Alright, let's see them

Pete Thomas · Jul 15, 2008

Greg, can you not get the Largo saxophone in NZ, they are an Aussie brand that are supposed to be quit good.

Smiffy · Jul 15, 2008

[No message]

greg_strange · Jul 16, 2008

Greg, can you not get the Largo saxophone in NZ, they are an Aussie brand that are supposed to be quit good.

Hi Pete,
The first time I heard of the Largo brand was a posting a couple of years ago by Stephen Howard in one of the saxophone newsgroups I think, and Stephen has occasionally referred to them on his website, I think there is a young Aussie lady on the SOTW forum called "Bubblegirl(?)" who owns a couple of them. I have never seen one in NZ, but I presume there is some around been relatively close to Australia. I think maybe they are sold through Aussie e-bay, perhaps? I think there is a current thread running on SOTW about them.

I see in your profile you have been made redundant , What is your line of work and what do you plan to do

I'm in building and it's getting pretty bad[/quote]

Hi Smiffy,
I play a 62 series Yamaha alto that I purchased brand new in 1986. Excellent horn. Saxlicker, a BR member recently purchased an older 62 series tenor on e-bay(lucky bloke) at a good price that looked in very good condition. I suppose you just have to keep your eyes open.
I currently work for a New Zealand government department called Land Information New Zealand (or LINZ for short) which is basically the keeper of all property records/transactions in NZ. I basically check that the work from solicitors/lawyers is correct and complies with the laws and statutes of NZ. Over the last few years the organization is been going through a restructure where we have developed an electronic environment where surveyors can lodge plans electronically (through the computer), and solicitors/lawyers can lodge conveyancing documents, e.g. transfers of land, and mortgages, electronically and a lot of the less complex transactions are fully automated. The organization is cutting the no. of offices nationwide (5 to 2) and therefore require less staff. The annoying part about it is not been made redundant as such, but in the next couple of years they will require more staff and have to train new people from scratch, after making me redundant, paying me out, and with over 12 years experience. NZ government bureaucracy at its best (or worst in this case). I use to work for the Bank of New Zealand in the 1980s (before I went to the UK in the early 1990s) so I might try the financial sector again.
With the downturn in the economy of a lot of developed countries, high price of crude oil, high interest rates for loans, etc, a lot of sectors suffer. Hang in there and hope the building industry in the UK picks up - everything usually happens in cycles. At the end of the day you can always left the pressures of work behind and play the sax. There is always somebody else worst off.
Cheers Smiffy.
Regards,
Greg Strange.
P.S. Sorry Pete for hogging the 'Alright, let's see them' thread, move my post somewhere else if you think appropriate.

Smiffy · Jul 16, 2008

Greg Strange wrote:

Greg, can you not get the Largo saxophone in NZ, they are an Aussie brand that are supposed to be quit good.

Read more…

Hi Pete,
The first time I heard of the Largo brand was a posting a couple of years ago by Stephen Howard in one of the saxophone newsgroups I think, and Stephen has occasionally referred to them on his website, I think there is a young Aussie lady on the SOTW forum called "Bubblegirl(?)" who owns a couple of them. I have never seen one in NZ, but I presume there is some around been relatively close to Australia. I think maybe they are sold through Aussie e-bay, perhaps? I think there is a current thread running on SOTW about them.

I see in your profile you have been made redundant , What is your line of work and what do you plan to do

I'm in building and it's getting pretty bad

Hi Smiffy,
I play a 62 series Yamaha alto that I purchased brand new in 1986. Excellent horn. Saxlicker, a BR member recently purchased an older 62 series tenor on e-bay(lucky bloke) at a good price that looked in very good condition. I suppose you just have to keep your eyes open.
I currently work for a New Zealand government department called Land Information New Zealand (or LINZ for short) which is basically the keeper of all property records/transactions in NZ. I basically check that the work from solicitors/lawyers is correct and complies with the laws and statutes of NZ. Over the last few years the organization is been going through a restructure where we have developed an electronic environment where surveyors can lodge plans electronically (through the computer), and solicitors/lawyers can lodge conveyancing documents, e.g. transfers of land, and mortgages, electronically and a lot of the less complex transactions are fully automated. The organization is cutting the no. of offices nationwide (5 to 2) and therefore require less staff. The annoying part about it is not been made redundant as such, but in the next couple of years they will require more staff and have to train new people from scratch, after making me redundant, paying me out, and with over 12 years experience. NZ government bureaucracy at its best (or worst in this case). I use to work for the Bank of New Zealand in the 1980s (before I went to the UK in the early 1990s) so I might try the financial sector again.
With the downturn in the economy of a lot of developed countries, high price of crude oil, high interest rates for loans, etc, a lot of sectors suffer. Hang in there and hope the building industry in the UK picks up - everything usually happens in cycles. At the end of the day you can always left the pressures of work behind and play the sax. There is always somebody else worst off.
Cheers Smiffy.
Regards,
Greg Strange.
P.S. Sorry Pete for hogging the 'Alright, let's see them' thread, move my post somewhere else if you think appropriate.

[/quote]

Hi Greg my fault for asking in this thread, sorry Pete

Thanks for your reply, I hope you sort something out

Playing that Sax, never enough time is there but I wouldn't want to much time

u_can_call_me_al · Jul 19, 2008

Walstein curved soprano. Yes that's what it is 😱

visionari1 · Jul 22, 2008

Looks pretty amazing...anyone know, do they make a straight one? Anyone got sound clips of the Sops? :w00t:

Cheers

Pete Thomas · Jul 23, 2008

visionari1 wrote:
Looks pretty amazing...anyone know, do they make a straight one? Anyone got sound clips of the Sops?

Yes, I bought one of the straight ones, will post some soundclips sometime.

visionari1 · Jul 23, 2008

Ta Pete, I'm all ears

Ps tested some other mouthpieces none of which were overall any better than what I have...so why buy another!

Saving me bucks for a Soprano.

Cheers.

Jimu 😉

greg_strange · Jul 24, 2008

I think the Walstein soprano is good value for money for somebody getting a soprano for the first time. I don't think I would have got the horn without Pete's recommendation. Total cost to get it from the UK to NZ was under NZD1,000.00. I have purchased a few accessories like decent mouthpiece, ligature, sax stand, etc. All up cost is probably about NZD1,200.00 (400.00 quid) when you consider a new Yamaha YSS-475 is about NZD4,000.00 (1,300.00 quid) it's a bargain. The only issues I have is that some of the corks have not been attached to well. The same goes with my Walstein tenor - maybe it's some quality control issues they need to resolve. To put it in perceptive, a couple of years ago after my 62 series Yamaha alto was serviced, a couple of corks fell off that - so it's not just inexpensive horns that have the problems.
Regards,
Greg Strange.

Col · Sep 11, 2008

Here's my new baby, Borgani, don't know what model or when made (think '89 and Ponzol?), anyone know? , it plays like a dream and I'm very happy with it :w00t:

greg_strange · Sep 19, 2008

Nice horn Col.
I think there is a review of one of the Borgani Ponzol horns on Stephen Howard's web site.
Regards,
Greg Strange.

berniesax · Oct 25, 2008

Pete Thomas wrote:
I think we should get this thread back on topic, so I think it would be best to start a new topic on saxophone materials and finishes. I don't think I know enough to answer all your questions Ken as its only a hunch I have. The Massey Hall I only mentioned because that's the gig where bird is playing the plastic alto.

Any more discussion on this please continue on the new topic I just started.

Anyway, back to Melissa's thread, here's apic of my Grafton:

back in 1972 when i was having tenor sax lessons with
winston ingram he offered to sell me a grafton sax for 25quid
in nice order "no cracks"what would it be worth now!
bernie

jojosax · Nov 11, 2008

after 15 years on a YAS 23 I switch for Buescher top hat and cane, I don't know if it is relacquered but the sound is very good, good intonation also.
I love it!

ManEast · Dec 21, 2008

Hi Col
The Borgani Ponzol on shwoodwind is mine. it is very easy to tell if it is a Ponzol (A) it will be stamped on the bell (in small letters just under the Borgani TM) and also it will have a P at the end of the S number. Hope that helps.

Look's like a very nice horn ! Please let me Know how it turns out..... as i am yet to find another one.

ManEast

Col wrote:
Here's my new baby, Borgani, don't know what model or when made (think '89 and Ponzol?), anyone know? , it plays like a dream and I'm very happy with it

Col · Dec 30, 2008

Hi ManEast,

I sent a photo to the factory and they told me it's a bit earlier than a Ponzol, a Super, pre-Jubilee series made in 1989. I have to say I love it, best sax I've owned or played.

You don't see many around though, do you? I wanted to learn more, so read all the entries in SOTW but nothing about this model. Lots of negative comments about earlier Borganis, but on the basis of how mine plays, seem unfounded. I was told the manufacturing process is unlike no other but would love to know more.

Rogerb · Mar 3, 2009

I don't think you'll see another like this one (at least not for a while!)

http://tinyurl.com/dbsbgj
http://tinyurl.com/dlflry
http://tinyurl.com/clbrvs
http://tinyurl.com/bhlvf3
http://tinyurl.com/bnkttz

Saxlicker · Mar 3, 2009

Rogerb wrote:
I don't think you'll see another like this one (at least not for a while!)

Very nice Roger,
Not that I've ever had an issue on a modern horn but I like the adjustable palm keys and the reso's are funky too!!

P.S.
Pic 4 doesn't show for me.