Morgan Jazz alto vs Barone NY alto

[PhilF]

Could anyone comment on the comparison of these two pieces for tonal quality and ease of playing. I have a Barone NY alto 6M and like it a lot but have been thinking of the Morgans. Use: mainly in standard jazz combo.
thanks

[rcwjd]

I have a Morgan 6M and a Barone 8* NY model. Both are very good pieces. The 6M has a smaller tip opening (around .070?) (the Barone is .095). To my ears, the Morgan lacks a bit of the edge and brilliance that the Barone has. However, I don't see that as bad. I use the Morgan when I want to blend a bit more and the Barone when I want to stand out. Both are very free blowing, and both have excellent intonation up and down the horn. I use a 1.5 Fibracell with the Barone, and a 2.5 Fibracell with the Morgan. Both have medium chambers and roll over baffles. Both feel very good in my mouth.

[scale_master]

The edge that you describe in the Barone can come from the larger tip opening: usually, larger tip combined with softer reed produce more brilliance.

B.

[bohosheets]

the Morgan 6M is .075

[rcwjd]

Scalemaster,
I agree about the larger opening and more edge, etc. I went to the larger tip opening for a bigger sound, and the soft reed fits right in. I do believe that the baffle and chamber are a bit different in the Barone though, as I am better able to play in the high upper range with the Barone a bit more easily. Really can't go wrong with either piece. I also had a Morgan 7EL and I was one of the rare people who didn't care for it. I passed it along to a high school student who loved it (and sounded good playing it).