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| Reviews Summary for Begali Graciella Vertical Paddle |
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Reviews: 41
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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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Product is in production.
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More info: http://www.i2rtf.com
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W5QM
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 26, 2011 03:08
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Fantastic key
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I finally got a Graciella key after a few years of using Sculptures and most recently a Sculpture Mono. I had originally waffled between the Sculpture and the Graciella, wanting both. The Graciella was worth the wait. It is as smooth as my other Begali keys and visually stunning. Now my only question is why did I wait so long to get one. I wonder what Piero has on the horizon for new models now.
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AG6V
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 5, 2011 16:03
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Magnificent!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I had the opportunity to visit the Begali booth at the ARRL National Convention in Plano, TX 2011. I spent many happy hours testing all the paddles there. Mr Begali and his daughter were most helpful and friendly. Super fine adjustments are possible, the mechanisms are solid and effortless, and it is a beauty to look at as well. CW is my mode 99.99% and I have more keys and paddles than fit on the station desk. This is my most-used one!
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K5ND
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 22, 2011 17:00
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Awesome key
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I purchased my key on eBay. I'm delighted with the multiple ways to adjust the key: heighth and width of paddles in addition to the usual tension and contact gap. I've got the narrow base and find it to fit my fist just fine. The weight and stance of the paddle ensure that it never moves no matter how excited I get about the DX I'm working.
I also own a Schurr Profi that I adore, but the Graciella is the key I use and show off to visitors. I find it to be the perfect key for me. You can see photos and a discussion at http://www.k5nd.net
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K6LEN
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 2, 2010 20:37
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SOOOOO Smooth!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I recently had the opportunity to purchase a previously owned Graciella from a ham that really didn't want to part with it, but was facing some financial challenges. Never having played with one before, I leaned on the many positive reviews here on Eham. You guys are right on with your comments about this paddle.
The look and feel is unlike any other paddles I have used or currently own. The weight and balance are perfect, and almost infinitely adjustable. Once set up to my liking, it took all of about an hour to realize that this is the smoothest and most effortless keying device I have ever used.
Because this paddle had the previous owner's call sign lasered into the base, I contacted Bruna (Piero's daughter) about purchasing a new wide Palladium base. She was most helpful, and after ordering the new (heavy) base, it took only 7 days to receive the package from Italy! I received a signed document with the serial number of the new base just as if I had purchased a new Graciella.
OK, long story a little shorter, I LOVE this paddle! Sitting on my desk, I am amazed at the beauty of this sulptured work of art. AND, it functions as beautifully as it looks. It even allows me to make fewer mistakes at higher speeds.
Thank you Bruna and Piero for assisting me in changing out the new base. Oh, as a final note, I sent the original base with the previous owner's callsign back to him with hopes that he will someday soon be able to purchase the top part very soon. I HIGHLY recommend this paddle.
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VR2AI
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 22, 2008 05:45
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Great Paddle
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This is my second Begali key, the brother of Sculpture key. I bought this Graciella Vertical Paddle for my IC-7700. It has fantastic outlook and smooth operation. The quality is at high standard. I request to engrave my callsign on this key since I am sure I won't sell it out. If you want to find an excellence key, this is your first choice.
Thanks again to Begali company.
Anthony/VR2AI
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W6YDE
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 19, 2008 15:49
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The best there is!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This is my second Begali set of paddles. The looks and performance of this Graciella Vertical Paddle, as shown above in header, is second to none. I can only compare it with a fine automobile like a Rolls or Benz. This paddle is a work of art. Not a single item is left to be improved.
After my first Begali purchase, I was so impressed with the Begali's service, emails and quialty... that I just had to have another. The feel of the movemet is very smooth. Adjustments are very fine and percise. Workmanship is the best that I have ever seen and the servce is second to none.
Paddles arrived in only 5 day from Italy, with Saturday and Sunday included. I don't know how they do it. The shipping box is very well made and reinforced. With all items double boxed with lots of extra packing around the inside box.
If you are looking or wanting a first class set of paddles and want the best, then spring for a Begali!
Mike/W6YDE
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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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