[OldConnPlayer]

I played Bari for a few semesters in high school about a million years ago. I've been thinking over the last year I would like to get one. I just play for fun and not in a band. If I got good enough again maybe a community band would be fun. I will likely only have around $2600 give or take to spend and I have found a Martin Bari on Saxquest or an Antigua Powerbell for a good price from Quinn on Ebay. Which of those two would you choose? Most used ones I see are really beat to crap. Old student school horns I guess. Is there a better option I haven't found?
Thanks!

 

[1saxman]

You're comparing apples and oranges unless the Martin is a low A, which makes it a Magna, which makes it a holy terror among the baritone saxes. Most likely it is a low Bb but the Antigua should be a low A. Having owned a Martin and a Chinese low A bari (Kessler brand), I'd say based on what we know now that you should get the Antigua.

 

[OldConnPlayer]

Vintage THE MARTIN BARI Saxophone in Good Pads - Serial # 204890 | Saxquest Saxophone Shop | Saxquest

Martin Committee III Baritone

www.saxquest.com

If the link works it is this one

 

[OldConnPlayer]

There is one on the Kessler site that seems to be a pretty good price. I haven't seen anyone on here do a review on one.

 

[Brenton]

If you're used to the alternate F# that is on almost every Sax out there, then you will really miss it if you go for that 'The Martin' Bari - what were they thinking? Also, because Low-A is useful, out of those 2, I vote the Antigua. [I found Quinn to be very reasonable with his ebay auction prices - my Selmer Modele 26 Bari was circa $1500 including delivery and was as described]. Keep researching prices, and where possible, try it out first. Good luck...

 

[Obie]

Check out PM Woodwind, they have a Committee 1 baritone.

 

[1saxman]

There is one on the Kessler site that seems to be a pretty good price. I haven't seen anyone on here do a review on one.

That would be the Kessler 'Solist' (not 'soloist') which is well known to be an excellent baritone for the money. I bought mine in 2015 and am very glad I did. I think they are still around $2500.

 

[clodius]

I bought a 1937 Martin Committee off eBay about 5 years ago off eBay. It was a public school district horn. I had some pads replaced so it's playable but it really needs a complete rebuild to really play well. The downsides of this horn is it not only does not have the low A it also doesn't have the high F key. Who wants to play high notes on a bari sax anyway?
I kept seeing those Antigua Powerbell Bari saxes Quinn sells on eBay for amazingly low prices. Almost cheaper than getting my Martin rebuilt. I gave in to temptation and bid on one. He sells them with the Buy It Now option and some are auctions. The ones on auction are lower priced and no one bids on them so you are very likely to win the auction and get the horn for about $100 less than the Buy It Now price.
I am very happy with the Antigua. I think it actually has better tone than the oild Martin which I find kind of surprising. I have a 10MFan Infusion piece that I am using. I can easily get the low notes out of the horn, and I LOVE having that low A. The Antigua has some nice features like the 3 strap rings, and the keys on the lower stack have key touches that are on angled arms so it is more like playing a tenor, instead of having to stretch your fingers out wide to hit the keys. It compares well to horns that cost a lot more, especially at the prices Quinn is selling them for.

 

[Grumps]

Though I adore vintage horns, that's crazy money for the Martin. Yeah... I know. It's from a shop and all... but for $2,500 you could do a lot better than either horn you're considering. A Yamaha with a low A, or even an older Yanagisawa. Heck, even a Selmer VI keyed down to Bb might be doable.

 

[DavidW]

I'd personally go with the Antigua. The low A will definitely come in handy in community band pieces. As other said above, if you use alt F#, you will definitely miss it on the Martin. I do love the sound of those old Martin baris though. I have 3 of them.

 

[OldConnPlayer]

I am keeping my options open, I just haven't seen anything too impressive on ebay that I could afford. Facebook marketplace gets a bit creepy and craigslist near me only has a cecilio on it. Gonna pass on that one.

 

[swperry1]

Though I adore vintage horns, that's crazy money for the Martin. Yeah... I know. It's from a shop and all... but for $2,500 you could do a lot better than either horn you're considering. A Yamaha with a low A, or even an older Yanagisawa. Heck, even a Selmer VI keyed down to Bb might be doable.

Can you link some $2500 playable Yanagisawa, Yamaha, and Selmer baritones?

 

[OldConnPlayer]

That would be the Kessler 'Solist' (not 'soloist') which is well known to be an excellent baritone for the money. I bought mine in 2015 and am very glad I did. I think they are still around $2500.

So you have the Solist and no problems with it so far? The price is not bad.

 

[swperry1]

So you have the Solist and no problems with it so far? The price is not bad.

If you search the archives you’ll find several threads on the Kessler Solist and what a good value it is.

 

[OldConnPlayer]

If you search the archives you’ll find several threads on the Kessler Solist and what a good value it is.

Cool, Thanks!!

 

[Grumps]

Can you link some $2500 playable Yanagisawa, Yamaha, and Selmer baritones?

YAMAHA YBS-52 BARITONE SAXOPHONE IN GOOD PLAYING CONDITION 013590 | eBay
Yamaha YBS-61 Baritone Saxophone | eBay
Yanagisawa Baritone Saxophone Range To Low A | eBay
Yamaha YBS61 Baritone Saxophone Low A | eBay
YAMAHA YBS-52 BARITONE SAXOPHONE IN GOOD PLAYING CONDITION 013590 | eBay
Yanagisawa, Vito, Baritone Saxophone, Worn Original Laquer, Low A, Plays Great! | eBay
yanagisawa/Vito Baritone Saxophone Low A | eBay
Yamaha YBS52 Baritone Saxophone | eBay

As for VI baritones keyed down to low Bb dropping under $3K, you gotta be on the lookout for them, but I gotta get to band practice. The above only took a minute.

 

[atclv]

YAMAHA YBS-52 BARITONE SAXOPHONE IN GOOD PLAYING CONDITION 013590 | eBay
Yamaha YBS-61 Baritone Saxophone | eBay
Yanagisawa Baritone Saxophone Range To Low A | eBay
Yamaha YBS61 Baritone Saxophone Low A | eBay
YAMAHA YBS-52 BARITONE SAXOPHONE IN GOOD PLAYING CONDITION 013590 | eBay
Yanagisawa, Vito, Baritone Saxophone, Worn Original Laquer, Low A, Plays Great! | eBay
yanagisawa/Vito Baritone Saxophone Low A | eBay
Yamaha YBS52 Baritone Saxophone | eBay

As for VI baritones keyed down to low Bb dropping under $3K, you gotta be on the lookout for them, but I gotta get to band practice. The above only took a minute.

The grwinds616 listings will need a lot of work to be in playable condition, so not under $2500. But it's not impossible.

 

[FisherSax]

Vintage THE MARTIN BARI Saxophone in Good Pads - Serial # 204890 | Saxquest Saxophone Shop | Saxquest

Martin Committee III Baritone

www.saxquest.com

If the link works it is this one

I have one of these, a 1956. Killer tone, the ergos work for me and I don’t miss the side F#, but… F2 is very sharp, which is a know issue on Committee III’s.