B&S medusa Saxes

[scale_master]

Has anyone of you played the B&S Medusa saxes? They have Alto and Tenor. I would be interested how they are soundwise compared to the Selmers and Yamahas and Keilwerths etc.
Also, do you have an idea where I can buy them in the US?

Thanks in advance,

B.

[T.S.]

These are superb horns. Though, you'll find each one different.
Call the # on the website for American distribution (I think it's Chicago, if I recall correctly), and they should be able to lead you to a retailer. I tried the horns at the NAMM show in LA last January and was particularly blown away by a black nickel tenor which played like a dream.

[SaxyAcoustician]

I have both alto and tenor Medusa's. The alto is good but the tenor is the best tenor I've ever played (besides other B&S made tenors like the 2001 and Guardala's. I'm gonna be selling my silverplated Yamaha Custom tenor next chance I get. What else you want to know?

[tonyg]

SA, what finish did you get your B&S Medusa Tenor in. I read your review of the Sandfinish Alto but was more interested hearing about the Tenor.

Regards
Tony

[scale_master]

SA,
I just read your review on the ALto, I hadn't seen this before, sorry!

In essence, I am looking for a backup Alto for my MK VI. I had a Yamaha Custom, which I sold (a good horn, didn't like it though). I tested a Keilwerth, which to me was too spread in sound. I also checked out Cannonball and Selmer III, but none of them convinced me to buy...

Thanks agsin for your earlier review, I will try to locate one to testplay.

B.

[Helen]

I just saw a Medusa bari in a music store. I didn't know anything about the brand, so I asked if it was an intermediate level horn, and the clerk said yes. It didn't have the look or feel of a pro-model horn, although I must admit I only looked at it for about a minute, and didn't actually play it. What is the B&S model of pro-line horn?

[Randall]

The Medusa is B&S' top of the line horn at present. The price of these horns puts them in the "intermediate" range, and a clerk without much knowledge of saxes might lump the Medusa in with that level/class of horns based on the price only.
Make no mistake about it....there is nothing cheaply/flimsily made or slipshod about these horns. they are built like tanks, and the action is wonderful and ergonomics are great too.
I have yet to play the Medusa bari, but it should be an extension of their pro line bari- just like the Guardala bari was.
I have heard good things from everyone who has played these baris, although admittedly, that isn't a large number of people.
I have played the Medusa alto and tenor and they are superb horns and a real steal at current prices.
Some major players have used or are currently using Guardala saxes. These are B&S 2001 model saxes (modified somewhat, but not significantly). I predict that in the not too distant future, these horns will appreciate in value more than imagined now.
They really are that good.

I'm still waiting on my sterling tenor!

[Helen]

Thanks for that info. Randall. I wish I would have had time to try the horn now. You are right, the price was definately in the student-intermediate level range, and when I asked about it being an intermediate horn based on the price, the clerk said yes.

I remember about 4 years ago I tried the B&S intermediate bari, I don't remember the model name anymore. I liked the sound, but the feel wasn't like the Selmers I'm used to. The Madusa's feel wasn't too different from that intermediate level horn I tried. Given what you say, I suspect it just wasn't set up very well....It was just a regular gold colour laquer.

I asked the clerk about the 2001, which I vaguely remembered being their pro-line horns, and he told me that B&S still makes the 2001, and that it indeed was the pro horn, whereas the Medusa was the intermediate model.

Oh well...Them's the breaks....I'm an 8 hour plane ride away from home at the moment, so I guess not trying the horn saved me having to figure out how to get it home with me. I am actually starting to look at getting a back-up bari for my low Bb VI. For the back-up I'm looking at a low A horn....

Thanks again Randall....

[BigDaddyJ]

Here's one on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2577977371&category=16 234

[Randall]

tempting....veeeery teeeeempting.....
:twisted:

[Dr G]

Oh my... :shock:

[Randall]

Hey! one of you guys make the seller "an offer he counna refuse"?
Auction ended early....
Good thing....I was starting to jonze for that thing- and my wife would indeed kill me if I had taken the plunge.

[swingerini]

Yeah that looks like cool horn .

Hmmmm.... I wonder who bought that one ?
The seller used to post here a lot; a good guy .

Or did he decide to keep it ? Nahhhh probably sold it offline .

[SaxyAcoustician]

tonyg, sorry for the late reply.

Both alto and tenor I have are in the sandblast finish. Beautiful horns I must say. I have silverplated horns and black horns but when people see the Medusa sandblast finish they gasp. No joke.

But it's all about how it plays, right? And I am saying this again: the B&S tenors are absolutely awesome. If you're in the market for a tenor, please please please, play test a B&S. You won't regret it!

[Morry]

I see that they don't offer the sand finish in the baritones. Bummer. Hey, Randall, did you ever play one of their baris?

[Randall]

No Morry, I have never had the pleasure.
I was about to take the plunge on a very reasonably priced black nickle Guardala bari when Stephan came through for me (rather unexpectedly) on the SX90R.
In hindsight, considering how much I eventually ended up laying out for the JK, I may have been wise to go ahead with the Guardala....but that is merely speculation.
I am perfectly satisfied with the JK and it is awesome in all respects.
As for the sand finish on the bari....I am fairly sure if you made a special order they would do it. BUT if you do make a special order, prepare for a LOOOONG wait.

[Bill08690]

I read with great interest that the MEDUSA model is a MKVI computer clone. With that said, does this horn sound like a MKVI? But what vintage MKVI? To my ear there is a big difference between the early production units and the final horns that Selmer produced. Would appreciate hearing from players that have had an opportunity to compare the two horns side by side.

[BigDaddyJ]

The few B&S tenors I tried had similar ergonomics, but the SOUND!!!!!!! Huge, fat, gutsy......Closer to my Martins than any modern sax I've tried. Still saving up for one.

[T.S.]

Bill-The Medusa's have a Mk VI bore, but the bow and bell are slightly larger, which gives them a bigger, less constricted playing low end. The Black Medusa I played at last year's NAMM show, is still one of the best Modern tenor's I've played.

[T.S.]

Bill- they sound more like an early VI to my ears, or an SBA.

[Morry]

If they did, I wouldn't say.

[Randall]

Hey Morry, pick up your package yet?

[Joe Jazz]

So none of you guys are taking home the nearly new sandblasted finish B&S tenor that's currently on e-bay? :shock:

[Morry]

I bit just to feel out the reserve.

[Joe Jazz]

THATABOY! :dazed:

[Joe Jazz]

I chipped in to help you out, Morry my man! :lol:

[Joe Jazz]

Could you kind fellas please remind me how to find the B&S(VMI) and Keilwerth websites? I made the mistake awhile back of cleaning up my favorites and miss them! Thanks!

[Randall]

Joe, search Boosey and Hawkes for the JK, then do a search for B&S Medusa sax* (use the asterisk radical)
- you'll find them both very easily.

Morry, I hope you get that B&S...it is exactly the same as a Guardala Earthtone - one of the finest of all the saxes I have ever played in my life.

$2,200 or $2,300 wouldn't be a bad price on the auction, IMHO.
I'd probably even go $2,500 on that one if I were in the market.

[Joe Jazz]

Randall-

Many thanks! A new B&S sandfinish tenor is around $2,850 from Roland by the way......I do worry about the finish holding up...the black nickel might be a better choice.... :D

[Randall]

I contacted B&S directly about the sandfinish...it is designed to degrade and get the kinda worn, oxidized look.... and it is impossible to clean. However, I have since heard from an unconfirmed source that B&S is now clear lacquering these sand finish horns....I really don't know if that is true or not. If it is true, then you could keep the finish clean with a usual laq polish and not worry about it looking like a primered '72 Pinto in a year or two.

Nevertheless, I liked the black nickle finish sound on the Guardalas very much, as have many of the people who have reviewed the B&S horns.

Either way, you will have a WAILER!

[Morry]

http://www.medusa-saxophones.com/

http://www.musicgroup.com/Instruments/Keilwerth/FrameKeilwerth.htm

[Joe Jazz]

Thanks Morry! I noticed on Roland's website they list the black nickel medusa as having gold lacquer keys. I wonder if that's a mistake? Oh, I see on the B&S website they're shown with gold keys.....

[Morry]

The one I played in Atlanta definitely had gold lacquered keys. My local dealer friend had one last year that had silver keys on it.

[Joe Jazz]

I guess the older ones had the triple-silver..I prefer the gold so it matches the engraving..... :)

[Joe Jazz]

So the earthtone finish was Made to Degrade.....sounds like a Rap cd title to me.... :?

[Morry]

Hey Morry, pick up your package yet?

Well, bad news. For the last couple of weeks, I've been leaving for work before the Post Office opens, and not getting home until after they're closed. The Express package they wouldn't keep over 5 days, and they wouldn't let me leave a signed receipt in the mailbox, so it looks like it's on its way back to you. Sorry you went to all that trouble for nothing, Randall.