General Discussion

[JazzBariSax]

Post your questions, comments, and announcements here!

[Natasha Hartery]

Hey there

I was just reading the "discussion of horns" by Andrew Hadro, and I noticed that he said there were no Selmer Mark VII Baris. I'm the Bari chair for St FX University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, and the Bari I play (which belongs to the school) is clearly marked Mark VII. By the model number, it was made in the same year as my alto, which was also a Mark VII. Was there some kind of mistake, or is this actually a really rare horn?

~Natasha

[alhadro]

That makes your horn very rare indeed!

I found this out by speaking with Howard Johnson, who also has a bari marked Mark VII.

Selmer was way behind in their bari models (no surprise, they still are today) and the Mark VII wasn't a hot item anyway so they developed the S-80. Rather then put out a mark VII bari they changed a few things and started putting it out stamped as an S-80 as opposed to a mark VII.

However a few factory models and such did make it out stamped as Mark VII.

[jules]

Any of you guys know anything about LeFleur low Bb Silver Baris made by Amati in the early 1960s? I've spotted one up for sale and am tempted. anyone got the gen....?

[MrPMosh]

i have an old Conn 12M from 1959. i have always had the problem of playing sharp on it. Up until recently I have been playing a yanagisawa 9 hard rubber mouthpiece and before that a selmer c* and rico royal black grafite mouthpieces all with the same issues. IS it my Horn? IF so, is it fixable? IS this a common problem for conns of that year? please help! I love the sound of my bari and i just want to be able to take it out for gigs.

[jazzguy]

I play an old conn from '52, and haven't noticed that problem so much.

Although Conn did switch factories and a lot of other things around 56 or so, i think that is when they started manufacturing them in Nogales. So perhaps your horn is not that similar.

I do notice that the middle E and F tend to be sharp though, and I have known lots of saxophonists (good ones too) who were not primarily baritone players that had trouble with their horns going sharp.

Is it a uniform sharpness or just some notes/ranges? I suppose if it were uniform you could just pull the mouthpiece out..

[yourbrassinstructor]

I started a tribute band for MF. We have had several rehearsals ( in Walnut Creek, CA....east bay ) and things are starting to get tight. There is one Maynard alumni in the band and several NORTH TEXAS alumni as well. However, we need some more guys who really would like to play Maynard. If you play alto, tenor, bari, would love to have you come sit in and have some fun.....no pressure. Just check us out and I think once you do, you really might like what is going on. This is a serious band rehearsing for gigs, not a reading band. You may contact me at yourbrassinstructor@yahoo.com

[bariaxman]

i have an old Conn 12M from 1959. i have always had the problem of playing sharp on it. Up until recently I have been playing a yanagisawa 9 hard rubber mouthpiece and before that a selmer c* and rico royal black grafite mouthpieces all with the same issues. IS it my Horn? IF so, is it fixable? IS this a common problem for conns of that year? please help! I love the sound of my bari and i just want to be able to take it out for gigs.

The biggest problem with the old Conns are that today's mouthpieces have chambers that are too small. Runyon Custom mouthpiece was designed for the M12's you will find that this piece will bring the horn mostly in tune.

The Custom Bari was Runyon's first commercial product. It was featured in ads in Downbeat Magazine. The first ad had Charlie Fowlkes (Basie) and Harry Carney (Ellington). Another ad had Johnny Bothwell with the earlier Custom Alto, who was known for his beautiful expressive tone on his alto. Also in that same ad was Manny Thaler, with his Custom Bari who played with Tex Benneke.

[Marika]

hey,
I'm a very keen young bari saxophonist and I'm looking and searching for an awesome feature piece (that isn't Moanin') to be played with a stage band.
I know that there is some awesome stuff out there.
If you know of any, please let me know!

Cheers

[yourbrassinstructor]

Marika,

You want something interesting to play? Check out the Bari sax solo to Coconut Champagne. While you are at it, go to http://www.myspace.com/bossnouveau and play along with our pro...the song comes on automatically!

ENJOY

Email if you want a copy of the solo

[barisaxplayer4ev]

Hey,

i play a yahama 1998 low a bari sax i borrow from my school. im a young bari player and i enjoy it a lot. but, i notice that when i start a new Rico reed, my sound is horrible. what reeds do you perfer??
also, im auditoning for the jazz band very soon. Any suggestions to wow the conductor?


Thx, Anya

[jazzguy]

I usually find that reeds don't make that much of a difference in terms of sound. More in terms of if they work or if they don't...

Other then Rico, the most popular reed by far is probably Vandoren, unfortunately they don't make all of their lines for baritone, just the blue box and ZZ's I believe.

When my sound starts to bug me, I either need to get the horn fixed or sit down and do some longtones, but thats just me.

[Hanshurt]

Hi there, I bought a vintage bari a few years back and now have to sell it. I have spent some time trying to figure out how old the horn is and any sort of a story about it. If any one knows or has heard about the stencil I would appreciate any info. The engraving goes as follows:
Gold Star
Geo C. Diver
Music Company
Chicago


back stamp:
low pitch
6174

Regards

[volume110]

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[barisaxplayer4ev]

Hello-
i have to play sweet goergia brown for a jazz band audition this wendsday. i cant say that ive practiced terribly, but ive just spent 2 hous trying to put it togther. does anyone know where i can get a recording of the bari sax part for Sweet Georgia Brown??
Thx!

[Zerb]

I know that they are expensive as hell but it is the best case I've ever had... I have never had any problems with the case, nothing breaks off, nothing wears down, nothing smells (too bad anyway), and I am overall completely satisfied with it.

What "acquaintances" of yours had their wheels break off? Were they rolling it over gravel or something? I generally use the backpack straps exclusively because I dont like to use the wheels over uneven surfaces like streets or asphalt. I only use the wheels once I get inside to smoother floors and even then I use the straps for convenience because its easier for me to get through crowds with a huge thing on my back then trying to wheel a three foot long case behind or in front of me. Trying to wheel something like that over uneven surfaces is a challenge in itself to keep the damn thing stable, so I have no clue how your boys ruined their cases.

I have had my BAM Case for over 5 years now and its still performing like a champ. I've taken it on airplane trips with ease, domestic and international flights and only had one "incident" with checking it as cargo (NYC to Sydney). Granted, I made sure that it was stowed in the "delicate luggage" section and I marked her as "EXTREMELY FRAGILE" but the "throwers" must have jostled the hell out of it of failed to tie it down since the rod holding on the high E key was dislodged from the post but NOTHING was bent. I also reinforce my case for flights with insulating foam from Air Conditioner units, you know that stuff you can buy that comes in foam strips you can cut to size. I reinforce all the sensitive areas of the horn as well as brace the keys with the foam. The case padding has loosened and been discolored slightly since I bought it 5 years ago but nothing too serious. However, to quote the wise Dr. Henry Jones Jr. "It's not the years, it's the mileage" and being an exclusive bari player I have gotten a LOT of mileage out of it. I dig the fact that its light, extremely portable, fits in any trunk or backseat i've tried it in (I drive a Focus hatchback and Volkswagen before that), has locks on each of the latches, and tough enough to survive almost anything.

The only negative I find, is that you have to be careful when standing the case up on its end. You have to make sure that it is on a level surface or shes going to go ass over tea kettle, but even if it does tip (which can, does, and has happened to me numerous times) no damage is ever been sustained to the instrument! Granted I play an old Yamaha YBS-61 which has a low A, I'm not sure if it will be as sturdy with a Bb horn. Essentially (like with anything) if you take proper care of it, it will serve you well and last you a long time. I know one schmuck who left his BAM case (yes with the horn in it) in the backseat of his car in the middle of summer on a hot day! And this douche had the audacity to wonder why his case had warped and would never shut the same again!!! Dont be that guy!

I hope this was helpful to anyone who felt like reading any of this.

Thanks,
Owen

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[onebarisaxydude]

I wanted to reiterate what Owen said about the BAM Cases. I'm not sure why you said they're the worst case except for the Protec. They are expensive, but worth every penny in my book. The wheels are going to be damaged if they're being used constantly and especially on uneven surfaces. The wheels are pretty small which is a bummer but use them on smooth hard surfaces only and they work just fine.

Like Owen, I also use the shoulder straps almost exclusively. I have to do a lot of walking on my college campus and those straps are much more convenient than anything else. I have had to check my horn once and the only damaged suffered was to the outer shell of the case. There were some new scuffs and scratches but that's it. I have a Low A Yani and it fits very nicely, and there are very snug places for mouthpieces and necks. The case also offers plenty of storage for everything else you need to keep in the case.

I've only had my case for about a year and a half but I love it, and hopefully I wont ever have to buy another case.

Chris Bucher

[JazzBariSax]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for posting your thoughts on the BAM case. I have updated the article so people can check out your thoughts and get an alternate view.

Thanks for checking the site out.

Andrew
JazzBariSax.com

[scotsman]

Just bought a n American Selmer Pennsylvania bari. A great sound, real easy to play and after a good clean and service was well worth the £600 GBP I paid for it! Any one got any info on these horns/ i know they were made in Checzo and have emailed Amati with the seiel number. Anyone out there playing one?
Scotsman (UK)

[volume110]

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New radio station added - 90.5 WSNC

[barisaxnumbertwo]

Hey guys, I can't find a good answer on the internet anywhere and I'm not taking private lessons so I don't know where to find the answer!
I'm relatively recent on playing bari sax, playing for a little over a year. Recently in band class and while I'm practicing, my face will go numb and when I try to play again, I get a strange pressure around the sides of my mouth and then it'll start hurting a little. Is this embouchure collapse? I thought only brass players got that! (I do, by the way, also play trombone.) Should I blame this on the trombone or what, and what can I do to hopefully fix it?

Thanks!

[volume110]

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Windows Media Player Stations added

[stevegolden]

LOOKING FOR A BLUE VANDOREN BARITONE SAX MOUTHPIECE B95 IF YOU KNOW ANYONE OR KNOW WHERE TO FIND ONE PLEASE CONTACT ON MY WEB SITE http://WWW.STEVEGOLDEN.COM IT MUST BE THE BLUE ONE

[ken]

I've been playing sax off and on for 15 yrs and i just start playing bari and I'm really getting serious with it. I'm at a point where it seems I'm not progressing,anyone have anything you can share with me so I can get to the next level. Thanx Ken

[bariaxman]

I just put Saxgourmet Power Pips in my Unison Bari. I now get great response. No hangs on octave jumps. The upper register is in tune. Even D2 is close enough to lip to pitch. I don't have to close the bell B pad to bring it in to tune.

These supercharged my horn for less than the cost of box of reeds. It is the best investment anyone could make to improve any saxophone.

But that's just my experience.

[volume110]

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new radio station added - SmoothChoice Smooth Jazz Radio

[Hovannes]

Hi! I'm a new guy & new to the Bari. I play an Alto but I've always wanted to try Baris, so some time ago I succumbed and bought a circa 1920's Buescher True Tone (pre-Norton springs) on ebay. The pads were shot so I sent it off to the local tech (who also plays Bari and he didn't laugh or shaked his head when I brought my rather hammered ex-Camarillo High School specimen in) My horn finally returned and now I'm ready to play around with it in ernest. The mouthpiece that came with the horn is a huge "pickle" shaped mpc with the only markings being "made in France." I've got a stand for it and a few Rico Orange number 2 reeds. The tech recommended to use the same kind of strap he uses---it looks like something off an electric guitar---and I must say that it is more comfortable than any of the others I've tried (I've even taken to using it on my Alto!)
Anyway, I'm hoping to pick up some tips and ideas here.

[Hovannes]

OK I should still be a long way off from chasing magic bullets, but I've got a mouthpiece question. I've heard that old Bueschers like mine don't like modern mouthpieces (Rico Metalites seem to be all the rage for jazz baris in my area) but more traditional large chamber mouthpieces (I've heard) give better results on old Bueschers.
My intention right now is just finding something easy to play and still sounds good on my old horn. What are your thoughts on Raschers? Caravans? Morgan C and Vintage mouthpieces? Are there any others to consider? My tech tried his Berg Larsen and my old horn didn't "like" that one.
This would be for use on an old 1920's True Tone Buescher.

[Kashyyyk]

Hey all, new here today. Hoping to get some experienced feedback. I've started playing Bari again about 6 months ago, and it's coming back well. 20 years off. I play with two bands (a community and professional) who are full of talented people and I feel I'm making very solid contributions. I have an EM Winston Bari that was tuned up and plays well, with a Yamaha 5C and I think I've zoned in on Vandoren 2.5s, though I haven't tried alot of reeds yet. My problem is playing and holding low Bflat in particular, and low A with some difficulty as well. I can honk em of course, but can't hold them with soft dynamics. I admit it could be my embouchure needs more strength, but I don't think that's the problem. Would different mouthpieces make a huge difference in this regard? Or could it be that only a new and better horn would perform better? I suppose it could be reeds that I need to experiment with as well, but it seems that it could be more than that. Thanks so much, I'm really hoping to find some direction as to where to begin my experimentation.

-Dave

[Hovannes]

Kashyyyk,
It seems like we've both stumbled onto a great looking ghost town of a forum!
Why nobody else posts here is a bit of a mystery---are bari players an endangered species?

[prajan]

Jumbo Javas are great if they are not too bright for your tastes. They are usually made well enough to not need rework for most players. Some players blow in a way that causes chirps on high baffle mouthpieces unless they reworked to minimize those problems. I use a Jumbo Java if I want to punish someone with my alto sax.
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