That Big Bari Sound

[yamahamama]

I've recently joined a jazz band, after years of being off the horn. I have a YBS-62, and am playing on the mouthpiece that came with it. It's a smooth, mellow sound - but hey! I want a big, loud, easy growl! The director is hoping for more volume from me. I remember playing bari in high school - it seemed effortless to get lots of air thru it, and had that big easy sound - know what I mean? Think I'd get that by switching mouthpieces (going metal)? Thanks for suggestions!

[Gandalfe]

Rubber with a more open aperture can give you a nice sound, especially if you are doing classical. But nothin' beats a good metal mouthpiece for projection. I use an Otto Link with a 5 or 6 opening because getting loud, when I need to is just too easy, and I can be just as quiet as any rubber or plubber mouthpiece. Why work so hard when you don’t hafta. That’s what I always say. :lol:

[barisaxplayer]

I use a ybs 62 myself. I use otto link 5* mouthpiece. I can get louder than the cannonball "big bell" horns which are sposed to get really loud. also like the metal OL5 because it's small, not like shoving a monster piece of rubber in your mouth :P

however it's probly good to have one of those, a jazz faced mouthpiece, maybe like a b75/95 vandoren, or even a 35 for a dark sound.

as for getting a big sound, just open your embeshure a little more and put a little more air thru it! Can get nice sounds even with a fairly closed mouthpiece.

[Spencer]

Try some La Voz Med or in the case of a larger tip opening like 8* Med soft. :evil:

[yamahamama]

Thanks - I'm was looking at that OL 5*. I'll give it a shot. I think it's also about gettin back into it, like I said it's been a few years... but I'm not afraid of no monster piece of rubber :D

[Dave dix]

Try a lawton
Dave

[Subtone Sam]

High-baffle mpc like Lamberson DD or Lawton BB model,tip openings .120 or more open with Plasticover reed.

[super20dan]

i am a veteran big band bari player. you want a high baffel mpc! not a metal link! runyon quantum ,berg larsen (1or o)dukoff , lawton BB , or my favorite ponzel custom. high baffel also takes a little less air . less work -more sound.

[steve]

I like my metal Berg, 120/3 with my "The Martin". Big sound, but no sacrifice in tone. I tried the Berg 120/1 and the sound was too harsh for my ears.

[BbWally]

HI, I HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO TRY MANY OF THE POPULAR ONES. I REALLY AGREE WITH THE SUGGESTION OF THE LAWTON. I USE THE 6* VERY SUCCESSFULLY. I ALSO SUGGEST THE VANDOREN B-75. VERY BRIGHT, AND EASY TO CONTROL. I HAVE GONE THROUGH OTTO LINK, WOLF TAYNE, YANAGASAWA, MARTIN STOCK, AND BEGR LARSEN. NONE OF THEM WERE AS EASY AS THE LAWTON. I USE A MED LA VOZ. you might want to try a med-soft ot soft till your chops buid up... Mouthpieces are very much a personal issue. Most of the advice you get here will be beneficial. You have to try and choose.
Most of all, have fun with the different mouth pieces that you try.

Wally :D

[yamahamama]

Great, thanks so much everyone - I know which now I'd really like to try, and just want to say I appreciate your help! 8) 8) 8)

[barisaxplayer]

;) all in all recommendations are just that- it's what you like to use above what somebody else does use. mouthpiece has to fit the person, not the other way around. I love my otto link but one of my friends got one for his bari and he finds it uncomfortable. Get one and if it works, stick to it.

[rcwjd]

I use a Runyon Jaguar #10 with 2.5 - 3.0 Fibracells on my Series II and Mark VI baris. I have found it to give sufficient projection and edge to cut through in both small combo and big band settings. Another, somewhat less expensive alternative, would be the Runyon Custom with spoiler. Put the spoiler in when you want some edge, and take it out when you are playing Sousa marches. I've always thought the ruby red translucent version pretty cool looking. If you are curious about what a Runyon Jaguar sounds like - at least in my hands - there are some clips on my website using that mpc.

[kevvieg]

I play a Barone modified Rubber Link 8* with a slight rollover baffle and NO WEDGE. I might work a little harder than the high baffle guys, but my upper range is big and warm with great projection - No thinness in any register. I am also playing a YBS 62, though it is silver plated. (Gawd I love that horn)

[Bob M]

What Phil did to modify Your LInk 8*? I'm under the impression that he normally puts a wedge in his custom HR Link bari pieces.

[kevvieg]

Phil did his usual removal of excess material around the shank. He basically made a hard rubber version of the Hollywood piece. It has an improved table and has better sidewalls. I can go from Mulligan to Cuber in under 60 seconds. This is an amazing piece. He didn't modify it for me - I got it on a trade from Vee Popat who would be able to give you more info.

[1saxman]

I play a Berg rubber 130/1, but wouldn't suggest that for section work. A 110/3 would be good. I also really liked a Runyon Custom #10, w/o the Spoiler. The Jaguar mentioned above is new to me, so I checked it out on Runyon's site - looks good. I wish they had a picture of the inside. Judging from what I could see of it, it looks like they may have lengthened the design from the metal Quantum, which has a short little beak on it and really played sharp in the high notes for me. Okay, one more; believe it or not, an old Brilhart Level-Air 5* would be ideal for your application. The Level-Air gives unequaled low end and intonation is good. These can always be found on ebay. I have an 8* that I keep around for smoother stuff. What made me think of the Level-Air was mentioning the metal Quantum. Runyon made the Level-Air for Selmer after they bought out Brilhart in the '60s. After the original-design Level-Air production ended, Runyon came out with the Quantum, which is like a slightly updated Level-Air. Runyon continues to make the current Selmer version of the Level-Air, which is exactly like another Runyon piece, but nothing at all like the original Level-Air.

[Bob M]

I have a 1953 "The Martin" bari on which I use either a Tenney blueprinted HR Berg 120-1 or a HR Link 7* (currently on its way to "Doc" for blueprinting).

[Merlin]

Have a look at my website. I've detailed all of my horn setups there, rather than retyping it all the time.

There are also some clips of me playing bari where you can hear the setup in action. Check out "Manhattan Murals" if you'd really like to hear my bari sound.

[MusicMedic]

Hey Merlin,
I see an unauthorized pic of you and I butting heads on the pics and clips page... I'll have to have my attorney contact you about that! :P

Do you have picture in high resolution? If so, send it to me, I'll print it out and hang it on the shop wall. Thanks man, Curt.

[saxomophone]

I double the Brilhart recommendation. I've been using an old metal "Designed by Arnold Brilhart" 7 opening with Lavoz Hard or Rico Royal 4 reeds. I don't have to worry about not being heard, but I still get a big fat low end.

[JimMetcalf]

Try a Lawton--I use a SS Lawton 6*BB with Bari* soft or med reeds on my YBS-52. This setup is easy playing and really projects well. Great for big band work. The Lawton has a very long facing curve so the tip opening seems much closer than it actually is. :) The 6*BB is VERY easy playing!

[JimMetcalf]

I play an older Yamaha YBS-52 (SN002xxx)---Lawton 6*BB lets it speak! Lawton works very well on Yamaha! Intonation is very good and horn responds well in both lower and altissmo registers. I use Bari* Med reed on my Lawton and get THE PROJECTION I want for big band jazz playing. I also use Lawton for quartet-with a Bari* soft reed.

[Razzy]

I play a YBS-62 in a big band, saxophone quartet, and combo group (basically anything you want), and the Yanagisawa 5 hard rubber piece works wonders. The sound is HUGE, and can be tamed quite easily also. I can "go from Mulligan to Cuber" in about 1 second, beat that :twisted: Seriously though, it's a very versatile piece and can get as soft as my Selmer, and as loud as any high baffle screamer I've ever played. That is of course if you are equipped with the proper kahones to play bari.

[carguy1]

Superdan20 mentioned a Ponzol. Do they even make a bari piece. I have one of their tenor pieces, and would love to have one for my bari too. Are these one off or what?

[Saxhound]

Ponzol makes both a metal and HR bari mp. I have an M1 .120 metal and love it. I tried, Meyer, Yani & Lawton before settling on this. You can see all his pieces here.

Ponzol (http://www.peterponzol.com/)

[carguy1]

I guess I overlooked them. Whe I bought my tenor piece I was only looking at the M2+ so I didn't even look at the M1. Thanks.

[singlereed]

I use a nice thumping big 1960's HR Berg Larsen, think its a 110/SMS. I also have a Rico Metallite that I bought for $20 that's pretty good too.

[namenotfound06]

i dunno bout you guys, but i use a link 8* with lavoz med reeds, and once i get them soft and broken in i get a fairly big sound, even though i could care less bout havin a huge sound. id rather have a nice individual round sound.

[carguy1]

If it is just big sound we are talking about, then the stock couf mouthpiece that came with my superba II gives a huge sound. Not much projection and it is so big it requires huge amounts of are. These are the 2 things I am looking to change with a new mouth piece. My tenor is actually a lot louder then my bari especially with the Ponzol M2+.

[Razzy]

I guess I figured it went without saying that the Yani piece has a very colorful, personal sound as well... I wouldn't play a piece that didn't have that potential.

[bariforever]

Hi, I had the same situation as you, more volume for jazz band but good tone for legit work in concert band. I play a yani 901, for concert band I use the stock yani 5 mouthpiece but in jazz band I went with the metal Runyon Quantum with the spoiler. Lots more volume and edge to the sound. I use a 2.5 fibercell and I think the facing is about 120. Have fun!!

[Gandalfe]

When I play bari, whether in a concert or jazz band setting, I just find myself using the Otto Link Super Tone #5. It is so easy to get loud when needed in both settings but just as easy to whisper. I've had two pro's say that I get a very nice mellow sound out of the Otto Link, which they think of as a jazz piece.

When I use a plubber Yanagisawa #5 piece, the sound is incredibly smooth and I tend to pull that piece out when I'm doing xtet (quartet or quintet) work. It is so easy to blend using that mouthpiece.

Note: In case you didn't peek at the instrument listing in my profile, the bari is a killer Yanagisawa 990.

[littlemanbighorn]

Try a lawton
Dave

Good luck finding one.


One big issue is making sure to breathe with your full lung capacity and put lots of air through the horn.
I used to play in a big band with a rubber 7* and got plenty of sound.
A huge tip opening is not totally necessary and will be counterproductive, since you'll likely have trouble with it, moving from the stock mouthpiece.
You would run into tuning issues and get worn out very quickly if you haven't built up the necessary breath control and embouchure muscles.

[RS]

A RIA 10* (.145" tip) with my low Bb Mark VI gives me a big sound. The RIA blows easier than you'd expect from such an open piece. The removable epoxy baffle I use in it helps in this regard. And I like to move alot of air anyway.

[JimMetcalf]

On my Yanaha 52, I use a metal (stainless Steel) Lawton 6*BB. This piece plays easily and has good projection throughtout range of horn. I use with Bari* Medium reeds for all big band work. Have tried many pieces over the past 50 years-this one is the best I have found!

[barisaxplayer]

It's been a while since this got bumped up, but I switched a while ago to my runyon custom #12 w/ spoiler(I take out the spoiler, but the baffle is nice). It seems bigger tip opening + non-metal mouthpiece gives me the bigger sound on my ybs 62. I just ordered a #16 custom, looking forward to trying that one out and see what happens.

[BayviewSax]

I've recently joined a jazz band, after years of being off the horn. I have a YBS-62, and am playing on the mouthpiece that came with it. It's a smooth, mellow sound - but hey! I want a big, loud, easy growl!

RPC high baffle... it'll let you do everything you do now, only quieter, with more control, and when you want it to, it will blow the back wall out of the place. Try to get one used or you're going to wait quite awhile. I'm into my 5th month (he said 2, and it was supposedly going to ship the week before the holiday). He makes great pieces, so long as you're in no hurry. (That comment ought to cost me another two weeks when it gets back to him.)