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| Reviews Summary for Begali Graciella Vertical Paddle |
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Reviews: 38
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Average rating: 4.9/5
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MSRP: $490 + $12 s/h
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Description: A dual-lever paddle with a vertical architecture to minimize moving masses. Gold and palladium plated components, sealed precision bearings, repelling magnets, gold contacts, micro-threaded adjustments of height, paddle spacing, contact gap, and return force.
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More info: http://www.i2rtf.com
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You can
write your own review of the Begali Graciella Vertical Paddle.
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W2AVC
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 18, 2008 07:59
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Class Act
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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High quality is very gratifying regardless what type of machinery it describes. Like the Signature, the Graciella represents some of the finest engineering and quality control I've ever seen. My hat is off to the Begalis for another outstanding product!
The action is wonderfully smooth and infinitely adjustable... a real pleasure to use.
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WP4DQK
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 31, 2008 17:57
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Finest Vertical CW paddle
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Begali Graciella is probably one of the finest iambic paddles ever made. Why? Because before Sculpture well defines design and selection of materials, Graciella was design to accommodate all needed operational adjustments that a good operator demands with well selection of materials, weight and finish in the uncommon vertical fashion. It is true that you need to play it for a time before find the perfect setting, but after this, you probably never need to change them or use another paddle.
In my case, I like it for the fine craftsmanship, well accomplish setting points and solid feel when sending. It is hard not to fall in love with this high quality product. When you sit down in front of it, you start feeling the necessity of use it, even using just the keyer without the radio on air just for the feeling...
What other say about the small base issue is true but this is a vertical configure paddle and one of the original Begali’s design consideration is the small size. One solution for the small base is changing the finger pieces for the bigger Begali offered. You can loose some nice looking touch of the white pearl covered finger ones, but gain a lot of comfort at use. You need to remember that vertical configuration make the relation of paddles arms to change when you use the upper or lower part of the finger piece and this also affect the paddle on use feeling. This does not happen to other not vertical paddle and you need to be careful with this. If your are very sensitive high speed sending operator, you probably need more time finding the correct adjust setting and finger position, more than with another non vertical paddle. This is a very different CW paddle and this is exactly what makes it the more elegant and hard to ignore one.
Finally, the business to customer relationship you received from Pietro and Bruna Begali are more valuable than the excellent paddles and keys they fabricate. You will feel very satisfy with this and your money well spend when you receive the paddle you select. Believe me; I have two of their products, also a Traveler Light.
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PA1HR
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Rating: 3/5
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Jun 16, 2008 22:32
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Not as good as the Begali Signature
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I use the Begali Graciella and the Begali Signature for a couple of years.
1. The Signature IMHO has a much better click than the Graciella.
2. The finger pieces of the Signature are longer and therefore much better to handle during operations.
3. The base of the Graciella was too narrow for nice operations. Pietro changed this a while ago (it cost me a lot of money to obtain the new base), but the base IMHO still is too narrow comparing to the Signature.
The Graciella is much more expensive than the Signature, but not better at all.
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K6JW
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 13, 2008 13:18
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The best of the best.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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After great consideration of what the reaction of the XYL might be and a decision to risk getting “the look” from her, I took the plunge and purchased a Begali Graciella paddle (SN 197) while at the 2008 Dayton Hamvention. Besides, Piero and his daughter, Bruna, are so charming that it is almost impossible not to buy one of their magnificent creations. My Graciella has the palladium plated, wide base and gold top section. It came with plain red fingerpieces, but I replaced them with a set of Piero’s blue fingerpieces with logo-engraved mother of pearl “dots”. Piero was gracious enough to etch his signature and the date into the bottom of the paddle for me. In a word, Graciella is stunning. But, how is she on the air? I’m used to spring-based paddles, so the feel of the Graciella is a radical departure from my well-established comfort zone, and it took several hours of use during the recent CQ WPX CW contest for me to get the feel of it and get it adjusted for my own touch preferences. The paddle has five major areas for adjustment: elevation of the “works” above the base, angulation of the fingerpieces, spacing between the fingerpieces, magnetic tension (resistance to arm movement), and contact spacing. Getting everything just right takes some experimentation, trial and error but, once adjusted, the paddle holds it settings perfectly. Now that I have things set the way I want them, and now that I’ve spent some time using the paddle, I’m quite happy with it. So, is the Graciella worth its very high cost? For me, yes, it was worth raiding my wallet (and an ATM at the Hara Arena, since Piero was not taking checks or credit cards). Why? Because the quality of workmanship is flawless. The paddle is a work of art, and its action is a thing of joy on the air. Keying is effortless, with tactile feedback “snappy” and precise. There are many paddles on the market that will do the job, of course. I’ve owned a number of them and still have a great fondness for some, especially my two Vibroplex iambic paddles which carry fingerpieces I designed and Vibroplex sells. But Vibroplex, Bencher, and a number of other very well executed, reliable paddles aren’t really in competition with Begali. Begali paddles belong to a very exclusive club made up of extraordinarily finely executed instruments made in limited numbers by master craftsmen for amateurs willing to spend what it takes to own the ultimate in quality. And Begali’s paddles are, arguably, the best of the best. My Graciella is very likely the last paddle I’ll ever “need” to own unless, of course, I decide to buy a Begali Sculpture the next time I’m in Dayton…
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K6JPA
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 11, 2008 21:43
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Even Better the Second Time Around
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I know we're only supposed to leave one review per item, but this is for my second purchased Graciella. I opted this time for the wide base model (#182), because my original narrow-based Graciella, while beautifully crafted, proved to be a bit narrow at the base for my personal taste. I sold that original paddle and purchased this as a complete unit (although I understand you can purchase the base separately). I highly suggest the wider base option if you are considering a Graciella.
This new unit is every bit as beautiful as the first. I opted again for the MOP upgrade, which I find very comfortable. Actually, the shorter MOP finger pieces are why I give the slight comfort edge to my Graciella over my Sculpture (although it is also a beautiful paddle).
Bottom line... if I could only have one... this would be the keeper.
Well done, Begali family.
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GW3YRP
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 5, 2008 10:10
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Ultimate Paddle
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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What can I say which hasn't already been said other than fantastic. It actually does make you send better morse, I find I make less errors. I have used them all Benchers, Schurr Profi 2, Begalli Magnetic Pro. The Graciella is now fixed to my desk and the Profi is on Ebay. One thing though - get the MOP inlaid finger pieces,in the bumph they say warmer to the touch but this is wrong. What they actually do is allow that little bit of slide as your fingers move on the paddle allowing total control in a way I cant describe. Get one if you can while they are still available.
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K3ROJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 17, 2008 16:22
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The Bes There Is
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Had a chance to try the Begali Graciella at Field Day in 2007 and was getting around to ordering one but found one on E-Bay. Got it for $430 with the wide palladium bottom. The owner didn't have his call engraved. I started using it with my ICOM 576PRO and right away knew it would be my permanent key from now on. I found that the internal keyers in most transceivers which share the same processor as the radios functions aren't suitable for what the Begali can do. I ordered the LogiKey K-5 memory keyer which can emulate any keyer on the market and adjusted the weight the way I like it. I enjoy getting into CW contests and am easily able to operate at 35 WPM which is required in most contests. Once you use this key enough, your brain seems to communicate with it and before you know it, you are sending at 40 to 50 WPM as you practice sending text from a book, almost like speaking. Go to YouTube and search for Begali where there is an operator sending at 50 WPM.
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AA8P
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 29, 2007 09:38
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Great Paddle
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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Not much else can be said about this great key. I picked the key up at Dayton this year, and the Begali's had everything ready and waiting. Their service and commitment are outstanding. The key is the best I have used over the last thirty years. Very smooth, adjustable to your hand, and very good looking in the shack. If you want a piece of art work on your desk, then you need this key.
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KB3RMX
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Rating: 5/5
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May 9, 2007 11:36
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You can't get any better!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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What can I say that's not been said before in this forum. This paddle is the best on the face of the Earth. Very, Very nice, smooth action, completely adjustable to your ergonomics. This is the Cadillac of Paddles. A joy to own and use. I got the Gold wide base on mine and let me tell you, it looks like Fort Knox just landed in my shack. I do recommned that you get the mother of pearl pads applied. I didn't and it looks like I'll be ordering them soon. They seem to set the paddle off. Paddle is worth every penny I paid for it. Very good craftsmanship! Keep up the good work Pietro & Bruna. Thanks
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W4DDR
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 20, 2007 09:10
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Best in the World
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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This has to be about the best paddle in the world. If there is another even better, it must be a Begali model I have not tried.
It is both elegantly functional and beautiful to behold. The weight is perfect to keep it in place on your desk no matter how enthusiastic an operator you are.
Ordering was quick and easy, shipping was fast, and the paddle was well-packed.
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