Newbie here-- question about an Eastman ET634G

[SLilyBelle1]

My daughter is 13, and in her 2nd year of middle school band. She plays trombone, and is also a self-taught sax player.

Just yesterday, we just purchased a used Eastman ET634G professional series trigger trombone with interchangeable leads.

I can't find a lot of info about this specific model, such as when it might have been made, history behind it, or the going sale price for one (did we reallyget a good deal?). I do trust the person who sold it to us, but I'd still like to find out more about it.

If anyone has any interesting info to share, I'd appreciate it!

[AtomicClock]

Do you mean ETB634G (with a B)? Here's what was said in 2017:

Brand new ETB-634 trombones (the axial flow version) are selling for $1000-1100 right now. I just sold a mint used one for $900.

[SLilyBelle1]

That's interesting. Thank you for that input.

The only place I've found them new online currently have them at $2300-2400. The used ones run $900-1300.
Since the purchase has already been made, I'm mainly interested in what the trombone players here think of the quality of the instrument (is that a good manufacturer/ name brand) & quality of the sound. Is there any way to find out the age of this one?

. My daughter is still learning, but I want this one to last a while!

[BGuttman]

Should last quite a while. At least until college (unless something really tragic happens).

[Dennis]

That's interesting. Thank you for that input.

The only place I've found them new online currently have them at $2300-2400. The used ones run $900-1300.
Since the purchase has already been made, I'm mainly interested in what the trombone players here think of the quality of the instrument (is that a good manufacturer/ name brand) & quality of the sound. Is there any way to find out the age of this one?

. My daughter is still learning, but I want this one to last a while!

It was an early product of the collaboration between Steve Shires and Eastman Musical Instruments (who now own SE Shires). It's a good middle-of-the-road design, and it's a horn she can play for the rest of her life.

In terms of finding out the age, you could send the serial number in a query to Eastman (www.eastmanmusiccompany.com) and ask them when it was made. They might be able to tell you where it was originally sold, too. That's not a lot of help about effective age, though. Instruments go into stock at local stores and may be forgotten about, especially in states that do not have inventory taxes. In 1970 a friend of mine in high school had his Olds Recording destroyed in an accident. His replacement was a Mt Vernon Bach Model 12 from a local music store. It had been sitting on shelf in the back of the store for ten years, but it was a new horn. Even beyond that, there are some instruments that are purchased as graduation gifts for Johnny or Jane that immediately go into the closet because the recipient is focused on college (other than music) or career. To judge the effective age, you have to look at the instrument's condition.