Thoughts on my Getzen 4047DS

[LeoInFL]

Last Sunday I happened across a used Getzen 4047DS at the local Sam Ash store. I tried it out and it sounded great aside from a slide caked with a thick layer of dried out slide cream. After some thought I decided to trade for the 4047DS because had the features I was seriously considering to add to my 3047AF (Edwards slide receiver, edge bracing).

Other than a few surface scratches in the lacquer, the 4047DS is mint. It took some effort clean the slide of the old cream but once I was done the slide action is perfect. The horn is an interesting combination of Bach & Conn elements. It has a 2-piece unsoldered bell like a Conn but it was turned on a Bach mandrel. Both tuning slides are single-radius yellow brass. The handslide feels just like my old 3047 (same weight & width), but it has the larger bore crook (brass instead of nickel) that's squared-off like a Bach. The Powerbore rotor valve isn't as free-blowing as my old axial which was expected but not necessarily a bad thing. I do appreciate the noticeably shorter throw of the rotary. The soldered-in brass leadpipe is nice - not as open and edgy as the nickel leadpipe I'm used to but good for now. The 4047DS has a similar weight balance as my old 3047AF so I'm using an Edwards counterweight with it.

Soundwise, the 4047DS isn't dramatically different from my old 3047 from what I can tell from behind the bell.

Effortwise, it's better (for me) for articulations and volume. FF to FFF is where the 4047DS really shines IMO - big, resonant sound yet it doesn't seem to take as much effort compared to my old horn. Trigger notes below the staff seem more accessible to me although low C requires more lipping-down than my old horn (shorter handslide??).

Overall I'm very pleased with my 'new' 4047DS. Beside being a great player, I now have the flexibility to use my Edwards slides (0.525" and 0.547/0.562") with this bell section as needed.

BTW, this horn came with two large shank gold-plated Wedge mouthpieces (5G and 3G) in near mint condition that will be posted in the Classifieds shortly.

[Crazy4Tbone86]

Thanks for your critique of the 4047FS Leo! I have tried this model many times at shows and always thought it was a great horn. I just had one come through the shop for a chem clean and some small dents removed. That particular horn was superb.

It was designed to be a great Bach 42 without the inconsistencies of a Bach 42. In many ways, it achieves that. I never understood why the 4047DS didn’t become more popular. All of the attention seems to be on the sibling instrument, the Getzen 4147IB (Ian Bousfield model), which was intended to be a great, consistent Conn 88H.

[tbonesullivan]

I know local player who LOVES his. When I met him he was playing bass, and had a Bach 42B that played GREAT compared to others he had tried. The 4047DS put it utterly to shame. I'm also not sure why it didn't take off more, while the 4147IB did. Might be that the 3047AF already exists in a lot of people's minds as an alternative to the Bach 42T / 42AF?

[ZacharyThornton]

There is about to be some updates to the 4047DS and 4147IB…
I play a 4047DS with a T396 slide. The idea of the T396 slide was a magic old Bach slide. It is a killer combo.

[LeoInFL]

There is about to be some updates to the 4047DS and 4147IB…
I play a 4047DS with a T396 slide. The idea of the T396 slide was a magic old Bach slide. It is a killer combo.

Good to know!

I'm going to stay with the stock slide for now. I'm unsure about modifying it for removeable leadpipes since the stock leadpipe may get ruined when it's taken out. In the future, if I try another Edwards .547" slide with it I'll be sure to try to match the slide crook (Bach style, bass) because that's part of the playing character of this horn IMO.

[tkelley216]

I recently had a chance to try out the 4047 at the factory along with the 4147 and a number of Edwards configs. I might be biased since I already play the 4147, but the 4047 and 4147 played better than any similar Edwards configuration and are easily my favorite "stock" horns on the market.

The 4047 has a very even, centered sound throughout all ranges and dynamics that would be perfect for orchestral playing. Build quality and craftsmanship are excellent. I wouldn't say the 4147 is any better or worse than the 4047, just a different sound concept which happens to fits my playing and line of work at the moment, but I could have easily walked out happy with a 4047.

It's a shame Getzen isn't more popular. I've heard the 4147 sells great in Europe and Asia, but Getzen doesn't seem to get as much love as Edwards in the US despite being built from the same parts in the same factory by the same people. No company is completely free of inconsistency and production issues, but what I've seen come out of Edwards/Getzen is far more consistent than a lot of other brands right now.

For what it's worth, I think the Griego 55 mouthpiece was designed with the 4047 and is probably a great fit. I believe both the 4047 and Griego 55 were developed with Peter Ellefson who played it (or a very similar Edwards configuration) on his "A la Maniere de Defaye" album (don't quote me on that).

[Burgerbob]

Just speaking as a hypothetical customer,

the Getzen is no doubt a great horn, but historically Getzen has been the value plus brand- good horns for good prices. However, the Custom Reserve horns are more expensive than the fancy Bach 42s by a significant amount, and for someone with money, within distance of the real custom instruments. It's a strange no-mans-land of pricing.

[LeoInFL]

Just speaking as a hypothetical customer,

the Getzen is no doubt a great horn, but historically Getzen has been the value plus brand- good horns for good prices. However, the Custom Reserve horns are more expensive than the fancy Bach 42s by a significant amount, and for someone with money, within distance of the real custom instruments. It's a strange no-mans-land of pricing.

True. I couldn't justify buying a new 4047DS with the type of playing I do. I was able to get this horn by trading my 3047AF + $400.

[GabrielRice]

the Custom Reserve horns are more expensive than the fancy Bach 42s by a significant amount

I don't see that where I'm looking (Dillon's); the 4047DS seems to be right in the middle of the pricing of the various Bach models.

[GabrielRice]

Steve Lange of the Boston Symphony plays one. I think his has a nickel slide crook, but I could be wrong about that. Steve sounds great on it.

[Burgerbob]

the Custom Reserve horns are more expensive than the fancy Bach 42s by a significant amount

I don't see that where I'm looking (Dillon's); the 4047DS seems to be right in the middle of the pricing of the various Bach models.

At Hickey's it is 400 more than a 42BOF.

[GabrielRice]

OK...I wouldn't consider $400 a significant amount in that price range.

Also, the Centennial Bach is listed at a higher price at Dillon's. Interesting.

[dougm]

I really liked the 4047DS I bought. My issue was high C. Always had a problem getting that note to center on the horn. I would go back to my Edwards and it was "there." I as looking to replace / backup my Edwards as I bought it in 1992. My son loves the 4047DS now, so I can get it if needed on short notice.

Two trombone playing friends opted for the 4047DS after playing mine. Enjoy!

Doug

[Remington]

I bought a 4047DS since I couldn't pass up a mint one for 1500... Played it with a TBCN Slide w/ T2 Alessi for almost 2 years. Ended up trading for a 882OR. I wouldn't mind having one again.

[Remington]

Does anyone know if the leadpipe in the 4047DS is similar to the 396AR? Christian described the AR leadpipe as a Bach style T2.