Thank you Chris. I have a 900 Classic. Fantastic to play. It's very similar to the Severnson 60s model I have also played and recently rebuilt for a customer. It is a fantastic instrument to play. It is incredibly responsive. Different geometry from the Default and much copied Bach 37. Tuning is a shave below the Bach 37, and Larger bore, smaller bell flair. It's bold to produce something different from the Bach expectation. another pro trumpet lately is the Odyssey Symphonique which shares certain characteristics. Also excellent.

[@tungsten8290]

I've played my Eterna Classic since 2010, and its still one of the most consistent trumpets I've played. Great sound with a Schilke 16 mouthpiece.

[@louisthompson1020]

Looks beautiful, sounds brighter than your other horn 😊let’s play something together!

[@ChrisDavisTrumpet]

Sure thing! Yes, it certainly is brighter.

[@selpingos]

Hi Chris what made you change from the monette mouthpiece to the Lotus mouthpiece. Am interested to know what differences to look for and what size do you play?

[@stephenmurphy8833]

Hi Chris thanks for the excellent review. I have only ever played one trumpet - a Getzen 300 series. My parents gave it to me when I graduated from High School. It is now 40 years old and still in great condition and I play it everyday. I would like to upgrade but i don't really understand the concept of resistance that you mentioned. Is this model comparable to other Getzens? What would set this model apart from others in Getzens catalogue?

[@stephenmurphy8833]

Really great review. Very helpful

[@ChrisDavisTrumpet]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ScottGreen-mu3go]

Question. You speak favorably of this trumpet, but you also say something to the effect that it is most suitable for early-career musicians, implying that it is not the equal of the best professional trumpets. Where is this trumpet lacking? In what ways does it just not quite measure up to better professional trumpets? By the way, great video. I play a Getzen Renaissance and my dad played a Getzen Eterna in his pro career. Your sound on this video is a lot like us, very distinctive tone on these trumpets. You’re way better than me, but it was so cool to hear a pro with such a similar sound to me. By the way, my nearly 50 yr old Renaissance works just great. It has been used very heavily but it is still on its original sterling silver lead pipe :)

[@ChrisDavisTrumpet]

In the video I talked about the resistance not being what I prefer. That’s the main difference for me. The Renaissance is a great horn. I owned one briefly a little over 20 years ago.

[@gavintempleton7264]

It is a fantastic playing experience. It's a pro trumpet. These are superb.

[@chasefreak]

The old 900s & 900SL models were good horns but man, I swear, they were assembled using spit and chewing gum...braces and other parts always falling off, etc. I literally wore a hole on the 1st valve casing on one...never on any other horn tho, go figure...Getzen's had great, fast valves b/c they were nickel plated. Doc Severinsen endorsed Getzen from 1963-1979 however, he always had a Bach 37 bell soldered on his Getzen instead of a Getzen bell...sssshhhh, you weren't supposed to know that lol ...Snooky Young played a gold-plated 700s model with some beautiful engraving on the bell...Johnny Audino played a 900SL model that Doc hand-picked for him.

[@williamnigh5979]

Nice video. The horn sounds a little thin and pinched to me but that could be this speaker. Better than the Bach sound? Good debate maybe. Thanks for the great info.

[@IndianOutlaw1870]

It does sound tight.

[@osc8984]

Got some sizzle up high, but at lower registers thin.

[@rogerhenson1859]

Is that a left hand trumpet??

[@romeoperrin7524]

It is just the camera that inverse the image

[@rogerhenson1859]

Thought so, thanks

[@MobtownCam]

That's a really beautiful and nice sounding horn! What lotus mouthpiece is that you're rocking? I got my 3M2 back in March and have been loving it!

[@ChrisDavisTrumpet]

Honestly, not sure which mouthpiece I am using in the video. I own a few different Lotus mouthpieces but lately I've been using the 1L2.

[@da11king]

I dont think bright horns fit your style lol great video 🤗🎺✨️👍🏾👏🏾

[@drbranham]

You’re left handed. Do you ever feel at a disadvantage by holding the horn to play that way?

[@anthonykaiser974]

The parts of video with him is mirrored. Note the trumpet is reversed.

[@brianwolle2509]

for me, its too bright and thin sounding. nice vid

[@chuckbeers2540]

Lead trumpet!

[@stanrosenblum4669]

Did they just send you a left handed trumpet or are you ambidextrous? On your x13 unboxing you bought a right handed trumpet.

[@ChrisDavisTrumpet]

That’s camera magic. It’s a right handed trumpet.

[@LJHowardPhoto]

@@ChrisDavisTrumpet I wondered about that too.

[@ChrisDavisTrumpet]

@@LJHowardPhoto funny thing is I didn't notice at all.

[@anthonykaiser974]

If you pay close attention, you'll see it's only in the sections where he's holding it with the camera on his face that it looks left-handed.

[@xltek1]

In 1965 my 1st trumpet was a Getzen Super Deluxe handed down to me. I played it for 3 years and realized it wasn’t for me. It was sure pretty with all the trim though.

[@ChrisDavisTrumpet]

Choosing a trumpet to play is a very personal choice. I'm sure that's the reason they make so many variations.

[@xltek1]

@@ChrisDavisTrumpet variations are good. Like the X13 and the X17.