Bari suggestions

[BariSkaJazz]

I'll be in the market for a new, proffessional level bari soon, and I'd like to hear what you guys think.

To me, the most important features are intonation and egronomics.

What bari do you think is the best?

[PaulNYC]

Check out Yamaha. Your criteria are typically good characteristics of the brand.

[RS]

I played a Yanagisawa B991 a little while back that I liked as well as my beloved low Bb Mark VI. Comfortable keywork, very good intonation, easy response, good power and projection. Only negative was weight. Felt very heavy, even for a low A horn. But with a well padded neckstrap and playing sitting down it's bearable. I wouldn't want to play standing with any low A horn, though I did for many years with a Selmer. Then I switched to the low Bb VI. Much easier on my neck and back. But if weight isn't a factor in your choice check out the Yani. Killer horn. Better than the current Selmer model. I haven't played Yamaha or Keilworth.

[shmuelyosef]

I just recently got a new B991 (deal on ebay!!) and am getting used to it. The quality is fantastic, and the keywork spectacular. THere were a few setup problems, but easily remedied in my shop. My comparison points are my two Keilwerth stencils (King Tempo low A and Couf Superba Bb). The Yani is definitely a superior playing experience to either of the JKs and any other bari I can recall having played. Response, keywork, evenness of timbre, intonation. The one thing that I am still working on is the sound...I'm addicted to the huge sound of the JKs. I believe that I will get there, but my current set of reflexes don't produce the dynamic range or huge bottom end of the JKs. I really didn't notice the weight...the King is no lightweight. I always use a harness and only play the Bb in standup section work (I have the luxury of being picky about some jobs).

[sycc]

Heard the low A key on the Selmer series II (super action 80) leaves alot to be desired. I'd go w/Kielwerth or Yanagisawa. To save money I hear the B-901 has the same bore as the B-991. To save even more a vito is a yanagisawa stencil of the B-901.

[KeithL]

I just bought a Yani as well - B992. I'm a Yamaha guy as the YTS-875 Custom has been my main horn for nearly 12 years now. However, it only took a few minutes for me to decide that the B901, B991, and B992 were all better horns (for me) then the YBS-62. Mark at USA Horn told me he keeps that Yamaha around for people to try but he hasn't had anyone choose the Yamaha over a Yani if they play both side-by-side.
I like the sound of the JK but the keywork feels sort of clunky and "industrial" to me. The Selmer was better but it's more expensive and I had a very bad experience with a Series II alto I bought 8 or 9 years ago. G2 and G#2 never spoke right and I had to have the octave vent drilled. Likewise, it seemed everytime I took the horn out of the case it left a pad, cork, or felt behind. Liked the way that horn sounded but it became impossible to gig on since I couldn't trust it.

As always, YMMV

Keith

[MPL]

A Vito 7190BA is the same horn as the older Vito VSP...which in turn is the same horn as a Yanagisawa 901, but as I understand it, assembled in the USA. I've tried the VSP and it was terrific - had no cash at the time, or I would've grabbed it. Only downside - Vito will have lousy resale value relative to a Yani, but don't be fooled - the Vito VSP (or 7190BA now) is a great, great horn. I tried it side-by-side with a Yamaha 52 in the same shop and the VSP left the 52 in the dust sonically.

[Brendan Muse]

I'll reiterate that the Yani baris are the best. I've been playing on a 902 (exactly like the 901, but in bronze) for about two and a half years, and it's easily the best horn I've played or heard. I play on a Yamaha 52 in school just because I'm not going to bring my horn in, and until it got terminally damaged, I played a 62. The Yani easily beat them. I also playtested it next to a Selmer Series II and (I think) a Keilworth ST-90. No comparison.

By the way, if you have the few extra hundred to get the bronze horn over the brass, do.

[BayviewSax]

If you can't get a Mark VI low-Bb, I'd recommond the JK, then a Yani. I know a lot of folks are high on the Yami (I think there is an 82Z or equivalent now), but they've done nada for me. If you're playing R & B or the like, consider a black nickel JK if you must have a new horn. If you're open to older horns, a 12M or Zephyr will peel paint, but you'll need freak hands to deal with the ergos on either.

[Dr_sax]

I just got a Yanagisawa B992 a couple weeks ago and just love it. Never played a better one.

[Scott Tringali]

The Yani 991 is much lighter than a new Selmer SA80-II.

You owe it youself to take a trip out to USA Horn and try try try everything they have.

Personally, I really like the Yani 991/992. For me, it was a very close choice between that and a Selmer. You can't go wrong with either. (I picked Selmer.)

The Yani weighed less, was a touch flimsier, and had slightly better intonation and keywork. The Selmer had a bigger, fatter sound, and felt more "solid" in the structural sense. But, that was the initial setup. A friend has identical bari, and his is regulated so perfectly it's keywork is just as good, if not better than the Yani.

Yani, without a doubt, excels in having the best out-of-box setup, quality control, and fit-and-finish. You won't find any acid bleed marks or other imperfections that I live with on my Selmer.

Based on what you say (intontation/ergo) then the Yani is likely to win. But try them both anyway!

[BariSkaJazz]

Thank you all so much for your input.

It seems the general consensus here is that the yani's really match up to what I desired from a horn.

The reason I hold egro's and intonation as the most important is because I feel that my sound is within me, and only me, not the sax I may be blowing on.

Am I wrong to assume this?

[Gandalfe]

Here's another vote for a Yanagisawa 991 or 992 if you wanna splurge. I play a very nice 990. 8-)

[RS]

I haven't weighed the Yani or the current Selmer bari (I weighed a 1970s vintage Low A Selmer I once owned and it was about 13 lbs. vs. 12 lbs. for a low Bb VI) but the Yani feels a little heavier to me. But either way there wouldn't be more than a couple of ounces difference. All low A baris feel heavy to me which is one reason I play a low Bb horn. The Yani also seems to me to be a little sturdier than the Series II bari. It has a feel of being built like a tank. But I agree that it would be a good idea to try out a Series II along with the Yani. Between these two instruments you should find one that will be the bari that will last the rest of your playing days (and hopefully a few generations into the future).

[BariSkaJazz]

I appreciate the commments on the weight issue, but for me, weight is not an issue. I've marched parades with Bb horns, A horns, and to me, a bari is a bari. It ain't light. I just want something that wont hold me back playing-wise.

But please, dont take this as me shooting anyone down, I just don't mind the extra weight the bari comes with. :D

[Randall]

I am a former Yani bari owner and they are fine indeed.
However, that being said, I am going to break ranks here and recommend the Keilwerth SX90 in whatever flavor you like.

I have 2 horns that I gig with, but the JK gets the nod most of the time.
It is effortless to play,a nd you will definitely get YOUR sound from it.
When I played my Yani, I know that it had a certain core sound that I could never get away from....hence my change.
I like the JK much better.

Cheaper than a JK but almost identical in response is the new Cannonball stone series bari.
With my eyes closed it is almost impossible to tell the difference between the JK and CB.
And, the CB is a great deal cheaper....;)

[Brendan Muse]

In other words, play 'em all and pick the one you like best. Just like everything else.

[MarchingBear]

For what it's worth... I took my low A Selmer SA 80 II to USA horn to try beside a Yani B992 and was very impressed with the Yani. My SA 80 has a gloger neck that improves it's sound and projection and even so, I heard things in the Yani that I really liked, playing both horns back to back. Having said that, I'll add that the Selmer is a great horn (and the low A key is fine! Someone mentioned that it was a "problem").
I bought the B992, but I've had to wait a year so far and still don't have it! They MUST be good if they are selling this many!
:-)