Martin Committe Bari

[BobD]

A friend of mine is thinking of getting a Martin Comm. Bari to use to play at blues, RnB jam sessions. We know nothing about Bari's. Is this considered a good horn?

[MonchMan]

To me it is one of the best, Had one for over 15 years, wished I'd never sold it. :oops:

[MPL]

One of the best. The Martin Committee baritone is well known as a great horn for that kind of work.

Biggest issue with older Martins - the soldered tone holes. Make sure a tech checks them out for cracks in the solder. Otherwise the usual cautions about old baritones apply: big dents in the crook are bad, big dents in the bow aren't as bad, bent body is not good but acceptable if the pads seal properly and the keywork does its thing.

I play a late model Committee, SN 305XXX, and it can produce a "blatt" with the best of them!

[BobD]

Another question. How much should one pay for a horn like this that is in good working order but maybe not cosmetically 100%?

[Bootman]

Martin Bari's are great, I have a Magna here which is essentially the same as a Committee model but with a Low A key added. The necks are interchangeable, it has no aux F# (which is the biggest bug bear with this horn) but the sound is huge. You have never seen a bell this big on a Bari sax. Thunderous is how I would describe the horn.

[BobD]

It actually might be a Handcraft Committee. Is that still agood horn?

[MPL]

According to saxpics.com, the later Handcraft Committees have better intonation but a smaller bore than other Martins. What's the serial number?

[soreliprick]

I've got a Handcraft Committee Skylight and a Committee 'The Bari' and they both play great. The Handcraft has the alt. F# but seems to weigh considerably less than the "The", but I've never accurately weighed them. The bells are the same size. The weight difference doesn't seem to affect the tonal quality. You won't be disappointed with a Handcraft Committee.