Got a Grassi Professional 2000 Alto

[J.Max]

These are GREAT horns...and I only paid $250 for it...outplays my Buescher New Aristocrat and feels just like a Mark VI, only with a different high F# key. Super free-blowing, nice dark sound, fast action...this one is definitely a keeper. I wish I could find a Grassi Professional 2000 soprano!

These are one of the best kept secrets in saxophones. Seriously. It's not as good as my Yamaha YAS-875 Custom (which I shouldn't have sold, but oh well.), but I paid $2000 for the Custom, and $249 for the Grassi. $249. (I have mouthpieces that cost me more than that!)

[Captain Beeflat]

J. Max...So pleased for you.......I have been saying this for years....most under-rated horn. It has to be the "Professional 2000", Grassi's last offering before the factory closed....not all Grassis are as good. Cannot agree about the Yamaha....I had a YTS62, which, although mechanically excellent, sounded so bland; it had to go. My two keepers are a Grassi 2000 tenor & an R&C R1......oddly enough both Italian, & both glorious.

[J.Max]

Yeah, I was never a huge YAS-62 fan either...the 875 was a totally different beast.

This Grassi horn is great though...it has a really excellent overtone series. I've been doing some exploring with it...it's very free blowing.

[pakito1]

cuold you please post a soundclip, recorded from your alto?

I'm very interested on this horns, thanks!

[Reedsplinter]

These are GREAT horns...and I only paid $250 for it...outplays my Buescher New Aristocrat and feels just like a Mark VI, only with a different high F# key. Super free-blowing, nice dark sound, fast action...this one is definitely a keeper. I wish I could find a Grassi Professional 2000 soprano!

These are one of the best kept secrets in saxophones. Seriously. It's not as good as my Yamaha YAS-875 Custom (which I shouldn't have sold, but oh well.), but I paid $2000 for the Custom, and $249 for the Grassi. $249. (I have mouthpieces that cost me more than that!)

There's a Grassi Professional soprano up on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/GRASSI-SOPRANO-SAXOPHONE-Professional-Model_W0QQitemZ110200495002QQihZ001QQcategoryZ1620 3QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Russ]

There's a Grassi Professional soprano up on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/GRASSI-SOPRANO-SAXOPHONE-Professional-Model_W0QQitemZ110200495002QQihZ001QQcategoryZ1620 3QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

A Prestige no less. J.Max, get your wallet out :D

[J.Max]

Well, I have a 2000 soprano, but that one is mighty tempting...

[pakito1]

Are they better the Prestige or the Professional 2000 models?

by the way there are some models that dont have engarved any model name,
just the serial number and the Reg. Trademark numbers Italy - USA,

are they Prestige or what?

[J.Max]

Are they better the Prestige or the Professional 2000 models?

by the way there are some models that dont have engarved any model name,
just the serial number and the Reg. Trademark numbers Italy - USA,

are they Prestige or what?

Depends on the horn. There was a Prestige horn before the Prestige 2000 (which is what the soprano on eBay is) but it's kind of murky as to what that is. The theory right now is that the one that we call the "Jade Model" is actually the old Prestige.

And I love my 2000 soprano, except for the left hand pinky table. I prefer an articulated G# key, which this horn lacks, but the sound and intonation are spot on. All three of my horns match, and it's the only one that doesn't have the articulated G#. That Prestige is mighty tempting...I might go for it. Not sure yet.

[pakito1]

Ok thanks.

Do you think this picture attached could be a grassi Prestige or an student Leader model?

No model name is engarved on it..

are they Professional 2000 with nickel keys?

[J.Max]

That looks like one of the student models. There are Professional 2000s with nickel keys, but they say "Professional 2000" or "Model 2000" and they usually have a high F# key. That horn is a Mark VI copy, and its a very good Mark VI copy.

[BaBoAr]

hey grassi followers i thought i would add a little info here.
I bought a grassi pro 2000 alto with 'silver plated'(??) keys and gold lacquer body.Nice horn.Fast action,nice ergos,i would agree with that 'crispy sound' some people have described the horn with before,J.Max,Captain Beeflat,...though mine looks like it had been made some time ago.
Early 90's probably??
It needs adjustments as is rather on its 80% of playability.
Pads are old and some minor leaks are noticeable.
but what most annoyed me was the 'REVERSED' octave key,i.e facing the left hand side of the horn.
Seriously i found it horrible.Any one knows how can i fix this?
A week ago i bought another Grassi pro 2000 here in the SOTW and it looks quite different.for starters the octave key on this one is fine,normal,standard,...
Next week i'll get the horn so i will let you guys know my opinion.
Both have non detachable thumb rests but as far as i know new prestige top line grassis (last production) meant to have adjustable thum rests and different High F# key design.

[BaBoAr]

my first grassi pro 2000 looks exactly the same as the one pakito1 shows in his post but has a high F# key.
Same engravings.And mine it does say Professional 2000 below the thumb rest along with the serial number