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I ordered a sax from a company in Austin Texas http://www.macsax.com and had it detailed to my own specifications. Engraved first, then nickel plated twice in natural colored nickel. Mac sent the specs to Taiwan where they built the horn for me, and when it arrived in the states, he liked it so much that he said he is going to offer it as an option. I jokingly told him that he should call it the "Bob 'Notes' Norton Edition" and have 99% of the sax players on the planet wondering who in the heck "Bob 'Notes' Norton" is ;-). He said he would do it! So now I'll be the least famous player in the world with a signature model. Pictures:      More images are here: http://www.nortonmusic.com/macsax.htmlSo what do you think about that? Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton  Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Beeyouteeful and Gorgeous can't even describe that fantastic looking horn, Bob. I'm sure your name will get a lot of Google and YouTube searches now for sure..
Stan
Cornet Curmudgeon
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Congrats Mr Norton. That is a beautiful Sax, wow !!
I hope you sell a bunch of them.
Trax
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Congrats, pretty slick maneuver!
Looks like a nice horn.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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That is one saxy lookin horn!!
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NICE looking tenor!
I had never heard of this brand; I guess it's a custom brand?. Did you have to go there to make the design just right? What are the playing characteristics you like? Is it more like the Selmer saxes or the Japanese brands?
Best of luck with this, Bob.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Congrats Bob, I'm not a horn player, but I know a "saxy" lookin' horn when I see it! Enjoy! Bob 
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Quote:
<...>I had never heard of this brand; I guess it's a custom brand?. Did you have to go there to make the design just right? What are the playing characteristics you like? Is it more like the Selmer saxes or the Japanese brands?<...>
It is a custom brand, made in Taiwan in the same factory that makes the very highly rated P.Mauriat saxes but to the Austin TX company's specifications. I've had 3 Selmers, 1 Conn, 1 Couf and 1 Grassi in my life (so far) and this sax sounds and plays as well as the best Selmer and Couf saxes.
The intonation is better than any other sax I've ever owned (they have gotten better at it through the years - I suppose computers helped in the design). I don't have my Selmer Mark VI anymore, but if my memory serves me well, I would rank this up in that category for sound and response.
It is incredibly responsive, has a somewhat dark and full tone, looks good under the stage lights (it is show business), has a finish that my hands will not corrode quickly, no lacquer, and engraved before it was plated, and that fulfills my requirements.
It came out a little heavy and vibrates very nicely in my hands and those are delightful bonuses for me. I had no control over the body itself, it's the Mac Classic body which I assume is bored just like the Mauriat. To custom tool the body and the hundreds of parts would be not cost effective.
I was a little timid about ordering it without trying it out, but the manufacturer gave me a no questions asked, satisfaction guarantee. So I figured all I'd be out is the shipping costs.
Anyway, the first day I got it, I liked it.
After playing it for a couple of weeks, I like it even more.
I wanted the nickel finish on it because they no longer re-lacquer saxes in Florida and most other US states. My old beloved H.Couf sax turned green because I couldn't get it re-lacquered (it's the one in my avatar). The gold plate started flaking off my Grassi. So I called an instrument replating company (Anderson) and asked them what the most durable finish on a sax is, they responded regular nickel (many saxes now use black nickel, but it isn't as hard and tends to discolor).
So I asked for two coats nickel plating with no lacquer.
I think this may be the last sax I buy in my lifetime, as I expect it to last at least 75 years (I have a 75 year old alto sax that still plays well).
Right now the best saxes you can buy are made in either France, Germany, Italy, Japan or Taiwan. Unfortunately the US hasn't made a pro sax since the H.N.White company went belly up (King). Right now Taiwan is the new kid on the block and where the best deals are.
Unfortunately, I doubt that I'll get compensated with any money for having the model named after me. If I asked for $$$ I'm sure they wouldn't be using my name (I'm not famous enough). And I suggested it as a joke anyway. So I'm just tickled to have my name on it the next time he gets a factory run.
Thanks all for the compliments. I think it's a beauty myself and they tell me the shiny nickel really looks good under the lights (I can't see myself playing it so I'll have to take their word). One lady called it a bling-ophone Saturday Night.
If you know anybody who wants a new sax, I highly recommend MacSax (even if you don't get the Bob Notes Norton Edition).
Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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John Conley
Musica est vita
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merci beaucoup (I feel so international now <grin>)
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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A beautiful instrument Bob, congrats!
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Thank you for the info, Bob. The nickel finish certainly looks absolutely gorgeous!
You've probably read all those threads on the sax and brass forums where people argue about the material and its effect on the sound, and the wisest ones maintain it makes no difference when you do a true double-blind listening test. So why not get a finish that will last? My Mark VI (which was a gift from a dying friend, and I don't play it nearly enough) has lost a lot of its finish, for sure.
Enjoy.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Ok, lets hear that thang. I'm sure others are also dying to hear that thing being played. If I knew how to play one, I would order one. That Sax is gorgeous.
Trax
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Congrats Bob......you deserve it my friend.
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Quote:
<...>You've probably read all those threads on the sax and brass forums where people argue about the material and its effect on the sound, and the wisest ones maintain it makes no difference when you do a true double-blind listening test. So why not get a finish that will last? My Mark VI (which was a gift from a dying friend, and I don't play it nearly enough) has lost a lot of its finish, for sure.<...>
I don't think lacquer makes a difference but I do think the plating makes a slight difference. But not enough really to make a significant difference. The bore, taper and density of the brass makes the bulk of the difference in tone.
The brass does vibrate in my hands when I play the sax, and that has got to color the sound. Vibrating metal does indeed produce sound waves. And the plating probably affects the density of the brass and therefore the vibrations. I agree, it's subtle, and I'm not sure everybody (especially the audience) can hear the difference.
Gold is a little edgy, silver has a nice ring to it, and nickel is a little darker.
At least to my ears.
The horn looks good, responds good, and sounds good. That's all that counts.
A lot of guys on the sax forums talk about ergonomics too. I find that whatever sax I pick up, my fingers adjust to the exact key placement quickly. I've never had one that is difficult to play because of key placement. The Mac is comfortable in my hands.
BTW, that VI of yours is probably worth a lot of money. Sometimes I wish I never sold mine. I liked my Couf better, but the VI really went up in value (like a Pre-CBS Fender guitar). But then, by the time I traded in the Selmer, it had a LOT of wear on it. I played it through school and on the road for a number of years before trading it in.
Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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It’s all been said. It is one beautiful looking sax.
Congratulations on your signature model.
I think my wife has started to show the first signs of dementia.
She said she can't remember what she ever saw in me!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Way to go Bob. That's one fine lookin' horn. Now we just need to hear it. How about laying down a tune on it for us? 
Russ Anyday above ground is a good day Computer is Hp Pavillion Vision 6 Ghz quad core AMD processor 8 Gig memory 1 TB hard drive 6 GB hard drive Windows 7 Premium Loose nut behind the keyboard 
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Kewl, Notes.
Ya shoulda held out fer the naked lady engraved on the bell, though <g>
(Some will know the reference, most likely won't.)
--Mac
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Quote:
The horn looks good, responds good, and sounds good. That's all that counts.
Notes
No buyer's remorse there; you're a happy camper. Congratulations!
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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