Getzen 1052FDR Eterna Bass Trombone Used

Item Details

This is a used bass trombone made by The Getzen Company in Elkhorn, Wisconsin.  The 1052FDR is their professional model set up in the commercial style: inline rotors, red brass bell and straight bore .562" hand slide.  It's a great design that shares components and quality with the custom Edwards trombones which are made alongside these at Getzen.  This is the second generation design with the nickel sleeved hand slide and metal minibal linkage parts.

The tuning slide is interesting.  In order to form a fully conical bell section similar to the old slide-tuning Conn trombones, this Getzen has the inside sleeves of the tuning slide machined to a tapered bore on the inside.  You can see where the slide steps up at the ferrules on the outside, but the inside is tapered and smooth even through the sleeves.  Cool.

This Getzen has some miles on it but it still very nice.  Several joints have been resoldered, there are some dings in the slide crook and elsewhere, and it's missing some amount of lacquer.  Still, it's worthy.

The photos are taken after its return from Brass Mavens where it received a cleaning and tune-up.  Also Brass Medic removed several minor dents and realigned the slide connector.  I gave the unlacquered parts a polish so it looks much shinier and closer to new.  The last three photos show its condition before tune-up.

Condition

The hand slide action is very good and the chrome plating is 100%.  The lower outside slide tube has been replaced, so it and the hand brace are unlacquered.  The lacquer overall is getting worn, with many spots of tarnish on the bell and scratches elsewhere that have tarnished.  There are several minor dings in the slide crook and bell flare, but nothing major.  Valves are clean, quiet and tight, second valve trigger rod has been adjusted to fit human hands.  Sometimes on these Getzens the key lever for the second rotor can slip due to its single pinch bolt.  I bent its clamp tighter and added some Loctite to keep things from moving.  Sometimes people have theirs soldered in place.

Specs

• .562" brass hand slide with nickel end crook
• One #3 (large) removable leadpipe
• Dual inline .593" rotors in Bb, F, Gb, D
• 9.5" red brass bell
• Protec MAX MX309 lightweight case in fresh, nearly new condition, with hidden backpack straps and removable shoulder strap
• Mouthpiece not included