Mark VI plays flat

[Al Stevens]

I recently acquired on loan a 1969 Mark VI bari low Bb (my first bari). It has a Brilhart 5 mpc. I borrowed it to try bari. Nice tone, easy to play. But...

Right off I found that to play it in tune, I have to push the mpc in as far as it will go and even then I have to struggle to keep the tone up where it belongs. The neck has no s/n, so I can't tell whether it's original.

The owner, a sax player for years and big-band bari player said he had the same problem with the sax and has the same problem with his other Mark VI, which is a low A model. He said he trimmed the butt end off his Meyer mpc to make it easier to put on. He seems to think that this situation is characteristic of Selmer baris.

It doesn't seem right to me. Comments?

[Michael Ward]

I have the same horn and have not experienced these problems nor have other players I know who play low A V1. First thing try another piece.. something neutral like a Link or a Selmer S80.. If there's still a problem get another player to try it ( maybe not the bigband guy) Then if they have the problem your next stop is a repairman to check all is well. If it's not the original neck maybe that could be the problem..my horn doesn't have a serial number on the neck. The Mark VI is a reliable proven baritone used by countless players. To me it sounds like the piece is incompatible although V1's work with most pieces in my long experience of this model.
Also you could have a look a Steven Howards Repair site in which he reviews a lowBb Mark V1. There's a link on Pete Thomas's site.

[Scott Tringali]

Hm. In college I played a pile of baris, some VIs, Bbs and A. All with a Brilhart and never had any problems tuning.

Today, I play a Berg and have popped it on its fair share of VIs, and still no difference. The intonation isn't as even as a modern Selmer, but no major problems.

Could be the neck, could the mouthpiece, could be the setup, etc. I certainly have not seen this on any VI bari.

(I play bari all the time, more than any other horn.)

[DJ Mix]

I've been having a similar problem with my Selmer Serie II bari. I use a Meyer mouthpiece on it and it's consistently flat. To get the pitch up I have to push the mouthpiece well past the end of the cork.
I tested it with the Selmer C** that came with the horn and got it to play in tune. HOWEVER the C** is a shorter mouthpiece in length by about half an inch. I have considered chopping off the end of the Meyer mouthpiece, which seems unnecessarily long.

By the way, to get the Meyer in tune, I pushed it about a half inch farther than the C**, which is equal to he length difference of the two mouthpieces. Makes sense.

Enough about me. What mouthpiece did you say you're using? Are you able to do a comparison with another mouthpiece?

[Dave dix]

The mpc may be a long shak one. I remember when i bought a new mk7 tenor in the 70's and i bought a selmer long shank mpc (metal) and it covered the cork completely and was still a bit flat so out with the hacksaw and chopped a lump off and it was perfectly in tune and about half way on the cork
Dave

[curly]

I purchased a Mk VI low A Bari about 9 months ago. (always wanted one), I did have to push the HR Otto Link and a Dukoff Metal (long shank) past the cork to get it in tune, (not at the same time mind you). I am playing with a guy who has owned Mk VI Bari's before and he said that it was not uncommon for this. I eventually switched to a metal Berg and with a lot of practise I find the beast easier to control. I now double with a Tenor and as time goes by I find myself picking the Bari more than the tenor. I put my initial problems with tuning down to not having chops to accomodate the Bari straight away, ( I have played the same tenor with a Dukoff metal for 15 years,) but with the practise and the right mouthpiece its all good.

Love the beast.........at least my family know where I am