Borgani Vintage Tenor

[brassnaked]

I received my new Borgani Vintage Tenor yesterday...WOW!!!
My search is over...there is simply no easier, TOTALLY in-tune playing(finally...it's NOT me!!!), BEST tone(for me) of ANY of about 35 various makes and models I've played over the last 10 months. If you are SERIOUS about your sound, SERIOUS about your creativity with an instrument, SERIOUS about ending the quest for the perfect horn...YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF AND YOUR RESTLESS SPIRIT-TRY THESE HORNS!!! They're NOT for everyone, I just thank God...THEY ARE FOR ME! Orfeo Borgani & Company, Roberto Romeo, Tim Price...I thank you all for helping me realize my dream of the perfect horn. Ciao, I MUST go play!!!


"Always & Never the Same"

[Captain Beeflat]

Brassnaked. Did you, perchance, have the opportunity when comparing horns, to try the Rampone & Cazzani R1. I have one & feel about it as you, evidently, feel about your Borgani. As they both feature large bores with the attendant huge sound I wonder if we are coming from the same place....Regards...Bb.

[brassnaked]

Brassnaked. Did you, perchance, have the opportunity when comparing horns, to try the Rampone & Cazzani R1. I have one & feel about it as you, evidently, feel about your Borgani. As they both feature large bores with the attendant huge sound I wonder if we are coming from the same place....Regards...Bb.
Yes, actually I did...I couldn't agree with you more...they are great horns! The R&C's were in the top 3 I've been considering. There were/are however, 2 "have-to-haves:" Theye are: the larger bore which BOTH horns have, and for me, unlacquered brass this time! I can however see, hear and understand how someone could be just as passionate about the R&C's as I am about the Borgani. I was also able to have certain "special" considerations built-in to my horn that were NOT an option with ANYONE else...but YES Captain Beeflat...we ARE coming from the same place. Isn't it a liberating feeling to have the "ultimate" horn? Large bore=huge sound, they BOTH do deliver that!!!

[josephmd]

What were the "special considerations?"

[brassnaked]

Physical placement of key touches to maximize playability & better fit the owner's particular hands, spring strength-some heavier, some lighter, choice of removable bow & bell or welded to unitize air column mass for increased sympathetic harmonic vibration, neck angle, neck wall thickness, etc. Borgani will quite literally customize YOUR horn, to YOU! Wow, what a concept huh?
Finally, the arrogance of the BIG 4 and their "one-size-fits-all" nonsense is NOT the only game in town. After spending over $32,000 on "mass-produced production-line archtop guitars(all by the BIG 4 in the Guitar Kingdom), I finally wised-up and realized that the ONLY way I'm going to get my dream guitar, set-up the way I want and NEED it to be, is to have it custom made. When I started playing sax a year ago, I soon realized that manufacturers that offer choices in set-up and mechanical properties were few and far between. Again, I MUST state: "These horns ARE NOT for everyone!" But you do owe it to yourself to at least try one and perhaps quiet that inner voice that keeps saying: "Is there REALLY a perfect horn out there for me that will satisfy me so much that I will no longer feel the need to keep looking." It finally happened to me with my DeVoe Archtop guitar and now it's finally happened with my Borgani Vintage Unlacquered Tenor-it so clearly speaks it's own original voice, never trying to imitate or re-create the sound of any other horn. NOW, I can JUST PLAY!

[josephmd]

Actually, I'm saving my pennies now for a pearl silver alto that I played at Roberto's in NYC. I loved the sound. As far as the ergonomics, they seemed great but having played my Conn transitional many hours, I was unfamiliar. I believe over time it will be far superior. However, I never discussed or even considered customization. (beware of what you ask for, you might get it.) Who did you talk to when you designed your dream horn?

[brassnaked]

Back and forth emails with Orfeo Borgani in Italy, my instructor Tim Price was a phenomenal resource, and the folks at Roberto's of course know the horns better than most anyone. And, from what I understand, should you decide on a change AFTER you take delivery, either Roberto and/or Borgani can usually accomodate most requests. Just bear in mind...it's way more expensive to re-customize a custom anything...learned that the hard way with guitars!!!
I played the polished silver tenor just a few weeks ago-an awesome focused CLEAR, "whole-note" sound, unique as the unlacquered brass is. In an ever-growing arena of everyone trying to sound like everyone else, and the Big 4 trying to accomodate that paradignm, what we're usually offered commercially now is a homogenized sound that sounds just like everyone elses homogenized sound. I honestly think, feel and can hear the unique sound that is Borgani due to design and then the distinctive tone among the various metal alloy types within the Borgani offering. Tim's Jubilee 130 Alto is unlike ANY other Alto I've ever heard-bar none! The Pearl Silver yet again is another nuance of tone, again unique and distinctive to Borgani.

[Captain Beeflat]

Perhaps this is an Italian trait, could be that they are more acommodating. My Rampone e Cazzani was also built to my specification. When I originally asked Claudio Zolla if they could customise a tenor R1 to my requirements he sounded almost offended to be asked; his reply was "but, of course. We are craftsmen." Judged by the results he was correct.......were it a car we would be talking Lamborgini (heavier than Ferarri)....regards...Bb.

[tonyg]

I purchased a sandfinish Medusa tenor a few months ago and am curious if it sounds anything like the vintage borgani. Its interesting your comments on customizing a horn, I think your probably right, buts its really important to know what sound you want. The Medusa is a very easy player but there are still probably a few changes I am going to make before I get it right for me. Probably a new neck, the pads are very sticky(maybe replace them), some spring tension changes etc.

[josephmd]

What custom details are worthwhile?

[Captain Beeflat]

Josephmd. If all hands were the same size then only one size of glove would be necessary. Of importance to some is the cosmetics of their horn, having a choice of finishes, the facility to have it two tone, vintage features etc....Bb

[brassnaked]

I purchased a sandfinish Medusa tenor a few months ago and am curious if it sounds anything like the vintage borgani. Its interesting your comments on customizing a horn, I think your probably right, buts its really important to know what sound you want. The Medusa is a very easy player but there are still probably a few changes I am going to make before I get it right for me. Probably a new neck, the pads are very sticky(maybe replace them), some spring tension changes etc.
With ALL due respect, the answer to your question is NO.
I've played 3 of the Cannonball "Big Bell" tenors...nice horns but again, homogenized sound(IMO). One of the 3 I tried is the unlacquered brass "Mad Meg" model which spoke just a little brighter than the other two.

[tonyg]

I was asking about the similarities between the B&S Medusa sandfinish tenor and vintage borgani, not the Cannonball saxes.

[brassnaked]

Sorry about that tonyg...I can't speak about those horns, as I've NOT tried them...they do look interesting however. I guess I got Mad Meg and Medusa mixed-up. Those are the new B&S horns?