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Reviews For: Begali Signature Edition

Category: Keys & Paddles

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Review Summary For : Begali Signature Edition
Reviews: 109MSRP: 330 + $9.50 s/h
Description:
The flagship of the Begali line of magnetic paddles. It combines the ultimate in component quality and workmanship for unparalleled performance.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.i2rtf.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
151095
PA0ERC Rating: 2004-03-13
The best! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The signature edition gold is, no doubt, the BEST key I have ever used. I have tried Vibroplex, bencher, schurr, palm for the last 20 years.

I really like the FIRM feel of the Signature.
Never before I have had this extremly exact feedback from a key. High speed keying is easier on this one.

It is also a lot of nice and shiny metal, it is almost, no, it IS a piece of art. Will look
good in everyone's shack.

Get one!

vy 73 Eric PA3CEV









N4OI Rating: 2004-03-13
Precise and Tough! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I received my Begali Signature sn 042 this week and am just amazed how it combines incredible precision in a package that looks and feels "bulletproof". I keep it set as light as possible, where I cannot feel any movement but just hear the slightest "clicks" as it makes perfect code (much more capable than the op!). I guess if I spilled a Coke in the works it would not be good -- otherwise, with the bearings and pivots all enclosed in a beautifully machined chunk of steel and the lightweight but solid exotic metal paddles, I don't think I could break it. It will surely outlast me! Thanks Pietro! 73 de Ken - N4OI
VA5SAM Rating: 2004-03-09
Excellent Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This set of paddles is second to none. The workmanship and finish are excellent. It functions perfectly and I am able to adjust the gap to almost nothing along with a very lite touch. If you are a CW lover then you owe it to yourself to try one of these.Piero and his family are the very best people to deal with. My wife bought this paddle for a Christmas gift in 2003 and I am very pleased. In 2002 she bought me one of Jerry's paddles for Christmas and I have never been happy with that one. The finish and workmanship on that one was very very poor. But now I couldn't be more pleased with my new Begali
Try one, you'll love it!!!!
NQ5T Rating: 2004-02-23
Absolutely Outstanding Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After many seeks of waiting, Signature #19 arrived last week. Just a delight. Superb workmanship. Adjusts easily to a feather light crisp touch. As fine a key as you will find anywhere.
NZ7C Rating: 2004-02-18
Perfect Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Everything Ulrich said is true. This is an amazing piece of equipment. PS Hi Greg!
W6THW Rating: 2004-02-16
one of the best Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have been waiting for a while to see what
Begali customer service is like, I was missing
the long finger pieces and was sent a new set
plus another short set of finger pieces.(great service)

I have a few other iambic keys and will rate the
The Begail Signature Edition with them. In order of my preference is the N5QVF it is number one and the only reason i rate it as number one is the finish of the key. Begali Signature Edition is number two because of it adjustment and workmanship are just as good. Number three is the GHD 509d opitical key number four is the March R3A and last is the vibroplex Iambic Deluxe. I know they all dont cost the same but some are pretty close.
KT5X Rating: 2004-01-18
Sweet Mysteries ... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
of life, at last I have found you!!!

Manufactured paddles never satisfied me, and through my 45 years of CW it has been fun to find and use as many different hand made keys as I could. I have a sensitive touch. Few keys deliver the soft and precise feedback I prefer.

The Begali Classic took over my operating desk a year ago from a very fine key no longer in production. The improvements of the Signature over the Classic are subtle, but certain.

Especially impressive to me is the effect of the spring inside the contact post instead of a lock nut or in the case of the Classic, a spring on the contact screw. The smaller the contact spacing, the lighter this spring becomes. Setting is precise and immediate. Even at settings so close I can not feel the arms move, temperature doesn't seem to close the contact spacing.

Alox finger pieces are an improvement from plastic found on almost all other paddles. They are indestructible and handsome. A polished exotic material would be another step up. Perhaps there is an artisan there who could offer such a thing as an option.

The key is heavy, stable, and sturdy. This key is heavier than the Classic because of the larger bearing block. Heavy hitters may not appreciate all its subtleties, but such an op will like this paddle anyway. It will not move on the desk, and it will take an enormous amount of pounding.

This is a great paddle.
BWOETTKE Rating: 2004-01-10
A Crowning Achievement Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I own several of Piero’s keys and paddles, and like many other operators I have considered his Magnetic Classic a key that is almost impossible to improve. But somehow he did just that, although the enhancements are probably beyond the point of diminishing returns for many users - but if you truly want the very best there is, the Begali Signature is worth every penny of the $80 that it costs more than the Magnetic Classic.

The Signature key has the basic construction of the Magnetic Classic, but it adds a few enhancements that, to me, make it worth the higher price:

· The precision bearings of the highest industrial grade are individually matched and selected to exceed the standards for lab instruments, and they are hidden in the central gold-plated bearing block. (in the Magnetic Classic they are exposed)

· The arms, made of an aircraft alloy, have a black anodized finish.

· The key comes with two sets of aluminum alloy finger pieces, a shorter and a longer version, that give you a choice of geometry to suit your preference.

· The friction springs for the gap adjustment screws are now hidden from view inside the contact posts.

· The paddle spacing can now be adjusted.

· The cable connection is made through a 1/8" stereo jack rather than solder lugs – so you can put this paddle in the display case, ready for use, without a dangling cable.

The visual design is clean perfection and as stunning a combination of materials and workmanship as you are likely to find. Piero himself inspects every Begali Signature, and it comes with a signed certificate.

In actual use this paddle is as perfect as it looks. Only the most sensible finger tips would probably feel the technical improvements over the Magnetic Classic. Since the Magnetic Classic was my primary paddle for quite some time I do feel a difference, and I prefer this new key. I can’t imagine that anyone could reach a point where this paddle imposes limitations.

This paddle is right there in that very small group of world-class paddles that I own or had the pleasure of using, and I am sure that it will be a collectors item one day.


K7SO Rating: 2004-01-04
The Perfectionists paddle Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Although I was completely happy with my Magnetic Classic, I could not resist upgrading to the Signature. I wanted to see what Piero could do to make the best paddle even better. Number 002 arrived and I love it!
I cannot give better technical input than what has already been given by K3EY or DJ8GO (whose review mysteriously disappeared). These two reviewers clearly know the intimate details of paddle design and construction, and are both very careful and critical observers. They also have the experience of having used all the top line keys (which I haven't).
My Signature is the gold plated model and is stunning to behold. Piero included three sets of alox finger grips--normal length blue, short red, and super short black. In tests with the Magnetic Classic, I definitely preferred the short version. I have not yet tried the super-short ones.
The bearings are now cleverly hidden and the paddle arms are black. Both features give a more finished effect.
A jack is now built into the rear of the key-very, very handy. I think this should be standard on all paddles, at least if you move your paddle around and don't want to risk broken connections.
Of course, Piero uses fine threaded non-temperature sensitive screws (48tpi, I believe) for critical adjustments. This should be standard on all quality paddles also, IMHO.
The Signature is what happens when you take a second generation CW-loving machinist with over 50 years of experience and a shop with big expensive milling machines and turn him loose on the issue of producing the best paddle possible.
So, if you are a 'paddle-perfectionist', do consider a Signature in 2004. They are truly keepers.