Do you prefer Bari saxes with the Low A key (high bell) or the original Bari (with lower bell)?
Surely, a low A includes a low BbIdeally get both a low A and Bb horn.
I think it seems a bit as if you are talking "Vintage" as a brand. I've had many vintage baritones, from 20s through to 70s, and there was no discernible "vintageness" that was common to all. Martins, Selmer, Buescher, Conn - all have their own sound, but there's nothing that defines 50s, 60s, or 70s.I have been debating getting a Low Bb also, a vintage one would be preferred. A local place has a Low Bb that was a trade in, Selmer I believe (going there today, will verify), mid 70's, silver keys and the bell on this baby is just huge it seems compared to others. Something about that, that I like. Vintage certainly has a sound too, not so much sure of this 70's vintage (what do you guys think of 70's Low Bb sound??), but earlier horns from the 50's and 60's I feel have a tone all of their own from what I have heard, but I have never played.
It's not likely the 'material' per se (MANY conversations about this over in the tech section, sax and body) since a sax's tone isn't coming from how the body resonates like, say, a violin or guitar's would. It has a lot to do with body geometry, neck geometry, things like that.JayePDX, thanks for chiming in! I was thinking about that too (material) and material in many aspects of anything can make a difference. It seems that old Holton I mentioned seemed to maybe be a heavier material than what my new Jupiter has, or any of the new ones for that matter. Some horns have larger bells, or bells that gradually get larger from the bottom to the top of the bell I feel could also produce a different type of tone. Makes me curious about my dads mid 60's Tenor that I play (Vito, Duke Special, French made) against a new tenor, if it would have a different tone to it also compared to new?
Well...the 'for sure' is what might throw you. Keep in mind (although this is a generalization) people usually will 'sacrifice' the familiarity of modern keywork in order to get the tone and certain other intangibles which come along with a vintage horn. Personally, having refurbed around 150 BigHorns, there's a lot which is 'wanting' in the design of the 12M. It didn't evolve much over the 50 years it was around, kinda funny that. Particularly the keywork and the issues of intonation/getting it in-tune. I personally feel many other makers, including Holton, nailed it much better. Yet they ARE arguably THE most popular vintage Baritone; and they DO have that 12M signature 'sound' and blowing response.I would have to find one that the left pinky finger keys are comfortable for sure. My Jupiter is a sweet setup, and the left pinky keys are so comfortable! An old one would have to be the same for comfort. I cannot remember, but I held a mid 70's Conn Bari, and a mid 70's Selmer Bari (silver keys I mentioned in an earlier post) and one of those Bari's it seems the pinky keys were hanging way out, and not comfortable to me in the least. I don't remember the exact year per the serial's but I want to say 76 Conn & 79 Selmer is what it was.