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View Full Version : Very happy with my Barone Jazz Xtra Dark


rleitch
09-29-2009, 11:37 AM
Hey folks!

I was one of the bunch who bought a Barone Jazz tenor (7*) piece when they were on sale a while back. As everybody knows, these are great pieces, but I found mine a little bit brighter and brasher than I had expected. My Link STM is actually quite bright sounding, and so I was looking for something dark dark.

Anyway, after some debate, I decided to take the plunge and have Phil lower the baffle a bit to try to smooth out and darken the tone.

It's done, and I've been playing the piece for a couple of days with really fantastic results. This was already a great piece, but now I'm even much happier with it.

Also, FWIW, Phil has been great to deal with.

He does keep telling me that my Martin tenor is a piece of garbage:shock:, but who cares! I figure that's just the way New Yorkers say hello.

What counts is that he took the time to call me at home and discuss the modifications carefully, did the work super quickly, and did not charge a dime for the mods (even though this was a sale item).

Thanks Phil!:thumbrig:

Peace,
Rory
Dr G
09-29-2009, 02:56 PM
What do you get when you neuter a Link-on-steroids??? ;)
gary
09-29-2009, 06:02 PM
What do you get when you neuter a Link-on-steroids??? ;)

. . . a Link on saltpeter.
max
09-29-2009, 06:10 PM
What do you get when you neuter a Link-on-steroids??? ;)
A really, really superb piece. :D

As Dr G knows, I did a similar thing done with my Jazz: I had EZ take the baffle down to match my killer no-USA STM, and lengthened the facing.

I seriously can't imagine anything better for what I'm after.
rleitch
09-29-2009, 07:02 PM
I seriously can't imagine anything better for what I'm after.


Hey Max!

What's your preference for reeds on your Jazz?

Phil recommends the Rico Select Jazz. I've tried them, but I find the numbering system makes it hard to settle on a strength.

R.
gary
09-29-2009, 07:03 PM
What do you get when you neuter a Link-on-steroids??? ;)
A really, really superb piece. :D

As Dr G knows, I did a similar thing done with my Jazz: I had EZ take the baffle down to match my killer no-USA STM, and lengthened the facing.

LOL, and it's still a "Barone"?

Nevertheless: "I seriously can't imagine anything better for what I'm after."
Great!
bfoster64
09-29-2009, 07:11 PM
Rleitch, I struggled with my Jazz 7 for a while trying to make my Hemke #3 reeds work. The reeds played too dark and with too much resistance so I thought about reducing the tip opening to make them work better. Phil had previously recommended RJS reeds but I never liked the 3S reeds when I tried them. Before asking Phil to close down the tip, though, I gave them one more shot, and I also bought a box of RJS 2H reeds. The 3S still sounded and responded poorly but, to my surprise, the 2H were great. They're not what I'm used to, but they work really well with my Jazz mouthpiece. Because they're a little softer, they have a brighter sound in the high end and less resistance throughout the horn. I would never use them on a brighter mouthpiece but on a dark piece like the Jazz I think they match up well.
Dr G
09-29-2009, 07:19 PM
LOL, and it's still a "Barone"?

One of the best blanks available! ;)
rleitch
09-29-2009, 07:34 PM
LOL, and it's still a "Barone"?

One of the best blanks available! ;)

Anybody else thinking what I'm thinking?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjl9EQdaP6s
saxphil
09-29-2009, 11:36 PM
I did a similar thing done with my Jazz: I had EZ take the baffle down to match my killer no-USA STM, and lengthened the facing.

I seriously can't imagine anything better for what I'm after.

So, the Barone is now an EZ'd Link STM.
wisedude
09-30-2009, 12:21 AM
I did a similar thing done with my Jazz: I had EZ take the baffle down to match my killer no-USA STM, and lengthened the facing.

I seriously can't imagine anything better for what I'm after.

So, the Barone is now an EZ'd Link STM.

Presumably the inner dimensions that Phil came up with have an effect on how good the piece is too? Not just the facing and baffle
max
09-30-2009, 02:49 AM
Yeah - I know. There's a lot of virtual DNA in that mouthpiece: Doc Tenney did some touchup work on the STM, so there's that going on, too. :D

It did start life as a "Barone Jazz" and had its baffle lowered (among other things), so I thought I'd chime in...

I don't know who really deserves the credit for it (EZ did do quite a lot to it), but I do know that it suits me perfectly. I really couldn't be happier with it.

As for reeds, I was using Alexander Classiques on it until I switched to Legere original cut.