Information required regarding Grassi Altos- SN 28XXX & 25XXX

[Shmuelzur]

Hi,
The above saxophones are for sale. I don't have any further information, but getting over to look at them and test them is a bit of an effort.
So I would like to know in advance the effort is worthwhile.
Can any body advise me regarding the models, quality, or any other information of those serial numbers Grassi's (or/and direct me to links where I can find it)?
Many thanks
Sam

[DavyRay]

Have you checked out old threads in the Grassi forum? There is some good information on the quality of various models. No one seems to have any serial number information, though. Pictures would be the most help. If you can get any photos posted, we may be able to identify the models. Any other information on markings, name plate, etc., would also help.

[milandro]

no info, yet, on SN although I've been promised time and time again precious info.
I think they are old horns around the late '60 and they are perhaps of the jade rollers variety, if they have original pads they should be green. They are very nice players but they will never be big earners, the market is not very big for these horns, so if you fix them for yourself you'll be happy otherwise they are not worth fixing for a profit. There are quite a few Grassi fans around here.

[J.Max]

They are more than likely Jade models. Very nice horns, depending on price and condition. Pictures would be helpful.

[milandro]

There are quite a few Grassi fans around here.

and they chime in on cue! ;):D

[tictactux]

There are quite a few Grassi fans around here.
Don't forget their lesser (stencilled) brothers'.

[milandro]

yep, stencils too! ;)

[J.Max]

BTW, the reason why we don't have a definitive serial number chart yet is because the serials don't seem to have much rhyme or reason. Up to about 20,000, we get the "Standard" models, which are the ones with the Buescher-style LH pinky keys. The one between 20,000-40,000 seem to be the Jade ones. The 50,000s up until about 58,000 would seem to be the "Model 2000" BUT there is some overlap with the Professional and Prestige 2000 series. Also, there are some other odd models, like the "Wonderful" that don't fit in there very well, although (and Milandro would know better than I would) I think that the "Wonderful" is around 40,000.

There's a lot of screwy things going on with the serial numbers here, and I'm not 100% sure that they were very good records kept. Also, some of the stencils fit into the serial scheme, and some don't, so that has to be taken into account. I have been doing research, but it's slow going.

[milandro]

My Wonderful is a 338xx but I think the real Mark Vi clones (they are clones to a point , for example the side octave mechanism is different from a Selmer) start somewhere around 30000 (the Jade and models prior to that and student models have umbalanced action so even though they look like a Selmer of some sort , because of the ring brace, they are very different)

[J.Max]

I still think they feel more like Buffet SDA clones than Selmer Mark VI clones, believe it or not. I have changed my opinion on this - the keywork is too different after comparing several Grassis to VIs. They actually might be kind of similar to an SBA, but I think the SDA is the closest.

As far as the serial numbers go, there is still something screwy with these. More research is going to be required...

[milandro]

the Grassis are no Selmers or Buffets, theye are.......Grassi ! I mean they want to look like Selmers (brace, emblem) and yet they are different.
Like the Baritone which is anything but a Selmer clone.
The research, however, won't go anywhere if someone which has actually worked in some administrative capacity at the former Grassi factory in Quarna (now closed and abandoned ) won't go through the records and compile a serial numbers chart.
I've been promised that many times but , nothing, as yet, has been done towards that.

[J.Max]

the Grassis are no Selmers or Buffets, theye are.......Grassi ! I mean they want to look like Selmers (brace, emblem) and yet they are different.
Like the Baritone which is anything but a Selmer clone.
The research, however, won't go anywhere if someone which has actually worked in some administrative capacity at the former Grassi factory in Quana (now closed and abandoned ) won't go through the records and compile a serial numbers chart.
I've been promised that many times but , nothing, as yet, has been done towards that.


Agreed with all of that.

Although, it seems that SOMETHING under the Grassi name is being produced in Italy again. Not sure exactly what it is...but it's something...

[milandro]

no it is just the brandname being used by some people related to the Grassi family, they are Asian horns........nothing wrong with it but the factory in Quarna sotto is well and truly shut

[tictactux]

nothing wrong with it but the factory in Quarna sotto is well and truly shut

Uhm, is/was Grassi not at home in Cinisello Balsamo? Quarna Sotto is Rampone & Cazzani...or did they buy the old Grassi shop?

[milandro]

Nope, as I understand, the Cinisello Balsamo operation were only the Grassi offices , the Grassi factory is right across the road where Rampone is....also Rampone had offices in Milan. Quarna was very remote in the olden days when they started building saxophones but it is the italian Elkhart or Mantes

[tictactux]

Quarna was very remote in the olden days when they started building saxophones
Was that as not to annoy the living sh**t out of the Milan people? :D

But you're right, usually like industries settled in close proximity to each other, just to share a pool of workers.

One day I'd like to do a North Italiy shopping spree. Send the missus to Milan for shoes and bags and I'd go to Parè, Quarna Sotto, Tradate, ... :)