Is it a Grassi?

[MyMartinTenor]

I recently bought a GREAT alto at an even GREATER price on ebay, but I can't figure out what it is. Here's a link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320274754797&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=011

I posted this in the "miscellaneous" saxes forum, and they suggested a Rampone. But I e-mailed Rampone and got the following response:

"It looks more like a stencil made by GRASSI - Italy.
Factory was based in quarna too from 1955 to 1998.
Grassi has recently sold its brand name to a wholesaler.
Today Grassi saxophones on the market are made in China
Regards
R&C SAXES"

Can any Grassi fan tell me if this really is a Grassi? I've tried to skim through the Grassi forum to see vintage pix, but haven't had wonderful luck. Any opinions are appreciated! I expect to play this horn a long time, and would love to learn what it is! Thanks.

[MyMartinTenor]

By the way, I traded a pm w/ J.Max who asked a very good question -- "does it say Made in Italy" anywhere?

I've searched this horn carefully, and it has no marks except for the swirly engraving, the "Camelot Deluxe" stencil, and two VERY small "x" marks (one on the neck under the octave mechanism and one on the collar where the neck connects. No "made in Italy" or other origin mark, no serial number, nothing.

[milandro]

the guards with the french lily are reminiscent of the Grassi ones but the rest looks early Asian to me. Especially the bell brace.

[MyMartinTenor]

looks early Asian to me . . .

If its early Asian, then all I'm ever buying again is early Asian. I must have gotten very lucky here.

[DavyRay]

The engraving on my "Muser" alto actually covered up the "Made in Italy". It looked intentional.

[Shirish]

jazzmanted on youtube has a video about a camelot tenor which he says is made by Kohlert in Germany, though that seems highly unlikely in your case, no?

[DavyRay]

The Grassi case which my tenor came in has a distinctly Italian style. The one in your auction does not. This is not definitive, just another clue. If there is a "Made in Italy" stamp, it could be small, indistinct, etc.

The bell brace puts me off, too. The Grassi saxes usually had clearly understood "tribute" features. My bell brace looks like a Selmer. My spatula keys look like a Buescher. Have you seen a similar bell brace (to yours) anywhere else?

This ain't saying that you don't have a great alto, BTW. A saxophone does not need a great reputation to be a great saxophone.

[milandro]

I just saw another horn on the forum with pretty much the same brace it is a Rumanian Guban
http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=93394

[milandro]

this is another Guban Romania with the same brace as your saxophone
http://www.woodwinds-and-brass.de/fotos/bilder/Lux2.JPG

[sonofjabba]

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc200/sonofjabba/Horns/orpheum1001-1.jpg

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc200/sonofjabba/Horns/orpheum1003-1.jpg

Looks like my Orpheum Deluxe (Italy)

[milandro]

...........but the brace is very different and your de luxe looks like a Rampone to me, check with them.

[sonofjabba]

Hmm. Yeah.. You're right. But it's not a Grassi either they use the round hoop bell brace thinking about it.

One of these days I'll do something with that alto. Right now it's in 150 pieces with 3 or 4 broken screws. >< Came from a Leaky roof attic. Case was so moldy I tossed it right in the trash can.