Gemeinhardt KGs?

[spacermase]

So, I've recently been offered a second-hand Gemeinhardt KG Special at drastically reduced price by a middle school band teacher I provide free music lessons for (apparently the parents of one of her students went all out to get a really nice instrument for her, only to have her lose interest halfway through the year).

Is anyone familiar with the KG line? Are they any good? It seems they run in the $1800-2000 range from the factory, but this one is available for $750. It sounds like a pretty good deal- and when I play tested it had much better tone than my ancient Armstrong- but is it overkill for a semi-serious amateur such as myself?

[animal]

Despite what Robot Chicken has to say, I have not been put down, yet so, if you don’t mind an old percussionist response to this question: Always buy the best you can afford.

You say you are a "semi-serious amateur", and I don’t know the line of per say but I know the reputation of the company so I would say it is a very good buy. The one thing I would do though (and you most likely had already thought of this) is to take it to a music shop that does repairs, and you trust, and have them give it a once over. They might even answer the question “Is it a good buy?”