Trying to find info my Grassi

[Chase]

The first sax I ever had was a Grassi. I recently came across it and I'm trying to find info on it and figure out whether its worth fixing. I got it used around 1996. It says Grassi and Hallmark. The serial number is 27728. It is totally a mark vi copy. When I first looked at the neck, I thought maybe I lucked out and got sold a mark vi neck. But when I looked at the whole thing closer I noticed the whole sax is designed to be a mark vi copy. If anyone knows where I can find more info, please let me know. It seems the other threads are focusing on newer Grassi's. Thanks.

[DavyRay]

My Grassi tenor is from the 1960's, I'm told. There are many threads on older Grassis.

How does your's play? If you don't like it, maybe you want to sell it?

[J.Max]

Put up some pictures. Grassi made a lot of horns that look like Mark VIs (actually, they look more like Buffet SDAs or even Selmer SBAs, but I digress). I've been cataloging Grassi horns for a while and I can probably give you an idea about when it was made.

[Chase]

Heres the link to some pics

http://photobucket.com/grassipics


Hope this helps. Let me know if you need anymore info. Thanks.

[Sidepipes]

My Grassi alto is also a 27XXX sn horn. Mine has a similar neck with the script "G" on the octave key as well. Mine has jade rollers, and possibly yours does also.

--Sidepipes

[DetroitDave]

...and figure out whether its worth fixing.

The answer is almost certainly, "Yes."

[milandro]

it is worth fixing , these Grassi jade series sound very nice, I briefly had one. It is not a Mark Vi copy, because it has the " unbalanced" action typical of the jade series (which I believe this is, even though, a special model called Hallmark) in fact the only similarity is the bell brace and the general appearance. In reality rather more similar to a Buffet , Dolnet..... . They are great players but they are not worth much. Information on Grassi is still a well kept secret which I hope to help to solve one day.

[Chase]

It does have the jade rollers. Thanks for all of the info. I think I will get it fixed. At the very least I'll make a good practice horn. Is the jade series a student model?

[J.Max]

It does have the jade rollers. Thanks for all of the info. I think I will get it fixed. At the very least I'll make a good practice horn. Is the jade series a student model?

No. It's not a student model...at least the Jade ones aren't. We used to think they were, but they aren't.

I'd like to see more pictures of the left hand pinky cluster on your horn. This is a bit of an unusual model, I suspect.

[milandro]

I suspect that this is a standard jade roller model to which someone has been adding the " Hallmark" engraving (could it be the name of a shop?), the left hand pinky cluster seems the usual one to me.
As you know I have a special model a " wonderful model" and it says wonderful model by the serial number while this doesn't.

[J.Max]

I suspect that this is a standard jade roller model to which someone has been adding the " Hallmark" engraving (could it be the name of a shop?), the left hand piny cluster seems the usual one to me.
As you know I have a special model a " wonderful model" and it says wonderful model by the serial number while this doesn't.

True. But I want to be sure. ;)

I'm trying to figure out if there are any Grassis with a tilting low Bb mechanism.

[Sidepipes]

[QUOTE=J.Max;
I'm trying to figure out if there are any Grassis with a tilting low Bb mechanism.[/QUOTE]

I just received my Grassi Professional alto 48XXX back from Doc Frazier, so I can now make some comparisons between it and my Jade series 27XXX alto. No tilting low Bb mechanism on either of these two horns. The necks look identical, except that the Pro octave key is nickel plated, with no green enamel around the script G. The rollers on the Pro have reverted back to black. The Pro has a high F# key, mounted ala Selmer. The side F key pearl is now positioned lower to make room for the F# key, which is nickel plated only.

The lyre holder is now located on the neck tenon ring, and the G# key is now MOP. There are now adjusting screws for the G and bis keys. So far, those are the only obvious differences I have found. Of course, the word "Professional" is engraved below the SN.

--Sidepipes