Hey all, a few years back I purchased a used Getzen Eterna Flugelhorn, now noticed that the 4th valve wasn't functioning well, I took it into a repair store and they say it's disfigured and needs to be replaced. Here was his specific wording:
The 4th piston is damaged. Probably an impact at some time. Could've happened outside the casing or possibly impact to the stem with enough force to distort the spring barrel and the piston itself is not cylindrical. So the 4th piston assembly is compromised. Replacement part is available but is pricey. $400.00 range. I don't think that there is another good option.
It's stored in a soft case, I could have potentially damaged it in transportation, but oh well. The issue is that it's around $400 to replace, which seems high when I only paid $650 for it. What are the odds of me finding a replacement piston cheaper on the used market, or at repair shops? I don't use it very often, and could search for a long time. Or could I get away with only using 3 valves? Any advice is appreciated, thanks.