[PorkpieHat]

Im considering a Phil Barone Vintage tenor sax. The horns I've played all have been vintage and have a worn laqeur or delaqeuerd finish in a kinda dark honey gold color which I'm fond of. I dislike the light yellow color of many modern horns as well as finishes that look artificial in nature (the steam-punk look etc.)

Any suggestions on pleasant finishes on Phil Barone saxes?

 

[Guto]

I’m confused. You already specified what you like and dislike. Everybody has their own taste. I’m one that couldn’t care less for unlacquered horns. Not sure what you are looking for.

 

[Dr G]

Im considering a Phil Barone Vintage tenor sax. The horns I've played all have been vintage and have a worn laqeur or delaqeuerd finish in a kinda dark honey gold color which I'm fond of. I dislike the light yellow color of many modern horns as well as finishes that look artificial in nature (the steam-punk look etc.)

Any suggestions on pleasant finishes on Phil Barone saxes?

Tenor: It's all that matters. You're on your own for selecting a color.

https://www.philbarone.com/store/saxophones/tenor

I prefer my horns shiny and silver, unless they are silver and not shiny.

 

[datsaxman]

Silver is nice.

But my Phil Barone tenor is the black lacquer. Also nice.

 

[Sacks Of Phones]

Try the distressed finish. I hear it plays a little flat though.

 

[whaler]

I played an old Conn bari that I wish I could have done that to. I ‘think I could only play one note in tune on it, sometimes.

 

[PorkpieHat]

I guess I was looking for some input on how the finishes look in person. The honey gold, vintage gold and perhaps the bare brass.

 

[Dr G]

Honey gold is light(er), vintage is dark(er), and bare brass will start shiny, and - depending on your environment and how you choose to take care of it - will either develop a lovely patina, or look like an old spittoon.

 

[PorkpieHat]

Honey gold is light(er), vintage is dark(er), and bare brass will start shiny, and - depending on your environment and how you choose to take care of it - will either develop a lovely patina, or look like an old spittoon.

Thanks. I think the Vintage Gold is probably what I'm looking for. I know a few people really like the Satin finish but I'm not sure if I particularly care for a non traditional finish on a sax.

 

[bluto]

Honey gold is light(er), vintage is dark(er), and bare brass will start shiny, and - depending on your environment and how you choose to take care of it - will either develop a lovely patina, or look like an old spittoon.

LOL! True.

 

[Dr G]

Thanks. I think the Vintage Gold is probably what I'm looking for. I know a few people really like the Satin finish but I'm not sure if I particularly care for a non traditional finish on a sax.

I had both a Selmer Serie III and a Ref 36, and much preferred the darker lacquer - ala Barone's "Vintage" finish. Black lacquer is cool, too, but scratches really show on that finish, and would bug me. Silver plate is the most enduring - especially if you are near salt water or in a really humid environment.

 

[datsaxman]

Only had the black Barone for about a year so far. Quite a few rehearsals and gigs.

NO scratches. Like, zero. I baby my saxes, but was not expecting that.

How long have you had yours?

 

[skeller047]

I have the honey gold on my Barone classic. It's much darker than the standard Selmer lacquer.

 

[Bari Sax Guy]

I'm intrigued by the gold plate offered on his Saxes for the price. I wonder how heavy the gold plating is and if they are actually available for sale?

 

[Dr G]

I'm intrigued by the gold plate offered on his Saxes for the price. I wonder how heavy the gold plating is and if they are actually available for sale?

Here's the link to Phil's contact information: https://www.philbarone.com/form/contact-phil-barone

 

[Bari Sax Guy]

Here's the link to Phil's contact information: https://www.philbarone.com/form/contact-phil-barone

Thank you Dr. G, I'm aware of Phil's contact info (As stated, I was aware of Phil's web site), I'm no longer seeking new horns. My comments were made in the spirit of discussing the OP's original post.
Perhaps someone will investigate this feature and educate us (it is a forum) I would like to know about this option (because of my interest in Saxes), but I don't wish to be a tire kicker, who is not interested in a purchase and waste Phil's time.

 

[KeithL]

I'm intrigued by the gold plate offered on his Saxes for the price. I wonder how heavy the gold plating is and if they are actually available for sale?

I have a gold plated Barone tenor purchased new from Phil in March 2008. I have 5 tenors but the Barone is my favorite and the one I play the most by far, say 98% of the time. Hard to say exactly how much time I have on it as I practice 8-12 hours a week split between tenor, bari, and flute, plus (up until recently) 2-3, three+ hour gigs a month but I'd guess I have over 2000 hours on it at this point.

I have no way to measure how thick the plating is and since it has a clear lacquer coating over the top I don't know what that might represent anyway. I've worn through the gold plate on the touch points (palm keys, right hand table & thumb rest, and octave key) but otherwise the combination of plating and clear lacquer has held up extremely well. Under the gold there's a layer of what I'm guessing is nickle (could be silver but I'm figuring nickle is cheaper) and under that a layer of what looks like copper. I'm no expert on plating so I'm not sure what this would be but it is more reddish in color and not just bare brass which can be seen in a couple of places where I have worn all the way through to that.

My understanding is that the amount of gold necessary to gold plate a sax is much less than most would think so the $400ish premium that Phil's charging right now likely makes sense for the amount of gold, under-plating, and labor involved to do the job but that's a question Phil is obviously in a much better position to answer than I. Likewise you'd have to ask him what he generally stocks for immediate delivery these days. Back then, he was putting a lot of plated horns (silver and gold) up for sale on Ebay - this was before he had the website up and all the other finishes he offers now.

 

[Bari Sax Guy]

Thanks KeithL that's interesting. The Silver Yanis are also lacquered. From the few older ones I've seen, they don't seem to age well.

Phil's ~$400.00 premium seems like a bargain when compared to Selmer and Yani.
Sax Forte sells a Series 3 Tenor for $19,999.00. The lacquer equivalent is $6,459.00,
or $13,540.00 more.

The TWO 20 PG is listed at $19,199.00 vs a TW 020 (Bronze Lacquered) $5,699.00 or $13,500.00 more.

 

[Dr G]

Here's another data pair:

Rampone & Cazzani R1 Jazz at Matthews Muziek (Netherlands)

Silver plate - $5560 USD
https://www.matthewsmuziek.nl/en/rampone-cazzani-tenor-sax-r1-jazz-silver-plated.html

Gold plate - $5825 USD (heavy gold plate)
https://www.matthewsmuziek.nl/en/rampone-cazzani-tenorsax-r1-jazz-24k-heavy-gold-plated.html

 

[datsaxman]

I like the prices at Matthew's a lot better than MSRP ...

TW020 for $4410.99
https://www.matthewsmuziek.nl/en/yanagisawa-tenor-sax-t-w020-elite-model-in-bronze.html

TW020 PGP for an eye-watering $9708.64
https://www.matthewsmuziek.nl/en/yanagisawa-tenor-sax-t-wo20pgp.html

That is still quite a premium for the Pink Gold Plate! Almost $5300. The PGP is very nice, but not that nice.