I might have been one of the first people that BARI had try out the Hybrid. I asked for a 7* and an 8, I ended up keeping the 7*.
The mouthpieces do have some weight to them as a result of the insert, no more so than a large metal mouthpiece. The workmanship is very nice, table is flat and the rails and tip are nice and even and smooth. They came with a simple ligature but I found the Rico "H" fits it like a glove and does not dampen the sound any.
I've played many mouthpieces over the years and this Hybrid is actually unique, I can't remember anyone over the years putting a metal inset into a hard rubber mouthpiece. The sound is truly nice, I get the sound qualities of a great HR mouthpiece with the addition of a bit or edge/brilliance of a metal that has a slight baffle. It's kind of a contradiction but the way I put it...the Hybrid has a nice sultry, throaty darkness with brightness and edge. The closest mouthpiece I can compare it to is a RPC 115B but the Hybrid has no high baffle. The Hybrid has more depth to it whereas the RPC has more cut when pushed. When I play with different "Dynasty" bands or the occasional "rocker" I'll sometimes change mouthpieces. Other than those scenarios I've been playing on the Hybrid since September '09 and using it for small and medium venue performances and concerts.
JR
