NEED ADVICE...FLAMES OPTIONAL!

[xax]

ok, so i'm a "re-bie"...i used to play then i stopped. then i stopped again. then i stopped again. you get the picture. well, i'm playing again and although i've only toodled/toddled on bari in the past, i want to add one to my set of albatrosses. tenor, soprano, alto. trouble is..."the budget"! so, assuming equivalent "playable condition", is a vintage conn wonder I or II roughly equal to a king zephyr (I or II) ? how does a yamaha ybs52 or a late conn 12m compare? speed is not much of an issue... it's the sound that is "de ting mon". are we splitting hairs or is there a huge difference from top to bottom?

btw, i'm a tenor man, son of trane/dexter. BUT...seems like the BARI'S! are the only one's kickin' these days!

fred

[Bootman]

The later 12M's lack depth of tone compared to a vintage 30's 12M, but as value for money they are a good option. Remember that with any cheap Bari, you will need to factor in repair costs. Also check out MArtins and Bueschers, there is great value to be had in these horns too.

[super20dan]

if you can afford the yamaha get it! great horn. most vintage baris will need a lot of work.(usually) the yamaha will play better than a vintage also

[OnyxSax]

Super20, I have to respectfully disagree with you. I had a Yamaha 62 here over for several months as well as my faithful Chu. I got to play them both. All things being equal (condition, mechanics, etc), there's no way a Yamaha will sound better than a well set up vintage bari such as a Chu or a 12M, it's just not possible.

The only advantage to a Yamaha is that unless you are willing to spend top dollar for a well-set up vintage horn, odds are the Yamaha you buy will be in better shape than the low priced vintage bari.

[StevenW]

8)

[Bootman]

Have you played any of these Bari sax model's? If not, then the first thing to do would be to go and have a good honk on as many as you can. In this way you will be able to make an informed decision.

Vintage is my preference, for reasons of tone others prefer modern for the factors of a Low A and keywork issues. If you could find a Magna Low A, then you would be having the best of both worlds

[DirkW]

Quite right, Bootman. I absolutely love the tone I get from my '53 The Martin Baritone, but I wouldn't recommend it to the casual player. The left-hand plate is ackward and intonation is sketchy when you get into the higher register. The Cannonball bari has a good combination of tone, modern keywork, and cost. But in the end, you're the one who has to play the horn.

Bootman, if you ever want to sell your low A Magna, drop me a line.

[super20dan]

i didnt say sound better --i said play better .the yamaha is mechanicly superiour to a vintage bari esp one that needs work which almost every vintage bari one can find will. unless its been properly restored in which case you will pay dearly! a top flite player can make any vintage horn work but if a person is just learning a new size sax i think he is better off not having to fight a horn until he achieves a certain level of experteice on it.

[john]

Fred,
Drop me a note I may be able to help you.

john
johnhall@earthlink.net

[Anji]

Given the stuttering toward success you have shown in the past, and the not inconsiderable expense of outright purchase, I wonder if a rental may be a good way to decide on a keeper (and determine if the Curvy Beast is for you)....

I would not write off the later 'Mexi-Conns' without a test play... they were built on a proven design and have lest price pressure on them.

The Yamaha is a solid, dependable and neutral instrument that will tune well with both high baffle modern design and larger chamber mouthpieces.

If you are not going to gig professionally, it may pay to consider some of the Taiwanese horns, too (if they're around). If you buy any of the older instruments, be prepared to spend at least $1500 in total to get the horn right.

Just watch out for the Olds Parisian, I have one that keeps shedding posts!

[xax]

stutering maybe, but who said anything about success! we just be gonna have some fun...and maybe if it gets good enough, we'll sweep some others along with us! thanks for the input folks and i'll let youse know when i reach nirvana...

[L1]

Is it actually possible to rent a bari? I'd love to if I could find somewhere that would rent, especially long-distance. I would be willing to drive to pick up and return it but I don't know where I can actually rent one, where the bari would be situated a few hundred miles or more from the rental site.

[Doc Frazier]

Hi Fred. Email me at docfraz@juno.com. I have a bari with low A for you, ready to go (already set up and playing, CHEAP )
Forever HIS, Doc

[Jeff Foster]

Here's another vote for the Yamaha. I've never been fortunate enough to own one but I have played 2 different ones in bands that I've been in. When I was in the Navy Band, I played Bari in a show band called "Crossroads." They issued me a nice Yamaha bari and it was a wonderful instrument. In those days, my Bari idol was Bruce Johnston. With that horn, a very open Berg mouthpiece and a whole lot of wind I could get pretty close to his sound. The horn was also very durable and stood up well to life on the road. After I got out of the Navy I played Bari in a band called "Eclipse." My best friend was kind enough to let me borrow his Yamaha bari and, with the same Berg mouthpiece, I couldn't tell a dime's worth of difference between his and my Navy horn (they're very consistent). That being said, if I was in the market for a new Bari I think I would at least have a honk on a Cannonball Big Bell. They're excellent horns and don't cost as much as a Yamaha.

[Morry]

From many accounts, the B901 Yanigasawa may be the best of the modern "intermediate" baris.