B&S Medusa

[jp3]

I see the B&S Medusas have hit the market - at least in Germany. Does anyone know how they differ from the 2001? Opinions as to whether they are an improvement (not that I ever heard anything bad about the 2001)?

[Morry]

I, too, had been interested in the B&S models, although the over-the-top engraving of the Medusa is a little much for me. Does anyone know of a U.S. dealer for them?

[Joe Jazz]

Guys,

Forget US dealers, they're too expensive. go to www.ekle.de. Roland has great prices. I agree the engraving is too much on the Medusa. Wolf Codera was talking about the B&S saxes on the old forum, may want to check out the archives.

[Morry]

A local dealer had a black nickel B&S tenor there a couple of months ago, but I never got around to playing it. I did look at it closely, and it appears to be a fantastically built horn. The adjustment points are plentiful, and it seemed very solid. I meant to go back with a mouthpiece and try it, but I never did. :cry:

[SaxyAcoustician]

I have a Medusa alto (sandfinish) on order with Roland. He just emailed me yesterday and said that it was coming in next week. His prices ARE amazing. I will give a report once I've taken it for a test drive.

[Morry]

You mind me asking what the alto price was? He had told me August or September for a tenor.

[Morry]

Also, do you know anything about the B&S baris?

[SaxyAcoustician]

Hi Morry. I don't know anything about the B&S baris but I'm thinking that if you can get your hands on a Guardala bari to try then you'll know what a B&S bari plays like.

I told Roland that I was interested in buying the Medusa tenor as well (I'm looking to have that replace my Custom tenor) and he's offered me 5% off for each horn which brings the alto to US $2235 (including delivery) and the tenor to US $2525 (again including delivery). Not bad for the quality of horns you're getting.

[Morry]

I think the Guardala would be as elusive around Birmingham, as would the B&S. Man, I think that's a much better price than he quoted me. I may have to try him again.

[Joe Jazz]

Morry-

The B&S 1000 Bari is dirt cheap from Roland! The Medusa is competitively priced too. You can check with him on the differences between them. If you just need a Bari to play once in a while the 1000 may suit you fine(seems to me it's in the $2,700 area.....

[Morry]

Since the B&S horns tend to more closely follow the larger Conn (JK) bore, rather than the Selmer (Yamaha, Yani, etc.), I'm concerned that I won't have the breath for it. I'd love to stumble upon one somwhere to try. I think the folks that are importing them are in Florida. I guess I could drive down there, if they had one.

[Joe Jazz]

Morry,
I talked to a guy in Orlando a few months back who carries B&S. He usually sells them to local schools. The bari prices he quoted me were higher than I wanted to pay, so I just forgot about it. He said he usually doesn't have any on hand but must order them. I was referred to him by the US distributor, who if I remember correctly was also in Florida.

[T.S.]

I tried the Medusa tenor and alto at the NAMM show and they were both superb. The tenor being one of two fav's at the show (the other Being Steve Goodson's Unison with the Kangaroo skin Pads).

The B&S Medusa's are wonderful horns. The only alto I found that I liked better was the 9937 Yani and 992 Yani, and that was only splitting hairs.

[colibri]

I tried a Medusa alto in the NAMM show. Its key works are similar to a Keilwerth, except everything is smaller like a Guardala. It has that special mechanism for the G# key, as with other B&S horns. It has a great deal of resistance built into them. I suspect it's because the key heights are too low. Other than that, it's a pretty good horn with nice sound and good intonation.

[SaxyAcoustician]

I just got an email from Roland telling me that my Medusa alto (in sand finish) will be shipped out tomorrow. Should be here in about a week. Can't wait! I'll post when it gets here. Wanna place bets as to when my tenor will get here? :)

[Morry]

Wow, he said it was due in back in the first week of February, didn't he? Sounds like the European office of the SaxGourmet. Just kidding guys, don't crucify me. :wink:

[SaxyAcoustician]

Sorry everyone. I got the horn (Medusa alto in sandblast finish) a week ago but didn't want to post until I had a chance to thoroughly assess the instrument. Well, after practicing with it a couple times last week and then finally using it in tonight's jazz band rehearsal I've fallen in love with it. I wasn't so sure how I felt about it last week because I didn't have any reeds working right for me and there was a slight leak in the left hand stack which I took care of myself over the weekend (I recommend that all saxophone players invest in a rope light at your nearest Home Depot or Lowe's - $15; a heat gun is good to have too).

I should mention this though now. The horn does not have the ornate engraving all over the body and keys as pictured on B&S's website, just on the bell and bow (Medusa's head on the bell front). From what I found out from Roland who had to get an explanation from B&S (apparently, B&S is not totally clear on how they price their Medusa horns), the extra engraving is extra money. Like a LOT of money, over $600. Not worth it in my opinion. The sandblast finish is spiffy as hell and the Medusa engraving is interesting to say the least. The logo's been changed. It simply says "B & S Medusa" in gothic type letters and "Made in Germany" underneath that. No wreath like before. Oh, and get this: it came in a deluxe blue BAM Trekking case! That's over $300 here in the U.S., isn't it?

Anyway, the horn is a different beast from the Yamaha Customs I grew up with and is different from my Selmer Balanced Action. I almost want to say that the Medusa is somewhere in between the two. I can't get over how free-blowing the low D is on the Medusa compared to the Custom. It's a real pleasure to play. Altissimo is a cinch, fork E and F are a lot easier than on the Custom, low notes pop out, intonation is spot on, construction and craftsmanship are absolutely first rate. Definitely a solid German product. Funny thing is, it reminds me a lot of the new Borgani I tried a year ago which had the same physical 'feel'. I'm not letting go of this one. This is for keeps. I don't know where people get this notion that the Medusa is a classical horn. It's a horn for all occasions.

[Morry]

I want to check with Roland and see how expensive the bari is.

[Joe Jazz]

Morry,

You can get an Allora bari from WW&BW for $2995, and they're also made by VMI. I suspect they're probably a very good value, and you don't have to pay for the B&S name.....

[-TH]

A local shop declares (on their website and the clerks say the same) that B&S Medusa "is the best Mk VI replica" that has been ever made... interesting..

Tuomas

[tonyg]

I am not very familiar with the B&S brand of saxes nor have played any, would they be similar to the Guardala Artist series horns, by that I mean construction, keywork and tone.

[Morry]

Stephan Bosken says that the B&S horns are very, very nice horns, just not quite the horn that the Keilwerth's are. They are a good bit less expensive though. The only B&S I've had my hands on (a black nickel tenor) felt very nice in my hands. Like the JK, it feels substantial, and well-made. Unfortunately, I didn't have a mpc with me, so I can't comment on the sound and playability.

[BigDaddyJ]

Tried a B&S silver plated 2001 a while ago (selling brand new for $1800!!! should have snatched it up). I got to play this horn back to back with my Dick Stabile Martin. Of the all the modern horns, the B&S I tried was the closest in sound to Martins. Fantastic horn! Vintage American sound with modern ergonomics. Still saving up for one of these horns.

[tonyg]

Anyone else get a new B&S Medusa sax, just curious. According to the info on the B&S website this new line has a G# bridge that is supposed to keep the G# key from sticking. Also an improved LH cluster, supposed to be smoother. Would like to hear from anyone on how these new improvements are working out. Would also like to hear more about the tone they have, considering setup etc.

[tonyg]

I was thinking about ordering a B&S Medusa Tenor, not sure what kind of finish or if it really makes a difference. Reports seem to indicate its a fairly good sax for the price.

[miles_ahead_music]

Well, I'll speak from experience here. I purchased a B&S alto recently, brand new. It's a Codera model, not the Medussa. It has the odd Reso-blade setup.

It's true what you've heard...these horns have a huge sound. The G# bridge is an odd little mechanism. It keeps the G# from sticking, but I've had to get used to feeling the extra movement that it creates. Nothing that affects the playability, just an extra vibration. Also, mine is really pitchy. We're going to regulate it and I'm sure that it will be taken care of. I've played a Dukoff M6 and a Selmer Jazz E and find I have less pitch problems with the Selmer mpc.

Anyway, I bought this horn for $799.50 in the box! It comes in a case designed and made by BAM. It is a phenominal deal for the money, and I don't get excited about this stuff very often.

[Bill08690]

How is everybody doing with their B&S 2001 tenors? Would like to hear from players about their experiences using this horn. What other popular horn is the sound most closely related to?

[Morry]

I played a black nickel 2001 tenor in Atlanta a few weeks ago. Very nice horn. The sound is hard to describe. Maybe a cross between the sweetness of a Yamaha Custom, but with some of the guts of a Keilwerth.

The horn was VERY even from top to bottom, and very responsive. I didn't have a tuner with me, but the intonation was very good to my ear. I could be very happy playing one of them.

Having said that, I wouldn't trade my SX90R even for it. The shop wanted $2995 for it, which is exactly what I paid for my plain lacquer Keilwerth.

[ralph lh]

Does anyone have experience with a B&S soprano, Medusa I think? If anyone can comment on the quality of the mechanism as well as the tone, I would appreciate it.

Thanks