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Sax on the Web Forum Archive / Baritone Saxophone / Altissimo with Conn

Keilmer
User ID: 0408214 Sep 14th 1:38 PM
Hi,

since perhaps 2 months i'm playing bari also
(in addition to ss, as, ts). No problem with
altissimo on these saxes, but great problems
with my conn-bari (1965).

When I start playing --> no chance with altissimo.
Perhaps after 40 minutes --> better, but REALLY
not good.

Yes, Mr. Robert Luckey (thank you, Mojobari) helped me for some cases (g'''), but it's really
a hard job :-( for most of the other notes.

Ok, I've too add:
- i'm playing a yani metal 8 + rico royal 2,5
- the horn is in fine condition
- toptones with other baritones (Selmer, Yani)
--> no problems
- i'm married

Your Tips (not for the last point) ?
Thank you, keilmer

(thinking also of other things in these days...)

T.S.
User ID: 9753653 Sep 14th 1:47 PM
The Altissimo on my 12M is difficult, and the overtone series at the break (from High d thru high f#) is a trip to try and voice. It's so much easier on my Yani that It's almost like being in two separate saxophone universes.

mutha potamus Sep 14th 1:50 PM
My old (now deceased) 12M was harder on top than my tenors or alto. The loaner 11M I have is extremely hard to get altissimo notes of any substance.

I think I need a refresher course on bari altissimo.

JP
User ID: 2463104 Sep 14th 2:29 PM
I've had trouble with the altissimo on my '34 12M. But my teacher, who plays a Chu normally (and has for over 25 years), could pop it out fine on my bari. Guess it's just practice. I mostly do big band though, so I don't try it that much.

But the high F# is butter.

Bootman
User ID: 2804914 Sep 15th 5:40 PM
The problem with Conn Bariton altissimo is that you have to have a more open throat position than you would on other Baritones. Have a read of Dr Lucky's altissimo book, it has the best alt fingering for Baritone that I have been able to find. I don't have any problems with Bari altissimo, the fingerings are different to alto, tenor or sop alt fingerings.

Try the alt A first, OK - Lh2 Lh3, G# | ---Eb works best on my Chu. Try this one and see wether it pops for you guys.

keilmer
User ID: 0408214 Sep 17th 5:23 AM
thank you for your tips !

in this weekend something crazy happend:
I ordered come bari-mpc's (ok,that's normal for me). In addition to my yani metal 8 two lawtons 7 (metal + kautschuk) and two yani kautschuk 7+8, for test.

I first tested the lawton kautschuk: good, but
no improvement with the high notes. the same
result with the yani 8 kautschuk.

Then with the lawton 7 metal I performed the best
high notes I've ever performed with my conn.
not as good as on my other saxes (ss, as, ts)
but really much better than with the other mpc's.

later I thought: let try me again the high notes
with the other mpc's...and now the result with
these mpc's was also (!) much better than before (but not as good as with the lawton metal).

I don't know exactly what happened.
It may be a special combination of pressure/throat
position, what i found randomly (?) on the lawton.
Having found it I could "easily" transfer it to
the other mpc's. (I also tried before with the
yani to work with less pressure but it hadn't been successful.).

Ok, to get "perfect" top tones with the bari I've
to exercise much more...but now I think (and hope)
I've found a better starting position.

Bootman
User ID: 2804914 Sep 17th 7:42 AM
Lawtons play very well on Bari. To play a Lawton, you must learn to focus your sound through the mpc and horn. Once you have achieved this, gettin gthe most out of your Lawton is very easy. They also have the advantage of being very loud too.

MojoBari
User ID: 1320554 Sep 17th 8:24 AM
keilmer, I had a similar experiance a couple of years ago on bari. A MP change helped me to unlock my altissimo capability (along with Luckey's book). Since then, I've been able to play bari altissimo on just about any MP. Some respond better, some sound better.

keilmer
User ID: 0408214 Oct 28th 8:49 AM
Yes, "to unlock the altissimo capability" is a good description of what happened.

I've just tested the JodyJazz Q...and my
"capabilities" are unlocked more and more !!!

The best and easiest altissimo on my conn bari !
Also I'm able now to produce the different fingerings of Mr. Luckey (including the alt A of Bootman).

Bootman Oct 28th 1:42 PM
Congratulations, I'm glad it is working out for you.

Keilmer User ID: 0408214	Sep 14th 1:38 PM Hi, since perhaps 2 months i'm playing bari also (in addition to ss, as, ts). No problem with altissimo on these saxes, but great problems with my conn-bari (1965). When I start playing --> no chance with altissimo. Perhaps after 40 minutes --> better, but REALLY not good. Yes, Mr. Robert Luckey (thank you, Mojobari) helped me for some cases (g'''), but it's really a hard job :-( for most of the other notes. Ok, I've too add: - i'm playing a yani metal 8 + rico royal 2,5 - the horn is in fine condition - toptones with other baritones (Selmer, Yani) --> no problems - i'm married Your Tips (not for the last point) ? Thank you, keilmer (thinking also of other things in these days...)
T.S. User ID: 9753653	Sep 14th 1:47 PM The Altissimo on my 12M is difficult, and the overtone series at the break (from High d thru high f#) is a trip to try and voice. It's so much easier on my Yani that It's almost like being in two separate saxophone universes.
mutha potamus	Sep 14th 1:50 PM My old (now deceased) 12M was harder on top than my tenors or alto. The loaner 11M I have is extremely hard to get altissimo notes of any substance. I think I need a refresher course on bari altissimo.
JP User ID: 2463104	Sep 14th 2:29 PM I've had trouble with the altissimo on my '34 12M. But my teacher, who plays a Chu normally (and has for over 25 years), could pop it out fine on my bari. Guess it's just practice. I mostly do big band though, so I don't try it that much. But the high F# is butter.
Bootman User ID: 2804914	Sep 15th 5:40 PM The problem with Conn Bariton altissimo is that you have to have a more open throat position than you would on other Baritones. Have a read of Dr Lucky's altissimo book, it has the best alt fingering for Baritone that I have been able to find. I don't have any problems with Bari altissimo, the fingerings are different to alto, tenor or sop alt fingerings. Try the alt A first, OK - Lh2 Lh3, G# \| ---Eb works best on my Chu. Try this one and see wether it pops for you guys.
keilmer User ID: 0408214	Sep 17th 5:23 AM thank you for your tips ! in this weekend something crazy happend: I ordered come bari-mpc's (ok,that's normal for me). In addition to my yani metal 8 two lawtons 7 (metal + kautschuk) and two yani kautschuk 7+8, for test. I first tested the lawton kautschuk: good, but no improvement with the high notes. the same result with the yani 8 kautschuk. Then with the lawton 7 metal I performed the best high notes I've ever performed with my conn. not as good as on my other saxes (ss, as, ts) but really much better than with the other mpc's. later I thought: let try me again the high notes with the other mpc's...and now the result with these mpc's was also (!) much better than before (but not as good as with the lawton metal). I don't know exactly what happened. It may be a special combination of pressure/throat position, what i found randomly (?) on the lawton. Having found it I could "easily" transfer it to the other mpc's. (I also tried before with the yani to work with less pressure but it hadn't been successful.). Ok, to get "perfect" top tones with the bari I've to exercise much more...but now I think (and hope) I've found a better starting position.
Bootman User ID: 2804914	Sep 17th 7:42 AM Lawtons play very well on Bari. To play a Lawton, you must learn to focus your sound through the mpc and horn. Once you have achieved this, gettin gthe most out of your Lawton is very easy. They also have the advantage of being very loud too.
MojoBari User ID: 1320554	Sep 17th 8:24 AM keilmer, I had a similar experiance a couple of years ago on bari. A MP change helped me to unlock my altissimo capability (along with Luckey's book). Since then, I've been able to play bari altissimo on just about any MP. Some respond better, some sound better.
keilmer User ID: 0408214	Oct 28th 8:49 AM Yes, "to unlock the altissimo capability" is a good description of what happened. I've just tested the JodyJazz Q...and my "capabilities" are unlocked more and more !!! The best and easiest altissimo on my conn bari ! Also I'm able now to produce the different fingerings of Mr. Luckey (including the alt A of Bootman).
Bootman	Oct 28th 1:42 PM Congratulations, I'm glad it is working out for you.