Jean Baptiste Bari???

[Joseph Boucher]

Someone has to ask the question. Is there anyone out there that will admit to it? Who has tried the JB Bari?. Sam Ash is selling it for $1899. Is it the same as their other saxes or is this one better? Maybe a sleeper?

[Giles]

The one that came into the local Sam Ash was so flat, the best they could do was to put the mouthpiece in the middle of the cork and treat it like it was pitched in "D" not "Eb".

[paulwl]

They're somewhat less-than-affectionately known as "Jean Craptiste." Their sopranos are pretty shoddy. I can only imagine what sort of bari they'd make. You could probably do just as well with a soldering iron and a lot of old cat food cans. :)

I think the Taiwanese Buescher BU6 is the only budget priced bari I haven't heard anything bad about.

[earthkin]

I've tried one out, and it really wasn't bad at all. It sounded like a regular, run-of-the-mill new low A bari to me. (But then, I can't really tell any difference, in the new horns, between this and a Buescher and a Jupiter and a Yamaha.) It couldn't fit my hands very well (like most of them), but otherwise it seemed to be just fine. To me, most new Low A horns, except for the Cannonball and perhaps the Super Action 80, sound pretty bland and straight, not my kind of instruments. But there was nothing particularly wrong with the Jean Baptiste.

[navyvet]

I was at a Sam Ash yesterday and tested the new JB they have for $1899. First they came out and said it will be a few minutes - a pad was missing and they had their repair guy working on it. Not a good first sign. Then I sat down with it (brought a mp with me that I was used to). The low c# key wouldn't open hardly at all so the note would not sound. Intonation was not as bad as the Jupiter I've been borrowing. The middle register D kept breaking on me. Also was hard to slur octaves or play the low notes softly without a hard tonguing attack. It was the only one in stock but after 5 minutes I thought to myself I wouldn't pay $899 for this junk. It felt flimsy, awkward feel on the keys, not solid or sturdy, just cheap. I think the strap hole was too low too - now matter how high I tightened my harness, it could barely reach my mouth. (I'm 5"10, big boned, female who can reach a 10th on a piano so my hands can definitely handle most baris). Anyway, I'm no expert, just my humble opinions. Maybe it just needed getting used to, but I found that not to be worth the effort. Look at brands other than JB.

[russps]

I have not seen the baris, but the altos I have seen are some of the worst that have come accross my bench. Horrible intonation, construction, materials, etc. I don't like the new bueschers, but they are a step above the JBs.

Russ