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Sax on the Web Forum Archive / Baritone Saxophone / Couf Suberba 2 bari

Subtone Sam
User ID: 1432154 Sep 23rd 9:31 AM
I have an opportunity to get of these for $2300.In OK condition,couple of minor dents on the body.Any experiences with these? Thanks!

shortwhite
User ID: 8868883 Sep 23rd 9:48 AM
Sam,

I borrowed one of these horns from a friend that no longer played for a while (2 yrs). Played it in a rock band. Great huge sound! The pitch was not dead on but it was certainly within reason. Felt guilty for using it so long so I returned it to my friend (he did not want to sell it) when I got a good deal on on a VI. Very different beasts.

GW

manofsteel
User ID: 9084913 Sep 24th 2:41 PM
Hi SS,

I bought one from Gayle over at vintagesax.com for abut $2k. Unfortunately, it took some damage in shipping and I never got to really give it a go. This horn was in decent shape (prior to shipping damage) with a few small pings, a couple of posts nicely resoldered, and pitted lacquer (about 60-75% left). Pads were not new, but were soft and sealing.

Just for comparison shopping.

Subtone Sam
User ID: 1432154 Sep 24th 5:58 PM
Thanks for your comments! I´ve been playing the Suberba 2 all day (haven´t bought it yet,no).I´m not a bari player,very little experience with baris.
Horn plays fine but I have a bit of trouble with the range D2 and up.Horn sounds a bit stuffy and unresponsive,I can´t get an edge to the sound when I listen to it while I play.
I recorded some and the recorded sound sounds OK though;not too much difference with different registers.
As I said,I´m not a bari player so its propably me or maybe baris are like that (I´m comparing to my main horn,tenor).
I´m using Rico Royal 2 1/2 reeds on the Runyon 9 (about .110 tip).
If any of you seasoned bari players want to comment/give advice,go ahead.Thanks!

BrianA
User ID: 9725373 Sep 26th 11:31 AM
I hate to step on toes here but it takes quite a while to get "bari chops" and be able to really get the same response and edge as you can on your regular horn, the hearing to brain thing is very strange for a while also when playing a different horn muchless a bari.. contrary to popular belief bari is a very tough horn to play properly but if you like the feel and heft of it then grab it but you have to pay the dues, also if you expect to work with a bari you better get a bass clarinet and alto because those are the automatic doubles.

Subtone Sam
User ID: 1432154 Sep 26th 1:37 PM
Absolutely,BrianA,I agree.As I pointed out in my previous posts,I´m NOT a bari player and not familiar with bari at all (I´ve played tenor for 20 yrs. and some sop.&flute).The problem with a new horn,such as bari is to me,is that I don´t know how the horn is SUPPOSED to sound (charateristics of baritonesax),from the PLAYERS point of view (I´m ofcource familiar with sounds of some great bariplayers like Mulligan,Carney etc.) Buying an instrument having such limited experience is tough business (going to have some pro bariplayers to test this horn so they can give their opinions about it).Having said all that,I like the horn ( more than Buescher BU-6 which I tested,too) and I´m learning to play it,slowly but surely.

Bergertone
User ID: 0750024 Oct 2nd 7:03 PM
Are (Subtone Sams) Superba 2 low-A or Bb? I have a friend who is selling a Suberba 2 low Bb and I am trying to figure out a asking price.
Bergertone@prodigy.net

Subtone Sam
User ID: 1432154 Oct 3rd 6:58 AM
Bergertone,its low Bb.Nice horn,I like it better than Buescer BU-6 I tried.You should be able to get this horn for around $2000-$2200,imo.

Subtone Sam User ID: 1432154	Sep 23rd 9:31 AM I have an opportunity to get of these for $2300.In OK condition,couple of minor dents on the body.Any experiences with these? Thanks!
shortwhite User ID: 8868883	Sep 23rd 9:48 AM Sam, I borrowed one of these horns from a friend that no longer played for a while (2 yrs). Played it in a rock band. Great huge sound! The pitch was not dead on but it was certainly within reason. Felt guilty for using it so long so I returned it to my friend (he did not want to sell it) when I got a good deal on on a VI. Very different beasts. GW
manofsteel User ID: 9084913	Sep 24th 2:41 PM Hi SS, I bought one from Gayle over at vintagesax.com for abut $2k. Unfortunately, it took some damage in shipping and I never got to really give it a go. This horn was in decent shape (prior to shipping damage) with a few small pings, a couple of posts nicely resoldered, and pitted lacquer (about 60-75% left). Pads were not new, but were soft and sealing. Just for comparison shopping.
Subtone Sam User ID: 1432154	Sep 24th 5:58 PM Thanks for your comments! I´ve been playing the Suberba 2 all day (haven´t bought it yet,no).I´m not a bari player,very little experience with baris. Horn plays fine but I have a bit of trouble with the range D2 and up.Horn sounds a bit stuffy and unresponsive,I can´t get an edge to the sound when I listen to it while I play. I recorded some and the recorded sound sounds OK though;not too much difference with different registers. As I said,I´m not a bari player so its propably me or maybe baris are like that (I´m comparing to my main horn,tenor). I´m using Rico Royal 2 1/2 reeds on the Runyon 9 (about .110 tip). If any of you seasoned bari players want to comment/give advice,go ahead.Thanks!
BrianA User ID: 9725373	Sep 26th 11:31 AM I hate to step on toes here but it takes quite a while to get "bari chops" and be able to really get the same response and edge as you can on your regular horn, the hearing to brain thing is very strange for a while also when playing a different horn muchless a bari.. contrary to popular belief bari is a very tough horn to play properly but if you like the feel and heft of it then grab it but you have to pay the dues, also if you expect to work with a bari you better get a bass clarinet and alto because those are the automatic doubles.
Subtone Sam User ID: 1432154	Sep 26th 1:37 PM Absolutely,BrianA,I agree.As I pointed out in my previous posts,I´m NOT a bari player and not familiar with bari at all (I´ve played tenor for 20 yrs. and some sop.&flute).The problem with a new horn,such as bari is to me,is that I don´t know how the horn is SUPPOSED to sound (charateristics of baritonesax),from the PLAYERS point of view (I´m ofcource familiar with sounds of some great bariplayers like Mulligan,Carney etc.) Buying an instrument having such limited experience is tough business (going to have some pro bariplayers to test this horn so they can give their opinions about it).Having said all that,I like the horn ( more than Buescher BU-6 which I tested,too) and I´m learning to play it,slowly but surely.
Bergertone User ID: 0750024	Oct 2nd 7:03 PM Are (Subtone Sams) Superba 2 low-A or Bb? I have a friend who is selling a Suberba 2 low Bb and I am trying to figure out a asking price. Bergertone@prodigy.net
Subtone Sam User ID: 1432154	Oct 3rd 6:58 AM Bergertone,its low Bb.Nice horn,I like it better than Buescer BU-6 I tried.You should be able to get this horn for around $2000-$2200,imo.