Your first bari.

[TenTenTooter]

Here, just talk about the first bari that you've ever played, the horn that got you started in bari-playing.

First bari I played was a Conn 12m. I found it collecting dust on a shelf in the band room back in 8th grade. Went out, bought some reeds and a mouthpiece, went back to the bari, and found my first true love.

[Martin Williams]

It was a Low A Mark VI. Uglier than sin, but once all the leaks were fixed and the horn adjusted, it played beautifully. The I graduated and had to give it back to my HS director.

Martin Williams

[Brendan Muse]

Mine was a badly abused Yamaha 52 that my school was renting. I managed to fall off a riser onto it on the last day I played for the school in my 6th grade year, then moved away. I still miss it. :crybaby:

[BaruDude]

some yamaha...

played it for 3 days then i was standing next to a marching snare drum(a guy was wearing it) and the harness broke and it caught the side of the bari and ripped every rod off of it.

[vick]

In early high school I played a school horn low B flat Mark VI rusted in places I didn't know could rust. I used rubber bands to close the palm keys and held my left pinky cluster together with paper clips. I think the cost of those paper clips took up about half of the band repair budget.

[Biff]

wow, some real horror stories on here.

My first bari was a bundy. don't know that model number, but i came back to my middle school last year to play with the community band (happened to practice there), and i just took it out and tried to play it, and it didn't work at all. i was told by my old director, who was still threre (his last year) that it had broken and no one played it so he couldn't afford to repair it. what a shame, really.

it played well when I had it at least... good thing too, otherwise i wouldn't be nearly as good a musician (at least, i think so. so that means, instead of being mediocre, i'd be horrible and doing something else)


Biff

[Gandalfe]

My first bari was a Yanagisawa 990 that I bought for my son when his Jupiter bari got stolen. But he hated it so I have him some other horns and kept it. It is a sweet horn with a nice disposition. :lol:

I sounded good on it from day one and unlike some of my other horns I've never looked for another bari.

[HC]

School's beaten-up Yamaha YBS-52. It played relatively well. Other than a few octive skips, I never had much of a problem with it.

[RS]

A low A Selmer made in the late 70s (nominally a Mark VII but in reality a VI). Very good horn. I played it for about 10 years then traded it for a low Bb VI. Never looked back.

[Flower Power]

Played Tenor from 90 to 93, selled it - no money, no time.

In 2002 (at the age of 38) I had three dreams of playing sax. The best one was playing bari.
So I did some research, found a shop 50km away and gave the just arrived Yani B-901 a blow. Instantly fell in love and took it home.

Now I'm playing sax again and I love it! :D

Greetings
Roland

[OnyxSax]

I briefly played a school bari - a Buescher 400 in 8th grade, but that only lasted a couple of months. When I cleaned out the loop there were some unidentified nasty objects in there.

The first and only bari that I have owned is a 1927 Conn Chu purchased in 1989. I had it completely rebuilt and restored in 2002. During it's restoration I borrowed a YBS-62 but did no gigs with the horn. Once the Chu came back, I returned the 62.

When it comes to bari: "Once you play a Chu, nothing else will do"

[joshuski]

My first bari was an old badly beaten but still almost playable student model Conn my freshman year in high school. I was coming from playing clarinet and wanted to play alto sax.... director kinda got it right; it is an Eb instrument.

The case was almost as big as I was freshman year :shock:

[littlemanbighorn]

The first bari that I played was a Yamaha student model (not sure of the model number) that belonged to my high school. I loved playing it. I also recall having to walk a block, take a break, walk a block, take a break, walk half a block, take a break, walk another half a block,...... to walk from school to my home when taking that home, since I was a small kid and it was in a huge woodshell case.

[barisaxplayer]

Bundy II. Middle School body, aka held together with tape, string, and whatever was managable for holding it together. Thankfully, I got my ybs 62 Christmas my 8th grade year, so I only had the ... pleasure ... of playing that horn for a year and a half.

[shmuelyosef]

It was a beatup relacquered King Zephyr...great horn!!

[ClariBariGal]

The first bari i played was the biggest hunk of junk i have ever seen, and it was strapped to me by the director of our jazz band, believing that if i could play clarinet i could play bari. It took me so long to figure out that it was the instrument (held together in parts with gaffer tape!) that couldnt get out those low notes and not me!

[Martin Williams]

The first bari i played was the biggest hunk of junk i have ever seen...

This seems to be a common trend for people's first bari, especially when it was a school horn. Its really sad that schools can't keep the horns in better care for the next generations of aspiring students.

Martin Williams

[geddi]

My first bari (first saxophone) was the schools low Bb Mark VI. They kept it in great shape (and protected it like it was an infant child) and I loved playing it.

[BayviewSax]

This is a tad involved. I wanted to play tenor in junior high, but there was an 8th grader also wanting to play, and he got to use the brand new tenor. As a 7th grader, I was relegated to the old tenor. It never did play, and my instructor blamed me. She backed off a bit when I offered to play the parts on my (functional) alto. She said, "You can't! It's keyed differently!" with the implication that I wasn't very bright for not realizing that. I said, "I know, but I can play the right pitches, I know how to change them." She said, "You can transpose on sight?" I said, "Yeah, if that's what it's called." She changed her tune and blessed me. Two months later, I quit. But I digress. Because of the sad state of the tenor, I asked to try the bari (no idea the brand of either, but probably the typical student models). The state of the bari made the tenor seem pristene. It was ALSO unplayable, and the school bought a new one over the summer. I rejoyned the band (playing alto) under a new director, and was told that the old bari had candy bars melted inside of it, as well as a number of other problems. It was written off and, no kidding, sold for scrap metal.

The first one I owned, was my 1960 Zephyr (the second that I played) and has recently been replaced by a Mark VI. It is available in the appropriate spot for such things on this here forum. :wink:

[JMac]

Like most here, the first Bari I ever played was a school horn, but it was just when we were swapping horns for fun one day. I hate to admit that it's been so many years, I can't even remember the make - although I do remember it did not have nickel keywork. The first Bari I've owned is my dream horn - a 1929 Conn 'Transitional' bari (most of the 12M features, except the engraving). She's not going to win any beauty contest for her looks, but the sound... :angel4: ! I just wish I had more time to spend with her...

[griff136]

Cuesnon Monopole series 2 Silver plate, bought lat week for £800!

blows like a dream, great intonation I love it! - my first bari

[namenotfound06]

my first bari... well my first one i own and still own is my yanib901. im still sorta loving it but, sorta want something older like an old conn or mark VI

[MPL]

Yamaha 61 in graduate school, 16 years ago. Great horn in great shape...unfortunately, that's when I began to have all sorts of problems with reeds, so I don't think I got as much out of playing the '61 as I'd have liked. However, I've never touched an alto or tenor since then.

[barisaxbeast]

My first bari was a school horn, but what a horn! It was a pr-war Selmer, don't know what model but it looked the same as a "26" alto but bigger! Fantastic sound! mechanics a little rough tho! I wanted to buy it when I left, but they wouldn't sell. Ah well, just have to do with my Mk6 then....

[dshack]

Played a '52 in school for six years, then bought myself a 1994 '62. Great horn.

[deftones]

I came from alto to bari in october of last year. My first bari was an old beat up buescher 400. The bell was (and still is) held to the body with duct tape. The school has a low a Vito that is in good shape but the other bari player would kill me if I touched it. I found an old Selmer bundy in the closed that had been sitting there for many years. It's almost all orange. Took it to the local shop and spent $40 out of pocket getting it in kinda-playable shape. Still not nearly as good as the Vito but better than nothing.:)

[Mr Lee]

My First and Only Bari:

http://forums.collectors.com/messageview.cfm?catid=33&threadid=462191&STARTPAGE=1

I bought it around 1970 and played it in Marching Band and Concert Band my Senior year. Did a few gigs with it too.

It was a lot of fun back then and it still is today.



Edited to add: It was just rebuilt at ABI Music in Anaheim so Bumblebee might remember it.

[GAS_Wyo]

As opposed to all the horror stories, I was the first at my highschool to play the new Mark VI Low A (1974). This was simply the most marvelous saxophone ever made (to me at the time). I played it as long the BD would let me, but he switched me to Trombone, then Baritone, then back to Trombone during marching season after that 9th grade year. At 45 years old, I still miss that horn! :D

[E.L. The Sax]

i've played bari since last august and started on the school's low A selmer SB80 series II. it was quite nice several dents but had a better sound than the yamaha 52 they had. i didnt exactly pick that sax though, my teacher picked two altos to play bari so after school the two of us met and the other guy picked the yamaha because it was shinier so i was left with the selmer. the guy didnt know what he was in for :twisted: that thing broke about every month, the selmer hasnt let me down since. i've used an old ugly as hell bundy, the high school's mark VI and the high school's series I. still playing the SB80
-E.L. The Sax

[TenTenTooter]

Edited to add: It was just rebuilt at ABI Music in Anaheim so Bumblebee might remember it.

Yeah, I remember your bari. I'm the one that stripped it, leveled the key cups, and straitened the long rods. My boss did everything else, but I got to play it when it was finished, and I tried it with the pickle barrel mouthpiece that was in the case. Beautiful sax, though the duel octave keys took some getting used to.

[Dr_sax]

My first bari is the beautiful Yanagisawa B992 I got 5 months ago. Finally after playing sax now for almost 30 years I could afford a bari and I just love it.

[Mr Lee]

Yeah, I remember your bari. I'm the one that stripped it, leveled the key cups, and straitened the long rods. My boss did everything else, but I got to play it when it was finished, and I tried it with the pickle barrel mouthpiece that was in the case. Beautiful sax, though the duel octave keys took some getting used to.
You did a great job. I'm real pleased with the way it came out. It plays like nothing else I've had. I'll have it back in for a quick check-up in a week or two. Perhaps you can help me pick out a better mouthpiece for it?

Pickle Barrell Mouthpiece....:D .....It is pretty huge, isn't it.

[TenTenTooter]

Maybe, but don't count on it. I tried it with a Berg, an Otto Link, and the pickle barrell and I liked the pickle barrell the best. Must be somehting with the bore of the insstrument, an older style horn needs an older style mouthpiece. I've heard good things about RPC mouthpieces and older baris though.

[kevvieg]

Selmer MKVI Low A. Unfortunately, I was 12 and stupid and I didn't hold it properly. My strap broke and it took a major fall. I then went to an old silver Buffet with a non-functioning octave mechanism. I think that learning how to adjust my air speed to switch registers really helped me when I started pursuing altissimo. (I went back to the VI after it was repaired and played MK VIs until I got my Yamaha 62S 2 years ago) Actually, Mr. Lee's horn looks like that old Buffet I had, but that was 26 years ago...

[rebellion117]

An old low-Bb Conn (I don't know what model, but I think it was a MexiConn) with maybe 1% of its lacquer. Its water key didn't work until one day in 8th grade, I looked inside the crook, and there was an old, green piece of newspaper (it was still legible, too).

The first (and so far only) one I owned is a Yamaha YBS-52, a great horn for the money. My only gripe is that when I'm improvising at top speed, my index finger likes to clip the front F key and I play a whole bunch of high F's before it comes back down.

[Jazzy saxxer 4]

The first bari I played on was the high school's Bb Mark VI. It was a pretty bad relac horn but it still played great. I spent the whole year having an absolutely great time with the horn, but although I knew it was a Selmer, I somehow never really knew it was a VI. The following year of high school I finally realized I'd been playing a VI all the previous year and I knew right then why I'd loved playing that horn so much. I was put back on alto sax (stupid school Mexi-Conn) and I remember sitting there jealously watching the bari player and telling him to be more careful with the Mark VI bari. Miss that sax like crazy. :cry:

[Tryptykon]

First I ever tried was a, school-owned, Evette-Schaefer--not too bad since
I had no real concept of Bari.

2nd one, I still own, Conn Tranny 12M .. a keeper.:D

[paulwl]

Mine was a late '60s 12M I got for $900. It was made of very soft, thin metal, over the next several years it took a lot of knocks - always came out playing great after a few repairs, though, but I got tired of it always being in the shop. I donated it to my old high school for a hefty tax deduction and got a silver 1928 "Mulligan Model" with the keys badly buffed to yellow brass. I sent it in for an o/h and key replate and it took 9 months. :( Good news is it turned out great. I flipped it and got a silver 1931 Tranny which I liked even better, and still own.

[Saxaphonist5]

first horn i played was a horribly dented selmer with a chipped mp. it was just awful

[NavySax]

First intro to a Bari was in 1986...6th grade Jazz band, and I got my hands on the one the 7th and 8th graders wouldn't touch, and old Bundy that had been run over by a truck and split in two! It was welded back together and wouldn't go below a low G it was in such bad shape.

Later on I would play an older Conn and eventually a YBS-52 in high school...like pure heaven at the time.

As of now, I just picked up my '65 Conn 12M (from Elkhart, not a MexiConn) that has been reconditioned and repadded, and it plays like a dream. Makes the floor shake and wakes up the neighbors (as it should). :D

[gsaxman100]

After over 30 years of playing sax, I finally got my first bari in February of this year, a 1935 Martin. It arrived in worse shape than expected so it went to my tech for almost 3 months, and just got it from him a few weeks ago. I'm having a blast getting accustomed to the size and the amount of air to keep it fully powered. It can sound beautiful or it can belch like a bull frog on steroids. I wish I had gotten one sooner.

[Chimpmeister]

a silver plated conn bari from about the early 1900's

[Chris Peryagh]

Not one to write home about, but my first bari (or rather the first one I used until I got my own) was a dreadful East German B&S thing (stamped 'Elkhart') - it leaked like a sieve, the top U tube kept on bending as there was no cross bracing, horrible action, badly built, ... need I go on?

But I did also have the use of an old Conn X-bar and a 1965 Selmer MkVI (low Bb) which gave me hope that not all baris are duffers.

[dshack]

Does anyone else hate the B&S 1000's? They're the student models that every school seems to own. Had one in middle school and high school before I discovered the yamaha 52.

[andrewb]

I switched to bari from tenor in 7th grade, and my school had a decent Yamaha 52. It was probably 10 years old, but it wasn't horrible...

However, i bought a brand spankin new YBS-52 of my own in 2003, and it played quite a bit better. I still play it and love it, but i'm most likely not going to play a student model forever...in retrospect i probably should have invested in a horn that i would have played longer, but i was 13 a the time. And i'll still probably play it for a while...

i've never really played anything but a yamaha 52 for more than a couple days...