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So, Notes - this model would be a good instrument to invest in? http://www.philbarone.com/store/saxophon...e-brass-classic

That's the least expensive of the MacSax and Barone models that I can find - and frankly not that much more than what I am finding used that are supposedly worthy of purchase.
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-Scott



I've never played a Barone, but they have a great reputation on the Sax On The Web forum. When I bought my MacSax it was a tossup between Barone and Mac, and I chose the Mac because he agreed to put two coats of silver colored nickel on it and still guarantee that it would play in tune.



The only thing I would think about is the bare brass. I know they are in style these days, but brass corrodes without protection. In some people's hands (like mine) and in some climates they corrode faster than others and develop a green patina. The green itself isn't bad but the blisters can make it look terrible.

My old H.Couf sax, which I dearly loved, turned into this, because in the state of Florida, nobody re-lacquers saxophones anymore - environmental reasons. Most states have done the same, and to get it relacquered I would have had to send it off to Indiana for 3 to 4 months. I sold the horn to a repairman who sent me pictures of it restored and it looks good again.



There is a big debate about relacquering horns, some think it ruins the tone, others do not. I've always been in the relacquer camp. Stan Getz had some of the most beautiful sax tone ever, and he played the same Mark VI for decades, and it always looked flawless. I personally believe it is impossible to keep the original lacquer on a horn that long. I used to have my horns relacquered every 4 years and it never made a difference to my ears. I did have a great sax tech though, and I think that is the clue (unfortunately he's up in the sky, repairing horns for Getz and Coltrane now).

Between the Couf and the Mac I bought a Grassi. Mainly because it was gold plated and I figured it would be better than bare brass. Unfortunately in about 10 years the gold flaked off and it started corroding. Thus the nickel plated MacSax.

Many years ago I traded a collection of my BiaB styles for a late 1800 alto sax. It was nickel plated and other than a few minor pits, it looked very good. So before I bought my Mac, I called Anderson Plating (they specialize in musical instruments) and asked them what was the most durable finish on a sax (I have a music dealers licence for my software, so they will talk to me). They said regular silver nickel. The price they quoted to replate my Grassi with silver if I stripped it down myself, plus the cost of having a tech repad and realign the horn was about the same price as I paid for the Mac. So now I use the Grassi in my weekly outdoors gig at a salt water marina (it's the birthplace of the Navy SEALS and all the stuff on the wall was left by SEALS during their annual muster/party). You can't see the corrosion because it is mostly on the side of the horn that faces me and under my fingers. But if you could see it close up, you would see it starting all over the rest of the horn.



I don't have a picture of it (except in my avatar and on the stand on my old promo picture here http://www.nortonmusic.com/cats/photo_1.html it's big so I won't link it - also in the picture is my old Couf when it was still legal to relacquer it) but my old King alto was silver plated and still looks decent. I also like the high pitched overtones silver produces when it vibrates.

So I caution you from saving a bit of money to get bare brass.

I do know everything is expensive, and even old top of the line brand saxes aren't the deal they were when I was young. If you do go used, get an independent evaluation from a sax tech.

Notes

Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
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