ANYONE ELSE HAVING TROUBLE WITH A SPECIAL ORDE FROM B&S?

[Randall]

I am a huge B&S fan, so don't take this as a bashing thread in any way....
Last year I made a special order for a sterling Medusa tenor through a great shop (Saxofoonwinkle) in the Netherlands. They have to buy through their nearest distributor, SML. I found out later (months later) that despite the order being made, confirmation calls and faxes being sent by Saxofoonwinkle, the horn order NEVER arrived at the B&S factory!!!
Of course the 'winkel and I were both rightly outraged and the horn order was cancelled. Saxofoonwinkle has since cancelled all business with SML too.
Next, Stephan Boesken looked into selling these horns at my behest (among others). He got two Medusas for me to test on my spring visit to Germany and after I played them I asked him to place the same special order for a sterling Medusa tenor. He too had to go through a distributor.
Now, 8 months after the fact, He and I both were stunned to hear that the factory had not even begun making the horn yet!!!

Well, this time I did not cancel the order, as I really want this horn and the situation was said to be under control and the production of the horn will proceed (a direct promise from the factory manager). However, I am looking at March...almost a FULL year after the fact.
Have any of you all heard of or had any such problems with special orders from B&S?
My special requests were very easy to fulfill, by the way. Nothing really outlandish and no special keywork; just a little extra engraving and a different neck strap hook (like the OLDER B&S horns-which they should still have in stock).

[Morry]

Sorry to hear about all the trouble Randall. Whatever will you do in the meantime for a horn to play??? :-) Just kidding there dude.

I have talked to the guy in Chicago at TA-Music, who is their US distributor, and hope that I won't have similar issues if I decide to order one. But since I've been trying to get a catalog for over a year, it doesn't look good.

I'm still hoping to visit the Selmer, VMI and Keilwerth plants with a retailer friend next summer, so maybe I'll be able to place an order on the spot with them.

[Joe Jazz]

I also asked for a catalog over a year ago and never got one...bummer!
By the way, Randall, since I saw the pics(thanks Morry!)of your satin silver Keilwerth bari I have a VERY HARD time feeling sorry about your B&S special order! :lol:

[Randall]

Geez guys, with friends like you.... :wink:
Really, I am hoping that this Medusa will cure me of GAS and help me to retire a good many of these tenors....and then you all benefit, cause I'll sell off horns if I find the "right" one....And if you hate me now, wait till you see the SBA bari Sarge is doing for me right now! :twisted: It should be on his site sometime in January if Andersons gets on the stick.

Actually on the catalogue deal, I have been trying periodocally for more than 2 years to get one. I think they will not send one to any place they have a distributor.
We have one distributor here in Japan and I know the people, but the mark up on the B&S horns is similar to that of Selmer, so it is really not possible to do business with them-and surprisingly- no special orders on B&S horns!

[Morry]

I talked to the distributor in Chicago and he assured me that he'll get a catalog out to me. He also recommended Stu's Music near Baltimore. He said they have a mail out trial program, and usually stock the B&S horns. When I called though, the model numbers they quoted sounded like the 2001 series to me, not the 2006.

[Randall]

Morry could you ask him if he'll mail me a catalogue too? I'll of course pick up the charges for the mailing overseas if he will.... :idea:

[Joe Jazz]

I e-mailed Stu's about B&S bari's, no response yet.....

[Randall]

Joe, I checked Stu's website and I saw nothing about B&S horns...did I miss something or do you have to maek a direct request to them via email?
I too am interested to hear about the deal on the B&S baris when you find out....

[Morry]

Randall, I called Stu's to inquire about the B&S horns. The co-owner that I was told to talk to, Larry Meyer, wasn't in. The guy who was there couldn't do anything besides quote model numbers and prices. They did seem to have a few in stock. I was planning to call back when Larry was there.

[Randall]

Hi Morry,
If you can pass on the info when you find out I would appreciate it...also, if you can make a catalogue request for me to the guy you mentioned before I would be really grateful!
Just out of curiosity, did they have any B&S with sterling anything?
Prices?
Anything out of the ordinary stock finishes and basic engraving?
:a-run
(feeling psychedelic today)

[Morry]

Randall, I'll try to get my hands on several catalogs so I can pass them on to forum members who are interested. The half-wit that was working at Stu's that day mentioned several model numbers that I think are 2001 models. They didn't match up to anything on VMI's site right now. He mentioned a gold lacquer and a black nickel tenor. It seems like the prices were in the $2500 to $3000 range but, since I wasn't sure what model he was talking about, I didn't pay that much attention.

I don't know why companies use a 4-digit number or something like that to identify their products. The fact that you have a 3256 in stock for $2500 doesn't mean anything to me. Tell me that you have a "black nickel pro model with high F#" and then we can get somewhere.

[Randall]

Muchas gracias!
I know what you mean..the Selmer model numbers are like that for me...they have a name, like "Serie III" and then a reference number which bears no visible relation to the model name, and is often referred to by half-wit music store employees without a clue also and by those with far more factory insight than we mere mortals.
"Yep, we got a BR549 for 25 hun'erd...." :wink:
(It's ok, I grew up in WV....)

[Joe Jazz]

Randall- no, you didn't miss anything...there's no mention on Stu's website about the B&S saxes...still no response to my e-mail....

[ashkelon]

Randall

I got the sax catalog on 11-24. It's a very slim affair, less than 10 pages. There's also a Medusa insert (folio). I have an older B&S tenor, and was curious for a closer look at the current stuff.

It's pretty lightweight.

I've got what I wanted from the catalog. Email me and I'll send it to you.

Ashe

[Joe Jazz]

Man, they even know about West Virginians in Japan? :lol:

[Randall]

Joe, don't go there.... 8)

[Joe Jazz]

Trust me I'm in Florida where it's a warm 61 degrees currently. I have no intention of going to chilly West Virginy where your wife is likely to be your sister's brother's sister..... :shock:

[Randall]

Joe has just joined my list of people who I will not describe with adjectives that are banned on this board. :x

[Joe Jazz]

I guess this means you're not giving me the Keilwerth satin silver special order bari sax for Christmas! Darn, I goofed again :cry: !

[Joe Jazz]

OK Randall, I just saw the saxes you had done at World Wide Sax. Make me sick! Geez, I need to win the lotto! If you didn't seem like such a nice guy, I could really hate you! WOW & DOUBLE WOW! :shock:

[Randall]

I will attempt a jpeg upload of the Medusa tenor in sand finish:

Well that didn't work...you can send me an email if you want to see it....I'll forward some pix....
ranran at gol dot com.

[Morry]

Man, I really like that finish. but I really worry about keeping those satin finished horns clean. I've seen satin silver finish horns where even dripped spit would spot the finish, not to mention something like key oil. However, the Medusa has a satin lacquer over it, so maybe that would help.

[Randall]

About that finish...maybe B&S is putting a light clear laq over the sand finish NOW. The EarthTone I had had the sand finish only and it is impossible to keep clean. You HAVE to wipe the thing down thoroughly after every playing.

As for satin silver, this is cleaned easily when it spots up...any silver polish will take it off, or my secret- Crest toothpaste (jell type won't work).

[Morry]

I read somewhere that they're putting a matte lacquer over it.

Nothing cleans up a silver mouthpiece like a Yani better than a little dab of toothpaste worked in by hand and rinsed off. Plus, it leave a minty smell. :-)

[Joe Jazz]

And it fights cavities! Who ever thought you could play sax and help prevent cavities at the same time? :lol:

[Randall]

You could always soak your reeds in flouride :mrgreen:

Morry, my understanding is that the sand finishis the "matte" laq they (B&S) are talking about.
Stephan sent me mail and seemed to indicate that the Medusa finish has a clear laq over that...which if is the case, it is a great improvement and will make the finish last and be more friendly to the polish cloth.

Semantics are always a problem, especially when translating from a native German speaker's English :idea:

[Randall]

Just got mail from the guy who put the custom ordered Medusa up on Ebay a few weeks ago.
His order took about 4 months to get....and he ordered two horns that were not in the list of standard configurations.

Yesterday I received a forwarded B&S catalogue from a real nice fellow in the US and the configurations are listed as follows for alto and tenor only:

Medusa "Goldbrass Classic" -all gold brass

Medusa Sterling Silver Models:
ST KL- tube, bow, bell, neck in sterling silver, silver plated keys, clear laq
ST FS/L- tube, bow, bell, in sterling silver, glass ball blasted, laq
BBST KL- bow and bell in sterling silver, tube and neck in yellow brass, clear laq
TST KL- tube in sterling silver, bow, bell and neck in yellow brass, clear laq

I am surprised by the finish, engraving and neck options available in the catalogue.
If there is interest, I will post more....

[tonyg]

That Medusa tenor in gold/sterling silver on Ebay was stunning, it really got me thinking about the different finishes, although I have already placed an order for the sandfinish. I would be curious to know how much a tenor with the neck and tube in gold lacquer, bow and bell in sterling silver.

[Randall]

Tony, unfortuantely the prices were not listed in the brochure....My best guess is that it would be in the $3~3,800.00 range as I know the solid sterling horn is about 4200.00- no frills. Also there is a wide variety of engraving options too...this would change the cost dramatically.

[Randall]

Got word today that the horn should be done in 3 weeks....
Can it be true!!!!????

[Randall]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

or a Sears 3 weeks?

[Joe Jazz]

Hey, in WV I hear they're still using old Sears catalogs for TP in the outhouses......do they have outhouse in Japan? :wink:

[Randall]

Actually they are using them now to fashion fancy envelopes in which to mail Anthrax to the insipid northerners who continually disparage them.

As for Japan,
You'll be very interested to know that there are a large number of households outside of urban areas that still have pit toilets.
Japan has the lowest per capita spending on infrastructure of any industrialized country.

[Joe Jazz]

That's because they're blowing all their $ on Selmers! So, they make real pit stops eh? How bout dat! :P

[hornimus]

Randall notes:

Japan has the lowest per capita spending on infrastructure of any industrialized country.

Not only that, but it's concentrated in the already overly urbanized and perennially work-in-progress areas. If Fukuoka is anything like the Kanto, I guess you are long accustomed to seeing the streets torn up for construction at night, only to find them repaved the next morning, then the next morning, the next ... it's endless.

I got used to the toilets in the suburbs and out in the "sticks" fairly fast; places I lived, you called the local doo-doo truck to come out twice a year, vacuum away your contributions to the Earth. At least most homes I rented, they had a ventilator shaft from the toilet tank with an electric fan on top that always ran (but if it ever stopped, phewwwwwwieeeeee..) Sorry, just B&S-ing here.....

Is it true the Medusa and 2001 are functionally identical? The latter just the former without the cosmetic frills?

[Morry]

Is it true the Medusa and 2001 are functionally identical? The latter just the former without the cosmetic frills?

That is true of the tenors. The altos were completely redesigned for the Medusa line, but the 2001 tenor is the same, minus the Medusa head engraving.

[Randall]

Mill, Yes, Fukuoka is just like everywhere in Japan....and at midnight I hear jackhammers. It is insane. Graft here is the norm. Can anyone say pork barrel?
All I can say is it is a VERY good thing that weapons that use any explosive charge or gunpowder are illegal and unobtainable in Japan.
Dreams of shoulder fired rocket launchers dance like visions of sugarplums in my head, nightly....

Friend of mine had the most venerable sh*thole toilet. We called it the "outrageous" since we couldn't really call it the "outhouse" as it was IN the house.
Roto-rooter and Electrolux should team up over here...

Yes Japan still has a looooong way to go....don't let the bullet trains and pet robot dogs fool ya!
No BS....
And as for the B&S....still waiting....

[Morry]

Hey, Randall, that 3 weeks is about up. I guess it was 3 weeks in General Contractor or Auto Painter time. Those guys use a different calendar.

[Joe Jazz]

No it was Japanese time maybe? You know, three ahhhhhh weeks......... :D

[Randall]

If I were Buddhist you could chalk up my patience on this thing as Zen....

BTW Morry,
Did you get that packet I sent you? How do you like the bags?

[Morry]

I got a note in my mailbox Saturday saying I had to come to the post office and sign for it. Haven't had a chance yet. I hope to get there tomorrow during lunch.

[Randall]

Morry, go soon as they will reroute that darned thing back to me soon since it is express mail!

[Morry]

Ok, I'll be sure and do it tomorrow.