Bari Sax Comparisons Low A vs Low Bb

[@glendenig9962]

I have a 1932-1934 Buescher True Tone baritone sax. I love it! Key structure takes a bit of stretching but the tone is that of a cello according to band members. I agree. Deep, rich, and full. Powerful yet mellow.

[@peterle3780]

The P Mauriat 302 and the Yamaha 62 are horns built specifically for different settings, even though they're usable in any. More and more arrangements that include baritone saxophone are being written with Low A's. My friend who arranges many saxophone quartet arrangements for our ensemble didn't even know how popular low Bb bari's still are. There is so much demand for a Low A these days that it's really becoming a regularly used note for the instrument. However, if a bari player is in a stable position of reading ONLY Eb lead sheets or alto parts, knowing that they won't need a low A, a low Bb horn wouldn't hurt if he or she prefers one. The P Mauriat did have a bigger sound, but some major factors were that you were standing closer to the camera and the bell of the horn is aimed more outward from the horn (like most Low Bb's) and lower/closer to the camera, so the it was easier for the mic to pick up the low notes, so I can't make a full conclusion on what I like better. I did enjoy how even the notes were on the Yamaha as you were shredding :) As much as I might sometimes prefer a low Bb's sound, the extreme versatility of the Yamaha is one of it's biggest selling points. Spending $7000+ on a low Bb horn knowing that I have chamber ensemble repertoire with low A's wouldn't be the best investment for me. I guess I'll stick with my Yamaha 52 for now. Otherwise, you still sounded amazing on all of the horns. Good luck on your bari hunt :D

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Turns out that Low A is a bit more versatile plus that low note sounds as the same Low C on a Cello. If you transpose Baritone Sax music to concert pitch it's like reading Bass Clef. But if we did the same w/ the all new Low A Alto Sax it would be like reading the Octave Higher Bass clef that's common in Female Barbershop Quartet music:kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2fPoGSvrrVkppY

[@olafstenzel2684]

Well, my Bari is an old silver Lignatone Bb from around 1950. I play it with a Yamaha V16 B7 Mouthpiece and V16 2 1/2 reeds. It has someone strange trill keys for dis and gis. It sounds good, but just brought it to a revision... I am very much looking forward to get it back.. Good luck for finding you a bari

[@llRoBoBinHoll]

Interesting, however I think the changes in distance from the mic may make a big difference in how we hear each instrument. With the first one you’re standing quite close and sax sounds nice and deep, while later on in the vid you get further away

[@Sirvalorsax]

That rich deep thing in the sound is there with the Low Bb and not so much with any of the Low A saxes. I did noticed some proximity effects upon watching this video after the fact so for the next ones , I will minimize that.

[@yazurai4667]

I usually view low Bb as the Gerry Mulligan mellow tone and the Low A the gritty Ronnie Cuber sound

[@jimwilpula9256]

Low Bb baritones play more like saxophones. The tone is so much fuller and even throughout the entire range of the horn, which is why I play a low Bb VI.

[@royharrison9471]

Thanks for another interesting video. I think the comparison you should do before you buy is to compare two P Mauriat baris, one with the Low A and one without.

[@mambojazz1]

The Yamaha sound more like Tower of Power and the baritone sax sound most people are used to. But the Mauriat is open, warm, and well...seems to sound more like a saxophone

[@michaeljohnson9969]

I like the tone of the low Bb horns better. I also prefer Buesher big “B” horns. Fatter , rounder tone. The key mechanisms are a little crude, but the sound and power are what I’m into.

[@garyreid6165]

The difference is clear. The B-flat baritone from P. Mauriat has a fullness in sound because it is made for the soloist (think Gerry Mulligan). The Yamaha 62 baritone is uniformly for ensembles and has its own place. It can be used to play solo by Lisa Simpson, Leo P, Ronnie Cuber, Eric Leeds and James Carter (who demonstrates P. Mauriat saxophones and pretty much pushes them to the limit). In short, I prefer the P. Mauriat B-flat baritone. As a tenor player it would be a great doubling horn if I didn’t want to play a soprano saxophone or an alto(if in an ensemble with a saxophone section of two or three horns it will probably steal the show onstage, if other players in the section were doubling or more).

[@nathanabird]

I wish you the best of luck finding a Bari that you're both happy with and fits your budget. I bought my Bari about 3 years ago. I shopped for about 6 months or so before actually buying. I tried everything I could within about a 2 hour drive of where I live. I even tried an old Bass and also play tested a Yamaha 32 twice because I forgot why I didn't like it and a really nice used one came up. In the end I got to the point where the Yamaha 62 (v1 version, was before they made the v2's) became what I compared everything else against. What I actually bought was a Silver Selmer Mark VI. It was very similar price to a new Yamaha 62 and I figured it wouldn't lose as much value as a new Yamaha 62. This was important because I'd been encouraged to try a Keilwerth Shadow and well that thing just sang. I remember the first time I played tested a Bari having never played one before. It was so much fun. After I'd tried over a dozen Bari's the experience became very much same same and it became hard to differentiate between the different instruments. This was why I then set in my mind the Yamaha 62 as the standard and compared everything else to it so I had some kind of measuring stick. However when I played the FIRST NOTE on the Keilwerth Shadow it was like the first time I played a Bari all over again. I fell in love, but not with the price tag. It was nearly double the budget I'd set. To satisfy my curiosity I picked up a new Selmer Series 2 or 3 which was priced higher than the Keilwerth and played it too thinking maybe that's what you got for the price tag. I didn't like the new Selmer, I actually would prefer a Yamaha 62 over the new Selmer I tried. So I bought the Selmer Mark VI. It was similarly priced to a new Yamaha 62 and performed comparably too. I was comfortable with this decision because then I could play this for as long as I liked and feel that I could sell it again without it losing much if any value. This will hopefully allow me one day to trade up to a Keilwerth Shadow. I've since bought a really nice used Keilwerth Shadow Alto which I really love. I also found your note about the Low A key on the Yamaha interesting. I recall when picking up the Selmer Series 2/3 that it had a rather unique Low A key. The store actually had both the 2 and 3, the other was locked in a cabinet but I could see that the low A keys on the 2 and 3 were very different to each other. On the Low Bb vs Low A front. For me the low A is really handy being it's a concert C. I don't play music specifically written for Sax, so the instrument range isn't taken into account

[@jijoe4394]

So... I use candore Java 7 and léger 2.75. I find that to hard for me I think I'll came back to the 2.25 maybe it'll be better also for try to find armonic. What you suggest. Maybe cane reed are also more easy to modulate overtone, in special way for a beginner like me... You know... Try exploring...

[@ldever3]

The P. Mauriat has a much richer sound, and the low notes don’t have as many overtones coming through. I imagine it isn’t cheap though.

[@onichimmy]

Bro I think im fine with my Yamaha YBS-62 low a Bari. It is honestly the best Bari in my opinion for any setting.👍

[@leighmurrell5494]

Good MP, go Low A and Fiberreed in my humble opinion.

[@rafaeltapia8275]

I guarantee you’ll absolutely love a Yanagisawa Bari! Try one before making up your mind!

[@Sirvalorsax]

I wonder if they make a low Bb version

[@Dani-xz1uw]

The Mauriat had a little bit of magic in the tone which I didn't quite hear in the Yamaha. Dumb question, do low Bb bari players find themselves wishing they had a low A often?

[@Sirvalorsax]

Only when they need one for a gig. 😆 I think that people equate a Low A bari with that of a 5 string bass as opposed to a 4 string BUT..... you get five extra notes with the extra string. With a low A bari, you only get one extra note. Kind of makes it hard to justify the tonal trade off BUT..... there are more songs in C than there are in Db so it kind of makes sense to have the extra note

[@jazzygiraffe8589]

Hello, Mr. ValirSax I'm considering getting myself a Bari. There's a guy on the web I've purchased mouthpieces from in the past that I am happy with who's selling a 1940s Conn Bari completely overhauled by a sax repairman I know and trust about a year ago for around 2400€ You think I can go wrong getting that? It has no front F, no low A, no high F# I'll be very happy to hear your opinion on it.

[@Sirvalorsax]

I'd have to know what you intend to use it for to make a really good judgement on that but.... I would look for something newer that at least had a front "F"

[@gangofgreenhorns2672]

My stepdaughter has severe autism and jumped up and started dancing around when you played the Simpsons theme lol. Do you think I should go for a rent to own YBS-52, or put the money into overhauling my Bb King Super 20 bari? Kind of leaning towards the former.

[@Sirvalorsax]

I would only get a no interest payment plan if I were going to do installments. Rent to own in the long run is super expensive. Maybe try to find one one the used market or take advantage of the discounts that online music stores offer. I don't particularly like older ssxes because newer ones are just so much more refined

[@curtisvalle5141]

The B flat sound seems more focused. Do you see addition of a bari because of section work or using more in solos? i know you are a tenor guy.... and I guess we are all supposed to "major" on one voice to concentrate our efforts or possibly folks just naturally gravitate a certain direction. I've struggled to limit focus on one horn. Always wondered why super pros were alto guys or tenor guys. And tenor guys more prone to double on sop, I never bought the B flat key as primary reason. It's a curse to want to be good on all and a double curse to haul the whole litter all over town. I play an early 60s B flat Bundy that pretty sure is a last-run Beuscher ,JJ HR mpc. Plays well, takes a beating and it was cheap. Kinda amazing how a cheap octaver can turn an alto into a bari.... if one was prepared to cheat :} You continue to rule, Sir. PS I've ditched all the plastic reeds on all horns. The best are consistently good but never a home run like the odd cane can be. IMVHO

[@Cysubtor_8vb]

I wish I could afford a bari sax, but I don't play woodwinds enough to deem such a purchase. A friend of mine hooked me up with a Yamaha alto to at least start learning sax, but it's making it more obvious that I prefer the low end and, funny enough, that same friend plays a big o' bass sax 🤣 Have pondered bass clarinet as well since I've seen some cheaper models offered.

[@starlikeromp]

Get a Kessler

[@gamingmusicmishaps]

In your opinion is tenor or bari harder, and by how much.

[@curtisvalle5141]

They are both hard to play well.

[@quentinwhite5230]

The Bari is just a little slower to finger the lower notes as you have to move the keys a longer distance. I play both and there really isnt a comparison as such because they each play a different part in the band. also the Bari takes a lot more air

[@gamingmusicmishaps]

I'd say about the same difficulty (from experience), I just wanted others' opinions. I love to play all saxes, but my favorite is the bari.

[@andersskeie3760]

I know Rampone & Cazzani offers Bari saxes without the Low A. Hand made italian beauties🎷

[@Sirvalorsax]

I'll look into it. Thanks for the info 👍

[@josecervando786]

Feliz domingo soy mexicano y no entiendo tu idioma , más me gusta sax tenor gracias

[@josecervando786]

Me faltaría aire para bari

[@Njderig]

You sound great on both the Yamaha and P Mauriat but I’ve always preferred low B flats because that’s the real design on the baritone saxophone. A low A isn’t just a bari with an extra note on it. The bell is longer and narrower which changes the entire tone of the horn creating a stuffier tone. I remember being a bari player in high school and without any technical knowledge of the difference of the horns I picked the low B flat bari. Plus a low A bari just looks weird.

[@SkylersRants]

Thanks. Sirvalorsax had an odd omission in not explaining what the difference is. I used to play bari sax in college and I kind of liked it, but it was in terrible condition. I always wonder how much better it would be had the horn been properly overhauled.

[@BKrystall]

The low B flat baritones are lighter and have a fatter sound than the low A.