Vito (Beaugnier) Low A Baritone Intonation

[The Tenor Man]

Hello all,

This is my first post so please bear with me. I recently acquired a Vito (Beaugnier) Low A Bari 22XXX.

After blowing it for a day or so, I got out the tuner. Much of the horn plays very well in-tune except for the middle C (Octave key and middle finger on left hand). It's extremely sharp...20¢ or more. When I play the same note using the trill key, it's much better.

I'm using a Graftonite Bari mouthpiece with a Rico #3 Reed. (I first tried the 2.5, but it was too soft.)

Any suggestions would be appreciated...

The Tenor Man

[Hurling Frootmig]

I had one of these and never had a problem with middle C. It's interesting that Side C is in tune but not the standard C fingering.

[The Tenor Man]

Thanks for your speedy reply...

After some time with the tuner, I found that the low end is nearly right-on, the upper octave C# and all of the left-hand palm keys are dead on...go figure.

In a fast passage, I'll use the regular C fingering, but on a slow ballad, I'll use the trill key.

I'll keep working on the problem...maybe even a harder reed might help. I can lip the horn nearly a half-step in either direction with the Rico 3, but I want a dead-on strike.

I may even have a small leak, but the upper stack seems to cover well. I've tried to close the B key just a bit to see if the note will drop, but it seems to just make it a bit stuffy.

My recent thinking is that I may have a key height problem. I read an article on key height and crescents, but just to let you know...I really don't know what the heck I am doing...;-)

My next step is to tune the horn using the C, then check the rest of the horn...which my guess is...will be flat!

The Tenor Man

[Hurling Frootmig]

You may also want to try a different mouthpiece. I've never had intonation problems with the Rico's but you never know. Each horn is unique! :D