The NEW Eastman 52nd Street Baritone: Better than a Pro Yamaha?

[@bettersax]

Jim, so great to hear you playing the new Burnin' Bari piece! I clicked on this video to hear the Eastman bari and got a special unexpected treat, thank you! Sounding great as always, and this is a perfect demonstration of what that piece can do. Seems really easy for you to play. Love the finish on the Eastman. I don't think those rolled tone holes improve the sound at all but they sure do look cool. That horn reminds me of my old Conn with rolled tone holes. Great video!

[@saxworldwide]

Many thanks Jay. Yes, I'm planning on putting the mouthpiece through it's paces tomorrow in a video that may include a few other pieces, so stay tuned!

[@bassofthe]

​@@saxworldwidewhen is that video coming?

[@bsnmanrob]

It would be hard for me to change from my 1925 Conn but this sounds/looks like a real option in modern horns.

[@tkannen]

Nice to see a pro baritone offering at a relatively affordable price. I’ve not played the Eastman line, but what I’ve heard is impressive. I will testify rolled tone hole definitely make a difference in timbre and response and, according to my tech, they increase pad longevity too. I’m not likely to replace my Keilwerth anytime soon, but if I do, this new Eastman would be on my short list.

[@saxworldwide]

Thanks for comments on the rolled tone holes!

[@RalphBrooker-gn9iv]

There are very few lacquered finishes that I like. My first sax was a reasonably priced Guban alto (modelled under licence on the old Selmer Mk.6) It had a wonderful deep gold lacquer as opposed to the Selmer Super Action Urine Yellow finish.

[@sparstangled]

It's so difficult to find and test new baris, really appreciate the video. One day I'll have that low A horn money.

[@saxworldwide]

Keep saving!

[@armandoalvarezfleites1873]

I agree with you. It’s difficult to hear the difference in the video. However with headphone I do hear what you describe. I prefer the sound of the Eastman. It looks like a fun instrument to play. Thank you for the review.

[@vagabondarcade7633]

On my studio monitors, the Eastman had stuffier sounding low end, but not necessarily in a bad way. I thought the highs seemed fuller and more well formed than the Yamaha. That aged finish is gorgeous, I wish Yama and Yani would offer it.

[@alanpavel361]

I was told, but haven't tried, if you can be lucky to have a side by side with an HCouf Superba I which has rolled tone holes and the Superba II which has drawn tone holes. I am mainly an alto player, and play at home now in my retirement, and use a Martin Indiana, which has drawn tone holes. For a Baritone, if I was lucky enough to afford one, I would take the Eastman over the Yamaha. Just such a real vintage vibe with the sound and the depth and soul that I like hearing from a Baritone. The Yamaha is beautiful to look at, but when I hear a baritone I want to really hear the kind of gut and core that the Eastman delivered. It has that Gerry Mulligan type sound, and was so enjoyable to listen to in your video.

[@saxworldwide]

Great perspective, thanks!

[@skyparrot1999]

As far as rolled Vs. non rolled tone holes, if you side by side a 52nd street alto and a Rue St. Georges alto with the S neck you’ll see the difference. They’re built on the same tube.

[@WARL0CK]

Interesting... It seemed to me when listening that you were working harder on the Yamaha. Maybe it's the THX speakers I listen through, but I definitely noticed a difference in the sound. Not a "huge" difference but the Yamaha seemed more open to my ears. Curious how the 52nd Street compares to a Cannonball Big Bell B5. They seem to be similarly priced. At least from what my local dealer told me he sells the Cannonball bari. Great video!

[@saxworldwide]

Exactly, I working harder on the Yamaha!

[@christinastavenhagen-helgr6082]

Thanks Jim. You sound great on both horns. I’d love to try the pieces you played. Would you share be willing to share names, tracks, or music you used? Thanks. I appreciate your channel.

[@cameronpfiffner3415]

I enjoyed your playing. Both horns sounded good, and I’m sure would sound very different played by different players on different mouthpieces. It’s a very personal thing, your sound, and what works for one player might be completely unacceptable to another. I have an old Buescher Aristocrat from the 50s, and I love it.

[@derekvalenti6657]

To my ears the Yamaha had more depth, I found the Eastman just slightly more lightweight. However, there really wasn't a tremendous difference. I liked the look of the Eastman and your description of lighter closer action is appealing. Great video, thanks.

[@900schutter]

this looks and sounds gorgeous. currently i'm playing on a loaner lien cheng but this would be a great first bari for myself.

[@saxworldwide]

Definitely so!

[@lawrenceleighton122]

I notice that you also use SYOS mouthpieces. I got one for my bass sax yesterday and was very disappointed with it. It is so much longer than my JodyJazz that I had to shove it all the way to the end of the cork to play in tune. They said their baritone sax ligature would fit it, but they are wrong. They said to try a baritone reed. Would you use a tenor reed on a baritone mouthpiece? Neither would I. Also the mouthpice is harder to blow. Trying to play it softly sounds like crap - too "airy". I know this isn't about your video, but I like your channel and thought I should let you know.

[@Jerfish1]

I have a tenor 52nd street 852, wondering if there’s a way to make the engraving pop a bit more - same would apply to this bari

[@mikesaxclar]

Keilwertg SX90 ( no rolled tone holes) and SX90R (rolled tone holes). Big difference in the fullness and richness of the sound to me with the rolled.

[@saxworldwide]

Ah yes, you're right - this is the comparison to make. At Sax we used to stock the SX90R a lot, but rarely the SX90. Interesting that you found a big difference!

[@mikelevand8272]

Is that TOP in the background music?

[@SAXDAVEBOY]

Definitely a stunning looking Bari. I had a System 54 Bari that looked like that. Yamaha really won that for me. Just more of everything.

[@saxworldwide]

Got it!

[@carloschalfon8158]

I was waiting for a while to try it or watch a good review of the Eastman. I think it's more like the P.Mauriat sound which also has rolled Tone holes. Might come down to Check the burning MPC and this new beast.

[@saxworldwide]

Please do.

[@SAXDAVEBOY]

Of course the player experience is key but on listening the Eastman sounded stuffy . Yamaha as ever had that more singing quality

[@benhostetler268]

There is very little difference in sound between the two but we are talking about the most forgiving sax of the popular 4 in the sax family.

[@saxworldwide]

That's very true

[@jimm4905]

Jim - you sound better using the Jody Jazz DV NY on a Yanagisawa. It would be interesting to hear you use the DV NY on the Eastman Bari.

[@saxworldwide]

I'll have to try it and compare to the Burnin.

[@pimeye]

As someone who is not a great fan of Yamahas, the Yamaha really blows the Eastman away. Much better projection and sounds more like a bari.

[@saxworldwide]

Interesting - thanks.

[@RalphBrooker-gn9iv]

Shame you didn’t compare both either accompanied or unaccompanied. The YBS62 sounded quite Pepper Adams. Love the aesthetics of the Eastman (which I’ve never heard of).

[@saxworldwide]

Hi Ralph! You can find them both accompanied at the end of the video and unaccompanied in the middle 👌🏻🎷

[@RalphBrooker-gn9iv]

@@saxworldwide Thanks. Sorry for missing that.

[@seandennis3148]

Hi Jim! First off, I'm admitting my bias, I'm an owner of a YBS-62(1). The 52nd St seems very promising. I did hear bigger and bolder from the YBS-62, particularly in the ending clips with the backing tracks, both on iphone and headphones. I'm in a heavy metal big band and I've got an aftermarket Yamaha unlacquered V1 custom neck and a Jody Jazz Super Jet 9. I need bigger and bolder. So even if I was in the market for a bari, I'd still get the YBS-62. For unlacquered there's P Mauriat's PMB300 UL, and I'll admit, I'd love to test play a YBS-82UL. I'm glad to hear more opinions of Jay & Jody's baritone Burnin' mouthpiece collaboration.

[@MusicandTractors]

Yamaha so much more power and full sound. I can tell even on an iPhone. I love everything about rolled tone holes except for the sticky pads. More surface area tends to stick more.

[@saxworldwide]

That can be very true - although in the first few days of trying this bari no sticky pads to report

[@VitorOliveira10]

my dream is to have a baritone, the only problem is money… too expensive for me.😢

[@Xavia_Dimoff]

I bought a 1965 H.N. White king bari off of Ebay for $220. I’m getting it overhauled at the shop I work at. It will be in essentially brand new condition for under $2,500

[@johnshaw8288]

You need a pair of recording head phones they give you a speaker sound. Know idea where you get them . Be lucky .

[@johanholm2109]

Yamaha wins! But the eastman sounds pretty good too.

[@martyg374]

Way too much emphasis is being placed on the horns these days. The player and the mouthpiece are much more important.

[@DiMoraDiamond]

I preferred the Yamaha.

[@lucasax78]

Why?

[@DiMoraDiamond]

@@lucasax78 The Eastman sounded stuffy. I liked the brighter and in certain notes raspier, nastier sound of the Yamaha.

[@Xavia_Dimoff]

The craftsmanship of the Eastman is incredibly unimpressive. Regardless of the type of finish, there should not be so much visible solder and file marks.

[@shanenapoleon6725]

To me Bari's only sound nice in a sax section or in some harmony😅