[GAS_Wyo]

After talking with Ron in late December, I ordered 3 pieces. The alto and tenor RPC's are awesome pieces that are just mellow enough for me. When I go round, the mouthpiece sounds mellow. When I push it, the piece brightens up and will cut with the best of 'em.

I got the Bari piece about a week ago and wet a reed that night. I was not prepared for the brightness of this high baffle model. I had a really hard time getting it to sound decent. I have to loosen up the emboucher too much to really control the thing. My wife told me it sounded like it was just on the edge of squeaking with each note I tongued. Maybe it was just the fact that I've been playing tenor almost exclusively (RPC 105) for about 2 months. Maybe it's just not the piece for me. I've been playing a 6* Otto Link Tone Edge for several months on my bari. I'd like to hear some opinions from others with RPC 'B' models. Do I just need to learn how to play this beast? :?

 

[Agent27]

I have a 115B tenor piece and it really isn't bright at all. It's just loud and powerful but it's still pretty dark. I can easily do my best Dexter Gordon/Sonny Stitt/Gene Ammons impersonation on it.

I believe Hakukani says the same thing about his "B" tenor piece.

I really don't know what to tell you. 110 seems small for a bari piece considering the sizes of his other pieces. Maybe go up a reed strength even though it's close to the opening of a 6*?

 

[MM]

I agree with Agent27 on the 115B for tenor. The bari mpc should not be on the edge of squeaking either. What brand and strength reed are you using on it? Perhaps your reed is a bit too hard for it as Ron tends to make his pieces for fairly soft reeds.

If you can't resolve this soon I suggest sending it back to Ron for rework or exchange.

 

[Reedsplinter]

I too have a tenor 115, which is now about 6 months old; I have not tried the bari piece, but I also have an alto 90R which I've had for three years or more. When I got the tenor piece it surprised me. I love the alto mouthpiece, but it is not so radically different from other mouthpieces I've had, just better because more flexible than most. The tenor piece, though, worried me a little at first: in retrospect, I realize that, when I practiced with it at home, I was holding back because it is so powerful. I'm still amazed at the dynamic range the RCP makes possible. After I'd had it for about a week, and still felt a tad shy of it, I decided to play it on a gig (what the hell, I thought, if it ain't working, I'll change). But immediately, when I was in a big room and opened it up, I knew I had a great mouthpiece. Having figured out the "big" of it, I pretty quickly figured out the "small" as well, because it will whisper as well as roar, but the nature of the dymanic control is, for me, different from other mouthpieces I've used. All of which is to say, maybe there is a bit of a learning curve with this piece. I'd urge you to play it out, in a performance setting where you forget about the gear and just play. There may be some problem with yours, as others here are suggesting; and, as you know from talking to Ron, he makes them with Rico Jazz Select 2M reeds in mind (though when I talked to him 3 weeks ago, he was urging a plasticover on me, which I haven't tried). I agree that if you don't get it sorted out within a couple of weeks, send it back: Ron will figure it out from there.

 

[Grumps]

Though I haven't yet tried the high baffled bari RPC (my old Conn would probably reject it), I do have a rollover model and it has loads of edge. I also would suggest sending it back to Ron as per his guarantee rather than trying to make it work. Be sure to let Ron know what you like about the other RPC's you have and hopefully he can craft the piece more to your liking.

 

[GAS_Wyo]

I agree with Agent27 on the 115B for tenor. The bari mpc should not be on the edge of squeaking either. What brand and strength reed are you using on it? Perhaps your reed is a bit too hard for it as Ron tends to make his pieces for fairly soft reeds.

If you can't resolve this soon I suggest sending it back to Ron for rework or exchange.

I've been using soft reeds...Rico Royal 2's and 2 1/2's. After playing on the Otto Link 6* I think I'm just listening (used to playing) a large chambered mouthpiece. I like the softer warmer sound, but I want a piece that plays edgy when I push it. This one is just too edgy.

I was actually considering going for a Lebayle HR Jazz 8 that TenTenTooter is selling. It's a medium chambered piece with a slight baffle.

Finally (and most importantly), this is not meant as anything negative against Ron...I just thought I'd check with you guys to make sure it wasn't me. I'm not as confident these days that I know very much about mouthpieces. In fact, I'm starting to think I'm just going to have to keep trading around till I find the type of pieces that I like and then start concentrating on getting the best one for me.

 

[Agent27]

Well, like Grumps said, Ron will tweak it for you. If you're not happy with it, let Ron pull it back in the other direction, maybe take the baffle out.

 

[hakukani]

...or you can send it to me. I ordered a 'B' model bari piece from Ron in late January, and still haven't received it. When I get it we can compare notes.

I have a 90R that is the best thing I've put on my alto.

I have a 115B, a .125 rollover, and a 145B for tenor. I like practicing with the 145B, but I don't think I'll be using it on a gig soon. It's a little darker sounding than the 115, but not as dark as the .125.

 

[SactoPete]

I play an .85R on alto, a .120B on tenor, and a .115R on Bari. Interestingly, I didn't think that the "R" bari had enough cut and volume for me, so I copied the baffle in a friend's "B" model, duplicating it with dental wax. Now it's much better (this is on a Buescher 400 Bari). I don't find any of them bright at all... Ron does a good job at giving lots of cut and volume on his "B" pieces without losing the body of the sound, in my opinion.

Have you tried a few different reeds?

Pete

 

[BayviewSax]

I copied the baffle in a friend's "B" model, duplicating it with dental wax.

Aw jeez... that's sweet of ya to say.

 

[Kritavi]

Aw jeez... that's sweet of ya to say.

He's back!!!! And not a moment too soon!!!

 

[chkymnky]

After talking with Ron in late December, I ordered 3 pieces. The alto and tenor RPC's are awesome pieces that are just mellow enough for me. When I go round, the mouthpiece sounds mellow. When I push it, the piece brightens up and will cut with the best of 'em.

I got the Bari piece about a week ago and wet a reed that night. I was not prepared for the brightness of this high baffle model. I had a really hard time getting it to sound decent. I have to loosen up the emboucher too much to really control the thing. My wife told me it sounded like it was just on the edge of squeaking with each note I tongued. Maybe it was just the fact that I've been playing tenor almost exclusively (RPC 105) for about 2 months. Maybe it's just not the piece for me. I've been playing a 6* Otto Link Tone Edge for several months on my bari. I'd like to hear some opinions from others with RPC 'B' models. Do I just need to learn how to play this beast? :?

I received my Bari 115B about 3 weeks ago. It's definitely pretty loud, has an edge but I wouldnt say it was overly bright or close to squeaky....of course, words can be very subjective! I play 2 1/2 rico royal reed on it. It definitely isnt a thin sound - which can sometimes be associated with bright. I've always played the bari with a little looser embouchure than tenor. When I spoke to Ron he said he thought his B piece should give you a Motown sound - Tears of Clown - or Doug James' bari sound (Blow Mr Low album). I would agree with that description of the sound. I would definitely keep at it for a while until you can really understand the piece - and pass those notes onto Ron if its still not working for you. Good luck.

 

[GAS_Wyo]

I called Ron as suggested...I'm glad I did. He was understandably a little disappointed that I had only played it for a short time, but it was love at first toot with the alto and tenor pieces. I expected it with this piece as well.

Ron offered to either exchange it for an "R" piece or have me send it back to him or a little checkout and tweaking. I let him know I would try some different reeds and decide whether to send it back or not.

Chunky...I think you're right...I need to play it some more to understand it.

 

[Saxlicker]

I received my Bari 115B about 3 weeks ago.

When did you order yours?
Hak's was January mine was July , not that I expect to see mine before October ...but I hope he's concentrating on Bari right now!

 

[MojoBari]

Tears of a Clown? That is a bassoon playing. But some high baffle bari sax MPs approach that tone.

 

[Windmiles]

I started with an RPC 110. At first, to me it sounded like I was playing a kazoo. I got used to it, and ended up sound pretty good. Then I ordered a 130, just like the one Ron himself plays on. I immeadiatly let go of the 110.
Wow, what a sound on the P. Mauriat.

 

[Grumps]

I don't know about getting used to a piece. I figure with time you'd be able to play the worst of the worst if you had to. Why bother? If it ain't what you want, then get what you want. That's the guarantee. If an RPC is on the edge of squeaking for you, and you've got some experience, there's something wrong. You might want to have another player try it as well, but don't drive yourself nuts trying to make something work for you solely because you want it to. People blow differently. Horns take mouthpieces differently.

 

[MM]

Along the lines of Grumps' comments, I don't believe in switching to a mouthpiece that is really uncomfortable or hard to blow, assuming you have a reasonable amount of time on the sax and are not a beginner. I prefer taking smaller steps in my setup.

 

[GAS_Wyo]

Another thing Ron suggested worked wonders today...I moved up to a Rico Royal 3 and it sounded great!??? I then played a 2 1/2 and it also sounded great! I then put a 'new' Rico Royal 2 on it sounded like a squeaky mess. I think this piece likes harder reeds. I'm going to give it a few more hours before I give it back to Ron for some tweaking...if I decide to let it go at all.

 

[Michael Ward]

I sold my RPC 110 B bari to Kritavi I think. It was a beautiful job but I couldn't get a reed. I got my 7DD Fred and it was love in 5 mins. In fact I just got back from playing it and with a plasticover 3 it's fantasic and one of my best pieces if not best. Conversely my friend loves his 110b tenor and I don't like it so maybe I'm not an RPC person.