Saxophones Grassi Saxophones

[jthole]

I've joined the Grassi tenor club 🙂 with a Grassi Professional 2000. Not a looker, because the lacquer is in pretty bad condition, but an excellent player. Definitely a French sound, very different from my American tenors. Or actually tenor, because the only one I have left is a Martin "The Martin".

The instrument was setup by a well-known tech here in the Netherlands. The only thing that needs to be fixed is the thumb rest; the way it is shaped now, it digs into the top of my knuckle. But it feels like a very versatile horn, with excellent intonation, and great response from bottom to top. And for those who claim that Grassis have a small sound; this is not one of them! 😉

 

[MMM]

Congratulations: I've not had the opportunity to try one of these yet.

The thumb hook is easy enough to fix, either have it moved or replace it with an adjustable one. Since the sax is not pristine, you don't have to worry about hurting the lacquer.
Happy honking!

 

[jthole]

Congratulations: I've not had the opportunity to try one of these yet.

The thumb hook is easy enough to fix, either have it moved or replace it with an adjustable one. Since the sax is not pristine, you don't have to worry about hurting the lacquer.
Happy honking!

The thumb hook is fixed already. And it's a real player! Completely different from the American (Martin, Buescher) and Taiwanese tenors I played so far.

I think that with the Martin Committee III and the Grassi Professional 2000, I have a great combination. The Martin is an American cruiser while the Grassi is an Italian sports car 😉

 

[Dannysax85]

Hi there,
Thanks for all your Grassi info, it's great and really useful. One of my new sax students came to his first lesson with a Grassi tenor so I thought I would do some reading and came across your thread.

I have been trying to ascertain the saxes worth so he can insure it. Being a woodwind repairer I was really interested when he got it out of the case as Grassi aren't something I come across very often and when he told me he purchased it from a local second hand shop I needed to find out more.

After reading your site it looks like a Tenor Standard very early as the serial number is only 1223. From your threat I can only see one sax, an alto, with a lower number.

Do these saxes have much of a following? And how much should he be insuring it for?

Any info greatly welcomed, thanks in advance!

Daniel, Hull, England

 

[ProfJames]

I think that what lets the Grassi saxes down is that you will seldom find one well setup and adjusted, because they are not highly regarded (in Italy if it's not a Selmer it's worthless!), people are reluctant to spend any money on them. I picked up my "Wonderful" alto and it still has it's original pads (40 years on), once overhauled it will be very nice indeed. They are so rare: yours makes only the third Wonderful tenor I've ever seen for sale!
Enjoy and keep the Cafe updated on its progress!
Manlio

Cannot disagree with those comments

 

[Dannysax85]

Cannot disagree with those comments

Hi there,

I'm guessing the one I have here isn't part of the wonderful range? From the info above I'm guessing it's a standard original Tenor? L shaped Bell brace and original Ida Grassi engraving. As the serial is 1223 I think this would be too early for the Wonderful?

Many thanks

Daniel

 

[DavidUK]

Having had a 2000 Pro tenor, I'd say insure for £500 for a standard one.

 

[MMM]

Hi there,

I'm guessing the one I have here isn't part of the wonderful range? From the info above I'm guessing it's a standard original Tenor? L shaped Bell brace and original Ida Grassi engraving. As the serial is 1223 I think this would be too early for the Wonderful?

Many thanks

Daniel

Hi Daniel, it should be insured for an amount equal or more than a new (equivalent level) replacement. See what a student Yamaha sells for and set it at that. This way if it a total loss, your student will be able to afford a new instrument.
Hope this helps, M.

 

[sizzzzler]

The Grassi tenor and Martin alto was my first combination back in my gigging days. I got some great reviews. We all know about Martins.
The Grassi was a very flexible blues, soul and rock instrument that loved playing in to a mic, with a far wider sound than the over schooled perfection of whiny gutless Yamahas and pretty boredom Yanis.
Entranced by the reputation, I swapped over to a Selmer tenor which has a lovely rounded sound particularly when practicing, and could scream and wail. But gigging, when the adrenalin kicks in, the dance floor is jumping, the audience are crowded round the stage, the selmer couldn’t do the grit, the drama of the Grassi.
The Grassi is not a jazz, big or wedding band instrument. Its not for the musicals pit. It’s a dancehall live performer, a rasping crying screaming lusting drama king diva.

 

[apinter]

I play a standard Grassi tenor and am very happy of it 🙂

 

[ProfJames]

I tried one some time back and was pleasantly surprised at the noise it allowed me to make! Not sure why I never bought it to be honest......

 

[apinter]

Up of my Grassi of 1980 (my student saxophone of those days, pre all the named Grassi like “Professional”, but very similar in mechanic) are: very nice voice, imho.

Mechanic is not as firm and solid as some other pro saxes I tried but also not bad at all. Ergomically it fits me very well (opposite of a chinese Gear 4music I reviewed here) and also the pad of bell notes, altough not articulated as in more modern saxes works well to me (maybe at the next check I could try to let it make a bit lighter).

Down to me is that nowadays in Italy Grassi of this age are not cheap at all. Maybe even too much.

But I have it already, and am very happy with it.

Back in 1980 I paid eur 250 for it, with a substantial discount. Way more than basic chinese from Thomanm, Gear 4music or similar costs today. At that time it was not regarded as a very good sax, everybody wanted to play Selmer as soon they could afford it.

Today Grassi of that age (or even better of some years younger but still italian) gained a much better reputation, and with some reasons, to me.

 

[moxie]

Hello, after reading on your site from time to time, I registered so I could say thanks for the Grassi information, and ask a question. I own a baritone saxophone that has every "tell" of a Grassi horn that I have read about on any and every site, the laurel joining bands, the ring body to bell brace, the last three digits of the serial number (124xx) on the underside of the F rh palm key, just to name few, it matches the "export" pic in the 1975 catalog, just a "standard"....but the logo is a bit unusual...it's like the guy who inscribes the upper and lower arcs of wreaths was sick that day. "Grassi" in the usual spot, "Ida Maria" in the top arc, "Made In Italy" in the bottom arc. I have seen this on a very few altos and I think a tenor in Ebay pics----any ideas? It bugs me!

Also, the article says bari bell keys move from left to right side around 22,000, mine has RH bell keys at mid- twelves.

 

[MMM]

Hello, after reading on your site from time to time, I registered so I could say thanks for the Grassi information, and ask a question. I own a baritone saxophone that has every "tell" of a Grassi horn that I have read about on any and every site, the laurel joining bands, the ring body to bell brace, the last three digits of the serial number (124xx) on the underside of the F rh palm key, just to name few, it matches the "export" pic in the 1975 catalog, just a "standard"....but the logo is a bit unusual...it's like the guy who inscribes the upper and lower arcs of wreaths was sick that day. "Grassi" in the usual spot, "Ida Maria" in the top arc, "Made In Italy" in the bottom arc. I have seen this on a very few altos and I think a tenor in Ebay pics----any ideas? It bugs me!

Also, the article says bari bell keys move from left to right side around 22,000, mine has RH bell keys at mid- twelves.

Hi Moxie, welcome to the Cafe'!
Thank you for your note of appreciation, I certainly had fun putting all the info together.
I have seen several variations of Grassi saxes so I guess the best thing to do is post some photos of your instrument in your gallery and point us to it, that way we can see what you mean and give you our version!

Regards,
Manlio

 

[JayeNM]

Well if it has other aspects of a Grassi, it is probably a Grassi. But indeed, post photos of the logo, both sides of the sax, and perhaps the pinky table.

 

[moxie]

Sorry, I knew youse guys would ask for a photo. I couldn't figure out how to include one, as the one I have is on my flip-phone, but I just found out how to take a photo with this laptop, then I can probably figure it out. I'm not computer-stupid, but I'm not the best for sure, let's see----.Well it turns out the camera must be to see me when skyping, etc., making the taking of a precise photo, holding it still, risking damage to the laptop AND the sax, very hard. ---OK, got the logo in question, and, because I can only show two pics, one taken with a different camera (very clear, can be expanded and still look very clear). You can see the logo on the horn on the right.

Why no wreaths top or bottom (seems early ones sometimes had bottom only), and as I said before, I have seen but a few like this on Ebay, anyone else have this logo? Could it have been used only for a short time? Did the wreath guy call in sick?? Will post LH table with another post if needed, but like JayeNM said, I'm pretty darn sure its a Grassi, this logo just won't let me be. And, yes, it IS hard to be me. Probably should let it go and go practice!!

 

[lissa]

That's really informative article @MMM

 

[DavidUK]

I've done some research...

I assume you refer to the Export model here: http://www.saxforum.it/dati/case/grassi/catalogograssi.pdf
- keep scrolling down, 5th page from the end.

I found it from SOTW thread, post #15, here: Ida Maria Grassi Brochure... dated 1975!!

Here's yours and the one in the catalogue:



Right hand pinky keys a little different in shape? Otherwise looks the same.

I also found photos of the same bell engraving: My Martin Busine bari --IS-- a Grassi

You have to read post #4 to understand the photos in the opening post. Might your sax, otherwise there's at least one more like yours. Right hand pinkies on this may be different to yours too. Yours look semi circular whereas this and the catalogue look elongated.

But... the real clincher to prove yours is a Grassi can be found elsewhere in the Grassi Catalogue.
Have a look at the alto photo two pages down from the Export Bari. The logo is not the same as the others in the catalogue...



No laurel wreath, and it looks like your one to me...?

Hope that helps.

 

[DavidUK]

NB. The logo appears to have "MILAN" under, not MADE IN ITALY.

Your engraving is likely "transitional" between MILAN and the laurel wreathed MADE IN ITALY.

 

[JayeNM]

Interesting...good sleuthing, David.

The pinky table on yours would be interesting to see, @moxie, only because from your other pic it looks a bit different from what I would have expected to be a
Jade" type table.

It is an odd engraving, I had never seen that style before. But indeed as David pointed to, they did apparently use it.