What difference does facing make?

[bigbadbarisax]

Hey just a quick question:
What's the difference in sound between different facings? Is a 80 brighter than a 100? I've never had it explained to me and I haven't played around with enough mouthpieces to know. Thanks.

[MojoBari]

When you select a more open tip, you usually pair it with a softer reed that what you were playing. This kind of muddies the comparison.

If you could play the same reed strength on 2 different tip openings, I think most players would consider the more open tip as sounding darker.

But if you go so open that you need a very soft reed in order to play the piece, you start to pick up a buzz from the reed that many players would consider to be bright and edgy sounding.

The problem with defining the relationship is that the term "bright" is used to describe several different sources of brightness. Look at Joe Smallwood's site for a good description of these.

http://mouthpieceworks.com/Terms.html

[Bootman]

80 os far too small for a Bari mpc, 100 also. As a general rule, to get powerout of a Bari, you need to use a fairly big mpc with a stiffer reed. The down side is that this requires dramatically more air than the smaller tip mpc. Try various mpc combinations out for yourself, you will find soemthign that works and don't forget to test out combinations that you would ordinarily never touch.

[bigbadbarisax]

Thanks. I've got plenty of air, so that won't be a problem. I've already tired a 130 and didn't like it, so I'm going to try a mid-90s next. Thanks again.

[Bar-Ron]

I think you will find a difference in sound more from different companies mouthpieces than tip openings. Try different mpc first and then move to a different tip opening in the mouthpiece you like the sound of . I think the larger tip openings add more dynamics and add power to the sound. A 95 tip is the smallest tip opening to start with on bari in my opinion but lacks sonic impact in some ways. I think as you grow to the bigger openings and mature your embouchure you'll will apreciate the sonic and tonal flexibility of a larger tip. I have a Morgan C1 that has a small tip opening with a long face that I had refaced a little more open and although it is concidered a quite narrow opening it plays with great dynamic flexibility now but only for concert and quartet work. In my opinion the facing sizes change playability and sonic impact as the size increases and add more throat to the sound not necessarily brightness or darkness. It would be like the difference of speaking or having the ability to sing or yell. The larger openings can do both although whispering may be awkward.A small opening then will be easier to play at first but may not give you enough tonal color or agression to add power and impact to your voice. So after you pick the mouthpiece sound you like (Berg, Rousseau, Runyon,Morgan, Otto Link or any other brand) then increase the opening size to acheive the tonal and sonic impact that you need for your type of music.