Handmade Bass sax anyone?

spike · Dec 9, 2006

Link to a German E-bay page
This has to be a work of art at a mere 8500 uhu's, if I may translate, it was made by Martin Gruenewald in 1993, whilst working at the Keilwerth factory in Nauheim. He made it in his spare time and has won prizes for his workmanship. Appears to be silver plated. He now has his own saxophone business and wants to part with the beast as it doesn't get any use. Pity the pics are small but it looks magnificent - if I win the lotto this week I'll buy it. gruss - spike

rhysonsax · Dec 9, 2006

Wow - that looks great.

Do you think it means that it is only available to Germany ?

If I bought that then I really would stop looking at eBay - honest. No, really.

Thanks for feeding my addiction.

Rhys

Pete Thomas · Dec 9, 2006

rhysonsax wrote:
If I bought that then I really would stop looking at eBay - honest. No, really.

Oh no you wouldn't.

Bobby G · Dec 10, 2006

Every home should have one! It's lovely isn't it?

If you win it rhysonsax I am willing to drive you to Germany to collect it!

Cheers, Bob

rhysonsax · Dec 10, 2006

Just purely as a academic question, what do you think the best way to get a valuable item from near Frankfurt in Germany to the UK would be ? Imagine that it might weight about 25kg and be about 140 cm long.

Would you have it shipped, collect it in a car or fly with it ?

And what about insurance ?

Pete Thomas · Dec 10, 2006

I'm going on the train.

Then a walk in the black forest. Dat dah, dadat , dat dah dadat, dadah dat dada, dat dah dadat, dat dah...

Bobby G · Dec 10, 2006

Pete Thomas wrote:
I'm going on the train.

Then a walk in the black forest. Dat dah, dadat , dat dah dadat, dadah dat dada, dat dah dadat, dat dah...

Thank you Horst Jankowski.

Personally, and for the sense of adventure (and because Siemens pays for my fuel 😉 ), I'd drive it.

Then I could fahr'n fahr'n fahr'n auf der Autobahn.

Cheers, Bob

spike · Dec 11, 2006

I'd ask spike very politely to nip up there in his VW bus and collect it for you, he only lives just down the road, just send him a blank cheque, I'm sure he'd sort it out. gruss - an anonymous friend of spike's

Pete Thomas · Dec 20, 2006

I see Rhys bought this!

EDIT:

I was quite interested, but I thought as Rhys wanted it the gentlemanly thing to do was to not bid against him. Buy me a beer Rhys.

rhysonsax · Dec 20, 2006

Oops, my finger slipped on the "bid" button, er the dog did it.

Um, it's a Christmas present for a friend - an invisible friend that only I can see.

Spike really kindly had a long phone conversation with the seller (who only speaks German). He was convinced that the guy is "straight as a die" and the price was just too good to miss. It looks absolutely gorgeous in the photos and goes from high F# to low A. The normal Keilwerth bass, if you can get it, is from high Eb to low Bb and costs about 15,000 Euro in plain lacquer finish.

Now I've just got my fingers crossed that it really exists and is being shipped. Do you think it could arrive by Christmas ?

Rhys

ps I really am cured of looking at eBay auctions now.

pps Any tips on explaining this one to the wife ? It's a bit large just to slide under the bed.

ppps Beers all round for forum members if it arrives OK and in one piece. Begging bowl out for contributions if I've been had.

Pete Thomas · Dec 20, 2006

If you've been had I'll buy you a beer. If not you buy me one as compensation for not bidding against you. Deal?

rhysonsax · Dec 20, 2006

Or alternatively I could fill the sax with champagne like the FA Cup !

If it turns up, I expect it wil need a trip to Steve Howard's, so maybe you could come on over there for a blow and a beer.

Here's hoping.

Rhys

ps I was really surprised that no one else at all bid.

Pete Thomas · Dec 20, 2006

rhysonsax wrote:
If it turns up, I expect it wil need a trip to Steve Howard's, so maybe you could come on over there for a blow and a beer.

That would be the Red Lion I believe, isn't the other one a bit poncey?

Bobby G · Dec 20, 2006

Well done Rhysonsax, I hope you love it. Soundclips will have to be posted. What does the price work out in quids, about 5-6k? Sounds like you did ok there.

I didn't bid for it either, does that get me some red wine?

Cheers, Bob

rhysonsax · Dec 21, 2006

Just on 6k in sterling, so quite a punt for something that may not turn up. Here's hoping.

There were quite a few people who didn't bid (what's the world population at the moment), but I'll be happy to buy a few drinks if forum members want to see/play the beast.

Not quite sure how I could capture the sound - maybe I should organise a forum outing to Steve Howard's or a pub.

All the best

Rhys

Tenor Sax · Dec 21, 2006

Pete Thomas wrote:

rhysonsax wrote:
If I bought that then I really would stop looking at eBay - honest. No, really.

Read more…

Oh no you wouldn't.

Ho yes he would

(in true traditional style)

Dylan · Dec 21, 2006

He's behind you.... etc etc :laugh:

Well done Rhysonsax. You'll need a huge Xmas tree to get that underneath !

I'd be up for a few ales and an intro to the bass monster. Perhaps we could make this the first forum gathering.

Have a good one!

Bobby G · Dec 21, 2006

I'd like to see the bass sax too! A works outing sounds like a good idea, maybe when it's warmed up bit.

Cheers, Bob

Tenor Sax · Dec 21, 2006

Bob Green wrote:
I'd like to see the bass sax too! A works outing sounds like a good idea, maybe when it's warmed up bit.

Cheers, Bob

I think you may have hit on a top idea.

I do post on a Kayaking forum. Being an outdoor activity, meeting up on the river has welded a lot of new friendships through the site. The forum is now more of a community of friends and not just names.

rhysonsax · Dec 21, 2006

I suugest we meet up on a river - the bass sax should be big enough to do a spot of kayaking in !

If it even exists - haven't heard from the seller since Monday and starting to get twitchy.

Rhys