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Sax on the Web Forum Archive / Baritone Saxophone / Vandoren jazz MP for bari?

Eastwind
User ID: 0130044 Dec 4th 6:00 PM
Hi, what sort of sound and playability can I expect from Vandoren B75 mouthpieces? They seem to be the only brand of jazz bari MP available in my area...

Anji
User ID: 9558813 Dec 4th 6:55 PM
Have a look to MuncyWinds of Boone, NC to expand your choices. For that kind of money, you could almost afford a nice one from Ronnie Coelho of RPC mouthpieces.

Merlin
User ID: 8931733 Dec 4th 8:13 PM
I've been using the Vandoren B75 for about a dozen years now. You really can't go wrong with it for an all round big band/jazz/commercial piece.

Eastwind
User ID: 0130044 Dec 5th 4:54 PM
Merlin, could it be too open for someone who prefers rather closed pieces (Berg 80/2 SMS on alto, Link 6 on tenor)? Any idea why there is such a wide gap between the B35 (.082") and B75 (.108")? I'm new to the bari, but for the first period, I've been almost satisfied with a noname piece with big square chamber, opened to ca .095", which is right in the middle between B35 and B75. Gerry Mulligan is closer to the sound I'm after than anybody else I heard, although I still got to listen to more Big Horn players to fine-tune the "tonal concept". Do you still think I could be "compatible" with B75?

Merlin
User ID: 8931733 Dec 5th 4:56 PM
I don't find it plays that big. Have you tried it?

As for compatibility, I play an alto piece that's smaller than .80....

J. Calhoun
User ID: 1244314 Dec 5th 5:36 PM
I currently play an old Vandoren MP on baritone. It is #8 "S", whatever that is. I have looked at current B75 MPs and they look very very close to mine.

With this MP, which measures out at about 0.108 in., and Vandoren #3 or Rico Jazz select #3M reeds, I can play over an entire big band without amplification and be heard just fine. I can also play ppp without strain. Intonation is excellent on my 1947 Conn baritone. The only issue is that I had to extend the shank of the MP about half an inch for it to be secure on the neck cork when tuned properly.

If the new ones play like this one, I would highly recommend.

DD
User ID: 9070813 Dec 5th 6:56 PM
I just picked up a B35 on ebay and find it to be the mellow counterpart to my "edgy when pushed" red box metal Berg 80/0. I prefer closed pieces too - must be the classical training that does that. They work well on both my 12m and YBS-61.

Eastwind
User ID: 0130044 Jan 6th 3:11 PM
Thanks for all the input - bought the B75 today. The B35 was a little toothless in my mouth - must be the lack of classical training :-) The B75 plays easier than anything I've tried on the bari so far and seems to be very willing to accomodate soundwise (yes, it's probably not really a step towards Mulligan's sound, but I like it as it is). I think I'll be satisfied with this piece.

Merlin
User ID: 8931733 Jan 6th 9:24 PM
Give it a try w/Vandoren #3's...

Legere #3's work great as well and last just about forever.

kevvieg
User ID: 8820133 Jan 6th 9:32 PM
If you want the Mulligan sound that's the piece that will deliver. I personally found it inflexible for my needs - would be great if I had to play legit - but I couldn't get any more guts out of my tone than the Mulligan thing. Of course I play on a Link 9* and a Barone HR Link, so I'm looking for a sound about halfway between Brignola and Adams.

Eastwind User ID: 0130044	Dec 4th 6:00 PM Hi, what sort of sound and playability can I expect from Vandoren B75 mouthpieces? They seem to be the only brand of jazz bari MP available in my area...
Anji User ID: 9558813	Dec 4th 6:55 PM Have a look to MuncyWinds of Boone, NC to expand your choices. For that kind of money, you could almost afford a nice one from Ronnie Coelho of RPC mouthpieces.
Merlin User ID: 8931733	Dec 4th 8:13 PM I've been using the Vandoren B75 for about a dozen years now. You really can't go wrong with it for an all round big band/jazz/commercial piece.
Eastwind User ID: 0130044	Dec 5th 4:54 PM Merlin, could it be too open for someone who prefers rather closed pieces (Berg 80/2 SMS on alto, Link 6 on tenor)? Any idea why there is such a wide gap between the B35 (.082") and B75 (.108")? I'm new to the bari, but for the first period, I've been almost satisfied with a noname piece with big square chamber, opened to ca .095", which is right in the middle between B35 and B75. Gerry Mulligan is closer to the sound I'm after than anybody else I heard, although I still got to listen to more Big Horn players to fine-tune the "tonal concept". Do you still think I could be "compatible" with B75?
Merlin User ID: 8931733	Dec 5th 4:56 PM I don't find it plays that big. Have you tried it? As for compatibility, I play an alto piece that's smaller than .80....
J. Calhoun User ID: 1244314	Dec 5th 5:36 PM I currently play an old Vandoren MP on baritone. It is #8 "S", whatever that is. I have looked at current B75 MPs and they look very very close to mine. With this MP, which measures out at about 0.108 in., and Vandoren #3 or Rico Jazz select #3M reeds, I can play over an entire big band without amplification and be heard just fine. I can also play ppp without strain. Intonation is excellent on my 1947 Conn baritone. The only issue is that I had to extend the shank of the MP about half an inch for it to be secure on the neck cork when tuned properly. If the new ones play like this one, I would highly recommend.
DD User ID: 9070813	Dec 5th 6:56 PM I just picked up a B35 on ebay and find it to be the mellow counterpart to my "edgy when pushed" red box metal Berg 80/0. I prefer closed pieces too - must be the classical training that does that. They work well on both my 12m and YBS-61.
Eastwind User ID: 0130044	Jan 6th 3:11 PM Thanks for all the input - bought the B75 today. The B35 was a little toothless in my mouth - must be the lack of classical training :-) The B75 plays easier than anything I've tried on the bari so far and seems to be very willing to accomodate soundwise (yes, it's probably not really a step towards Mulligan's sound, but I like it as it is). I think I'll be satisfied with this piece.
Merlin User ID: 8931733	Jan 6th 9:24 PM Give it a try w/Vandoren #3's... Legere #3's work great as well and last just about forever.
kevvieg User ID: 8820133	Jan 6th 9:32 PM If you want the Mulligan sound that's the piece that will deliver. I personally found it inflexible for my needs - would be great if I had to play legit - but I couldn't get any more guts out of my tone than the Mulligan thing. Of course I play on a Link 9* and a Barone HR Link, so I'm looking for a sound about halfway between Brignola and Adams.