A horn that sounds like mine

[AbrahamFackle]

Here's the deal. I've been borrowing a Jupiter student model baritone sax to play in a local big band for about a year now. I love the tone I get out of this thing, but the horn itself is driving me nuts. The high and low ends are very hard to hit even when the horn has been recently adjusted, keys and key gaurds come unscrewed and fall off during concerts, and the high end is incredibly sharp (I think I would have more luck playing the high notes if I wasn't lipping them down almost a half-step). I've tried some other baritones (buescher true-tone and 400, selmer series II, and a cannonball) but none of them came close to the tone I get with the jupiter. I got grainy, unfocused quality of tone on all of them. I assume that it's some abnormal flaw with the design of the jupiter that combines with some weirdness in my embouchure or mouthpiece to make my tone how it is. Is there another horn that sounds like a jupiter but is more reliable mechanically? My sound is EXACTLY how I want it to be, but I am sick and tired of being unable to rely on this horn to work when I need it the most. Please help.

[sax_appeal]

The reason you are not getting the tone you want out of other saxes is because you aren't used to them. Despite its unreliability you have become accustomed to the Jupiter and know, subconsciously, how to get the sound you want out of it. Some other players may disagree with me, but many will tell you that familiarity with a horn is a major factor in how you sound on it.

[bariman]

I agree with sax appeal. You really have to play a horn for a while before you get a really great sound out of it. Every horn is just a little different, and when you incorporate a mouthpiece and reed into the mix, you get even more variables. As for a different sax, you might want to try the "Artist Series" Jupiter baritone sax. It's the one with the sterling silver and gold keys. Good luck with your search.

Bariman

[HC]

What mouthpiece are you using? I was playing a Berg Larsen on a Buescher true tone and the pitch was all over the place, but didn't happen when I was using the Selmer C*. I still have intonation problems, but I've realized the more I play on it, the more they seem to go away.

[bariman]

I think that after a while of playing that same note on that particular sax, you subliminally remeber to lip up or down to get the note in tune. After a while, you don't even notice. That might be why intonation is really bad on a brand new horn, but don't worry, you can still say the horn is bad or your reed is crap or something if you're way off in pitch :)

[AbrahamFackle]

I'm using a rico royal m9, a rovner dark, and lavoz mediums. I ordered a runyon custom from charlie a's about four weeks ago and it hasn't come yet, but I was hoping when I ordered it that the smaller facing would help me play on one of those other horns (except the selmer, they're all owned by the band).

That idea about getting used to the horn makes a lot of sense. Last year when my tenor (another jupiter, one of the artist models- much more durable) broke down, I borrowed the school's brand new series II and couldn't play it. By the time I got mine working again I was better with it, but I still had trouble making it play in tune and with good tone.

[rcwjd]

Abrahamfackle

If I were you, I would go back and get that Series II and play it until you are comfortable with the sound. That Runyon Custom is going to help loads (hopefully you got at least a 7 or 8?). Also, with the Series II and that Runyon, try a 2.0 or 2.5 Fibracell. I think you will be very pleasantly surprised. The Series II is light years over the Jupiter in keywork, metal, and sound. You will not have to lip up or down as much either. Of course, any horn must not be leaking or having other issues, or you won't get the sound you want either. I have a Series II bari and a Mark VI bari, and as far as I am concerned, they trump anything else I have tried to play (even though the Yamaha, Kielwerth, and Yanigasawa top-line models all sounded great). When you compare a Jupiter to any of the above, you are really comparing apples and oranges. If you like the Runyon Custom, your next purchase might be the Runyon Jaguar. I play a Runyon Jaguar 10 on both by Series II and VI and it gives me all of the power and sound I need. I have a few clips on my website if you want to hear a Series II and Jaguar combination (at least in my hands).

[AbrahamFackle]

The mouthpiece I ordered is a 9. Unfortunately, the series II belonged to my high school and I've since graduated. I'm really looking to buy my own baritone, though, and a selmer anything is out of my price range. I'm really looking for either a student or intermediate model, or a vintage horn. The low A is not important, and I'd actually prefer something without it.

[HC]

AbrahamFackle, how much are you willing to spend on a Bari?

[rcwjd]

Abrahamfackle

I understand about the price issues - but I wouldn't rule out a used series II if you can find one. You can buy a new one for around $5500. However, another that you might check into is a YBS-52, Yamaha's intermediate horn. You can sometimes find those for under $2500. It has a good reputation. Also the intermediate Keilwerths are pretty good. If you really want to play bari - think of it as a lifetime purchase and get the one you want. You will just get frustrated with one of the Taiwanese or Chinese cheapies. A vintage Buescher 400 (made before 1964) is going to out-perform and outlast any Taiwanese or Chinese clone if it is in good condition - and you can find those for under $2500 in ready-to-play condition. I wonder how many 30 year old Jupiters there will be around that can still play? Any decent bari is going to cost bucks - you just don' find them discounted like altos and tenors. Good luck.

[HC]

Good saxophones...
Heard good things about the Vito VSP, could have had for a fraction of the price of its yanagaisawa cunterpart.
Yamaha YBS-52, school has one. It's a excellent saxophone.
If you go vintage, Buescher, Conn, Martin, and King are decent bets. I'm playing on a 1927 Buescher True Tone. Although I'll admit the YBS-52 feels better in my hands, but the tone on the Buescher can't be beat.

[barisaxplayer]

check out www.wwbw.com I looked at a lot of their gear not long ago and their horns were half that of other sites. keilwerth, yamaha, and a super series II only around 3-4k for the pro models. as for being on a new horn, it just takes practice. you get used to one(as said above) and you know what to do here and there to keep it in tune and wind up doin that on another horn.

Those models you mentioned are excellent horns, and they will get a good sound if you work at it.

[SaxPlayer1004]

vito vsp is the way to go for any intermediate horn if you cant go any higher than 2500 or 3 grand. i have nothing against yamaha, however i am not particularly fond of the ybs-52. i love the 62's but ive never really gotten to like the 52's. vintage is a good route, and you can save a bunch of money buying a Bb bari as opposed to a low a bari. i had the option to buy a low Bb selmer but i passed it for an la sax. i know you guys are going to shoot me for it, however in all the bands i am playing in right now, the music is written by the director and knowing that the bari is now designed to go to low a, he is writing for it, and i get low a's in a ton of passages, so i had to go for lesser quality for the range i needed. so i will use that as a grunt horn when i get a new one for college, or after college. always nicer not to have to use your baby for outdoor gigs.