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Trumpet/Titleist by Getzen Bugle serial F23878 repair

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Expert: Mike Pawul - 6/1/2009


Question
Hi, I have a horn which I think is a bugle, it looks like a trumpet but has one valve and one lever.  I am obviously not a musician.  My problem is this horn is frozen up and the mouth piece is stuck on. What is involved with repair? Is it valueble enough to repair? I would like to know if worth restoring?

Answer
Lisa, Sorry for the delay but I had to work 11 days at 12 hours a day and today is my first day off. The Titleist is a bugle and the valve regulates which key it plays in. The horn is from about 1973 from the Getzen factory in Elkhorn Wisconsin. It would still play fine if the valve is stuck but only in one key. A normal repair shop would charge only a few dollars to remove the mouthpiece. Most likely it has a stuck valve from sitting without use. In that case it would be a minor repair and could be done very inexpensively. The real question is what do you intend to do with it? If you just want to play around with it I wouldn't spend much more than the mouthpiece and freeing the stuck valve. However, if you want to keep it for a collection I would have it cleaned and repaired. The value on it in top shape is around $100, so it wouldn't be practical to spend money on it just to sell it.

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Mike Pawul

Expertise

I am familiar with most trumpets, cornets, and flugelhorns. I can answer most questions about playing and musicality. Best of all, if I can't answer it directly I play regularly in several bands and have many "old timers" that are familiar with most things that I am not. I collect, repair, and refinish old horns and have sold over 600 with more than 400 on ebay

Experience

I have played since 1965 and studied with many directors and trumpeters. I have been collecting since 2002 and have over 150 horns in my personal collection. I have done repair and refinsh since 2003 and have done work on over 900 horns.

Organizations
Kosair Shrine Brass Band and Dance Band, The Notables, The Mello Tones, Bourbon City Brass Band, River Cities Concert Band, Derby City Brass Band, University of Louisville Community Band, Member of Trumpet Players International Network (TPIN), Bugles Across America (BAA), Member of the National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians (NAPBIRT)

Education/Credentials
I played at Brunswick High School. I played through college and have a BS in Business Administration from Trinity College. Of course, I am still learning from all my friends that play and work on trumpets around the world.

Awards and Honors
Without being vain, numerous awards and have played in several honor bands.

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