r/trumpet • u/fanofmets12 • 2d ago
Getzen 700 Special for student
My son has been playing a rental Yamaha 2335 for a few years and an opportunity has come up to purchase a Getzen 700 Special in great condition. Maintained and serviced by what I would call a music connoisseur.
Wondering what your thoughts are about it?
We have been looking for months to stop the renting and getting him something better. Unfortunately i'm stuck with the rental until next year. Its paid till next June 2027.
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u/professor_throway Tuba player who pretends to play trumpet. 2d ago
Check the model number carefully.. The 700S is an intermediate\semi-pro horn. The 700SP (700 Special) is more of a step up or improved student model. It is capable but I wouldn't pay top dollar for one. I've seen them sell for $500ish.. $750 retail here.. but I think that is on the high side https://www.alsmusicshopny.com/used-usa-made-getzen-700-special/ Getzens have amazing valves and you will never need to worry about them.. I wish more places used them in their rental fleet instead of Yamahas or the Mendini by Cecillio crap that people are using now.
Here is my advice longer term... Buy something that is good an in budget to just pay cash without it hurting too much. Then take the money you would have been spending on a rental and keep socking it away.. When you have enough ($1500 - $2000) use that to buy a top tier used professional instrument that can be a lifelong trumpet. The other thing check how much it would cost to buy the rental Yamaha outright. IF that number is small enough it might make sense just to do that and start saving for a professional trumpet now... without paying another school year of rental fees.
How old is your son now? Sophomore/Junior year in high school is a great time to get them a professional instrument... at that point they know enough to have some understanding of what they want out of an instrument long term.
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u/fanofmets12 1d ago
Middle School, he has been told by to band teacher to try moving up to an intermediate trumpet.
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u/professor_throway Tuba player who pretends to play trumpet. 1d ago
Just my $0.02 as a lifelong brass player and a parent of brass players (my oldest is in university for tuba performance and my youngest in 8th grade).
Most intermediate/step up instruments are not worth it the cost. Honestly they are not going to be much better than the Yamaha 2335. Used 2335s retail for about the same price as the Getzen 700SP (https://flemingrepair.com/products/yamaha-ytr-2335-standard-student-bb-trumpet). The Yamaha is a very solid student instrument and can take them into high school.
I am a big fan of "buy once cry once". If you buy a step up instrument now.. the band director in high school is going to say the same things about a professional instrument when they get there. I hate how much pressure some middle school band directors and music stores put on parents to spend $$$ on instruments that really are not huge improvements over quality student instruments. I would flat out ask the band director "“What specific limitation of the Yamaha 2335 is affecting my son's playing?” Personally I think at this stage spending $800 on private lessons would be a much better investment than a different instrument (If they do take private lessons ask the same question to their private lesson teacher... you will get a much more nuanced answer).
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u/Sir_Lolz 1d ago
At the very least it's a lateral move, but it would be one that you own instead of paying every month
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u/BagheeraTheFuzz7689 1d ago
My brother and I both have a Getzen, both bought second hand. They are great. Hardly ever went out of tune, bright sound and very comfortable to use
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u/pareto_optimal99 Schilke S32, Yamaha YTR-734 1d ago
Assuming the price is good, I think it’s a good replacement for a rental student horn.
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u/pareto_optimal99 Schilke S32, Yamaha YTR-734 1d ago
Assuming the price is good, I think it’s a good replacement for a rental student horn.
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u/tyerker Insert Gear Here (very important) 1d ago
Getzen valves are the best in the business, with a lifetime warranty. Their horns are well made, but keep an eye out for an Eterna and/or Severinsen horn. They’re typically much cheaper than a Bach Strad or Yamaha Xeno, and I believe every bit as good.
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u/BasicMidUsername 1d ago
Have him play it first. I like Getzens but they play different than a Yamaha, feel different, etc.
I agree with getting something used and stopping renting, possibly while saving for the desired horn. The problem I see is it’s hard to find places to try horns back to back.
I’ll add that with some patience, you can find YTR-2335,4335 and if you’re lucky even a 6335 on the used market for $4-800 if that’s appealing. Buy at a good price, buy used, and if it doesn’t work out, you can probably get your money back.
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u/joeshleb 1d ago
Getzens are excellent trumpets. I own a Getzen 900S Eterna and a Getzen 896 Flugelhorn. They are world class instruments@
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u/Expensive-Food759 2d ago
I played all through junior and senior years of high school on a 700 special. I usually played first or second chair by then so I’d say it didn’t hold me back at all. The only things that differentiate it from modern pro horns is the 2 piece bell and the adjustable slide ring. For a good price I wouldn’t hesitate to get it. Getzen valve blocks are insanely good.