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Sax on the Web Forum Archive / Baritone Saxophone / Does bari require a harder reed?

Subtone Sam
User ID: 1432154 Jan 18th 8:18 AM
I´ve been playing bari just for couple of months now so I´m not much of a bariplayer yet but I feel bari needs a harder reed/mpc combination than tenor to sound clear and strong.

I´m using RPC .125 or delrin Q #14 (.124) mouthpieces.LaVoz mediums are quite easy to play with these pieces but I feel the sound lacks some power and is bit muddy.LaVoz mediumhards do sound better overall but require lots of air and I have some difficulty getting the low notes pop out easy (important thing on bari to get them every time).

So,I´m asking you people do you use harder mpc/reed setups on bari than tenor? I´m playing around .115-.120 mpcs (8*,9) on tenor with LaVoz mediums.
.125 on bari is around 8*,too but I feel I get the best sound with LaVoz mediumhards.Thanks!

cycleboy
User ID: 8185963 Jan 18th 8:36 AM
I'm primarily a tenor player, what I find with bari is that it takes quite a bit more air and breath support...and those are some moderately open mouthpieces you're playing. Choose a reed that's TOO hard and you'll battle the urge to really clamp down on your embouchure.

I know because I'm using a RPC .125 and/or Florida Link 8* depending on my mood. I worked up to playing a Rico Jazz Select 3M (Filed) and get a good, full sound (been using a modern Selmer and just recently got a vintage 12M...different "colors" in the tone but both are full-sounding with the set-up I use).

FWIW, I find that I get a FULL, FAT sound by paying special attention to full diaphram support and PUTTING A BIG VOLUME OF AIR through the horn. I'm spending extra time on long tones...boring, boring, boring...but it really helps.

Maybe you could work up to the LaVoz medium hards...and hopefully you have a horn with reso's on the pads (some don't) to help give some edge, not a bad thing on a bari IMHO. A bari's tone is just a different timbre and that is it's charm. But put enough air though there to get *project* and that "muddiness" should go away.

And I'm not much of a bari player yet, either, but working on it! :)

Good luck.

cycleboy
User ID: 8185963 Jan 18th 8:37 AM
(OT)

Subtone Sam, thanks, too, for the recommendation on the Hodge swabs. Looked on their web site and they do INDEED have them.

RS
User ID: 8339223 Jan 18th 11:35 AM
I don't play any tenor so I can't say if my bari reeds tend to be harder. But I like a pretty strong set-up on bari. I play a RIA 10* mouthpiece (.145" tip) with a Rico Royal #3 reed. This set-up takes a good bit of air and lungpower but I have found that easier blowing set-ups just don't get the volume I need unless I'm miked. Though recently I've come down a notch in reed strength (3.5 to 3 ). I don't like to have to work TOO hard.

big Nick
User ID: 8841313 Jan 18th 12:13 PM
I've always found that I play on harder reeds on baritone than on the other 3 (sop, alt, ten). But it does depend on the playing situation. Tonight, in a soul band, I shall be playing on a Berg 110/1 with a hard Fibracell (I used to play a Rousseau JDX8 with Rico 5s). For quieter gigs I've got a Meyer 9 that I use with LaVoz mediums. For the others I never go above medium hard whatever the situation.
I guess it's mostly down to ratio of reed size to tip opening/facing length. The equivalent bari mpc to my tenor Quantum 16 would probably be a tad wide for me.

Bootman
User ID: 7601343 Jan 18th 3:27 PM
I use a 3 1/2 Plasticover with a drilled hole plays beautifully on the Lamberson 8DD I have here, the La Voz Med or Med Hard also work but you loose the punch and projection. This set-up on a Conn 12M will cut through a big band in all registers and soloing no mic is easy too.

This Plasticover set-up is the warmest and biggest sounding set-up I have yet found.

Subtone Sam
User ID: 1432154 Jan 18th 4:35 PM
Thanks for the input!
I guess a bit harder reeds are necessary for that bari sound I´m after.Back to the shed!

cycleboy
User ID: 8185963 Jan 18th 9:28 PM
[To Bootman]

I saw those drilled reeds on your web site! Will have to give it a whirl.

Bootman
User ID: 7601343 Jan 18th 11:26 PM
Give it a try, it willopen the bottom end of the horn right up. I was shown the original trick by an old player here, I have mucked around with it a little further and have found that it really works.

Let us know how you fare with it.

George Briscoe
User ID: 9161143 Jan 19th 2:58 AM
Everyone's different (and so are their mouthpieces), but yes, I use a harder reed on bari than on the other saxes: Rico Jazz Select: Soprano(unfiled, Bay metal 7) 3S, Alto (filed, Lakey 4*3) 2H, Tenor (filed, Bay metal 7) 2H or 3S, Bari (filed, Berg Hard Rubber 110, serious custom baffle) 3M. But that's just me. Experiment & have fun learning! :^)>

stevew
User ID: 1202654 Jan 19th 5:04 AM
I use 2 or 2.5 strength reeds on bari, about half a strength less than I like on my other horns. This with the stock Yani 5 and Jody Jazz 8, both of which are only really medium opening. So, for me, if anything, softer reeds on bari - but as always it has to suit the mouthpiece and the player. Can I subtone?, Are the top notes in tune? does the sound break up or remain stable at high as well as low volumes? - that is probably how I'd test the set-up.

MojoBari
User ID: 1320554 Jan 24th 9:28 AM
I use similar tip openings on tenor and bari (.105"-.110") and fairly long facings. I end up using 1/2 strength harder reeds on bari (3.5 Fibracell).

cycleboy
User ID: 0247944 Jan 24th 11:06 AM
Mojo, how long does a Fibracell last? I've been thinking about trying a synthetic reed.

MojoBari
User ID: 1320554 Jan 24th 11:54 AM
I'd say at least 10X longer than cane.

Bootman
User ID: 7601343 Jan 24th 4:24 PM
Why not try a plasticover too, they last a long time an dhave a richer tone than the Fibracell's I have played. RJS and LA Voz are also big favourites here.

Subtone Sam User ID: 1432154	Jan 18th 8:18 AM I´ve been playing bari just for couple of months now so I´m not much of a bariplayer yet but I feel bari needs a harder reed/mpc combination than tenor to sound clear and strong. I´m using RPC .125 or delrin Q #14 (.124) mouthpieces.LaVoz mediums are quite easy to play with these pieces but I feel the sound lacks some power and is bit muddy.LaVoz mediumhards do sound better overall but require lots of air and I have some difficulty getting the low notes pop out easy (important thing on bari to get them every time). So,I´m asking you people do you use harder mpc/reed setups on bari than tenor? I´m playing around .115-.120 mpcs (8,9) on tenor with LaVoz mediums. .125 on bari is around 8,too but I feel I get the best sound with LaVoz mediumhards.Thanks!
cycleboy User ID: 8185963	Jan 18th 8:36 AM I'm primarily a tenor player, what I find with bari is that it takes quite a bit more air and breath support...and those are some moderately open mouthpieces you're playing. Choose a reed that's TOO hard and you'll battle the urge to really clamp down on your embouchure. I know because I'm using a RPC .125 and/or Florida Link 8* depending on my mood. I worked up to playing a Rico Jazz Select 3M (Filed) and get a good, full sound (been using a modern Selmer and just recently got a vintage 12M...different "colors" in the tone but both are full-sounding with the set-up I use). FWIW, I find that I get a FULL, FAT sound by paying special attention to full diaphram support and PUTTING A BIG VOLUME OF AIR through the horn. I'm spending extra time on long tones...boring, boring, boring...but it really helps. Maybe you could work up to the LaVoz medium hards...and hopefully you have a horn with reso's on the pads (some don't) to help give some edge, not a bad thing on a bari IMHO. A bari's tone is just a different timbre and that is it's charm. But put enough air though there to get project and that "muddiness" should go away. And I'm not much of a bari player yet, either, but working on it! :) Good luck.
cycleboy User ID: 8185963	Jan 18th 8:37 AM (OT) Subtone Sam, thanks, too, for the recommendation on the Hodge swabs. Looked on their web site and they do INDEED have them.
RS User ID: 8339223	Jan 18th 11:35 AM I don't play any tenor so I can't say if my bari reeds tend to be harder. But I like a pretty strong set-up on bari. I play a RIA 10* mouthpiece (.145" tip) with a Rico Royal #3 reed. This set-up takes a good bit of air and lungpower but I have found that easier blowing set-ups just don't get the volume I need unless I'm miked. Though recently I've come down a notch in reed strength (3.5 to 3 ). I don't like to have to work TOO hard.
big Nick User ID: 8841313	Jan 18th 12:13 PM I've always found that I play on harder reeds on baritone than on the other 3 (sop, alt, ten). But it does depend on the playing situation. Tonight, in a soul band, I shall be playing on a Berg 110/1 with a hard Fibracell (I used to play a Rousseau JDX8 with Rico 5s). For quieter gigs I've got a Meyer 9 that I use with LaVoz mediums. For the others I never go above medium hard whatever the situation. I guess it's mostly down to ratio of reed size to tip opening/facing length. The equivalent bari mpc to my tenor Quantum 16 would probably be a tad wide for me.
Bootman User ID: 7601343	Jan 18th 3:27 PM I use a 3 1/2 Plasticover with a drilled hole plays beautifully on the Lamberson 8DD I have here, the La Voz Med or Med Hard also work but you loose the punch and projection. This set-up on a Conn 12M will cut through a big band in all registers and soloing no mic is easy too. This Plasticover set-up is the warmest and biggest sounding set-up I have yet found.
Subtone Sam User ID: 1432154	Jan 18th 4:35 PM Thanks for the input! I guess a bit harder reeds are necessary for that bari sound I´m after.Back to the shed!
cycleboy User ID: 8185963	Jan 18th 9:28 PM [To Bootman] I saw those drilled reeds on your web site! Will have to give it a whirl.
Bootman User ID: 7601343	Jan 18th 11:26 PM Give it a try, it willopen the bottom end of the horn right up. I was shown the original trick by an old player here, I have mucked around with it a little further and have found that it really works. Let us know how you fare with it.
George Briscoe User ID: 9161143	Jan 19th 2:58 AM Everyone's different (and so are their mouthpieces), but yes, I use a harder reed on bari than on the other saxes: Rico Jazz Select: Soprano(unfiled, Bay metal 7) 3S, Alto (filed, Lakey 4*3) 2H, Tenor (filed, Bay metal 7) 2H or 3S, Bari (filed, Berg Hard Rubber 110, serious custom baffle) 3M. But that's just me. Experiment & have fun learning! :^)>
stevew User ID: 1202654	Jan 19th 5:04 AM I use 2 or 2.5 strength reeds on bari, about half a strength less than I like on my other horns. This with the stock Yani 5 and Jody Jazz 8, both of which are only really medium opening. So, for me, if anything, softer reeds on bari - but as always it has to suit the mouthpiece and the player. Can I subtone?, Are the top notes in tune? does the sound break up or remain stable at high as well as low volumes? - that is probably how I'd test the set-up.
MojoBari User ID: 1320554	Jan 24th 9:28 AM I use similar tip openings on tenor and bari (.105"-.110") and fairly long facings. I end up using 1/2 strength harder reeds on bari (3.5 Fibracell).
cycleboy User ID: 0247944	Jan 24th 11:06 AM Mojo, how long does a Fibracell last? I've been thinking about trying a synthetic reed.
MojoBari User ID: 1320554	Jan 24th 11:54 AM I'd say at least 10X longer than cane.
Bootman User ID: 7601343	Jan 24th 4:24 PM Why not try a plasticover too, they last a long time an dhave a richer tone than the Fibracell's I have played. RJS and LA Voz are also big favourites here.