The Metalite is a very good mouthpiece for the price, quite versatile and with a reliable core sound, also very powerful (being a high baffle piece). I always have one ready - there's not a lot you can't do with it. I haven't tried the Graftonite on bari, though, so I can't answer your question fully. However, I'll be able to compare it to a V16 soon - I'm waiting for one of those to arrive.

M.

 

First off, what brand/vintage of Bari is this being played on? Ironically they play pretty well on vintage Conns, but sound like an out of tune duck on vintage Kings! They really sound good on Selmer Paris and similar modern saxes. I know you're buying a piece that will get you by, and the Ricos are a huge bang for the buck, but save for a higher end, and you will feel and hear the difference! My Drake Custom .115 ceramic piece, has such rich overtones, and plays so well in tune, I couldn't imagine playing anything else outside this class of mouthpiece anymore!

 

Metalite definitely. There isn't much you can't do with it. I've even done classical quartet music with one! Every bari player should have one. I find the granftonite piece a step up from a student piece. I find them stuffy.

 

Having played "classical" sax quartet repetoire myself, I can assure you a Metallite is taking a grenade launcher to a fist fight! They are far to bright and powerful for a chamber setting! They work fine for Concert Band, but they excel in Jazz and Rock. I used to own one from 1993 to 2009?, when I sold it on ebay and it sold for $110! Just before they started re-making them again . It was an M7.

 

Ive been messing around with a Graftonite B5 with a 3.5 fibracell. It has a lot of power, but i feel like i want more power and a better sound for jazz. I understand what you mean by "stuffy." Im gonna give that Metalite a try and hopefully its good enough to audition on.

 

I did like mine for years! Like I said, they are a whole lot of mouthpiece, for very little dough. Not bad when a $25 mpc can play like a $200 mpc! What it can't do is play like any $400 and up mpcs I've played or owned!

Best comparison: Metalite vs Berg Larson. Bergs play in tune on my King, Metalites don't, but basic tone can be similar, though the last Berg I owned played quite dark actually! The Metalite played bright and focused, when matched to the right Bari.

 

NissanVintageSax: Good comparison, actually... Though I think a 2 chamber Berg will always play a little mellower than the Metalite (my Bullet chamber 110/2 definitely does). And I agree I wouldn't do chamber music on a Metalite - but I once had to, and it wasn't as if it was totally impossible (I've had worse setups to put up with...).

DChalo: Good on yer - you won't regret owning one.

M.

 

I play a Graftonite B7 on my B6 Bari... gives me what I want, but I haven't tried a Metalite.

 

Okay, I know this is an old thread, so no need to bother unduely, but: I've now tried a B7, and it's an solid piece, though not as convincing as the M7 (if you ever get to try one, hgiles, do so - it's worth it!). What I found really interesting was to compare it to a Selmer S90 and S80 - the B7 did hold its own in that comparison, which could count for a lot! I think that at leats on the B-6, I could easily replace the S80 by the B7 (the S90 annoys the hell out of me anyway, so it's no contender). And what's more, the B7 also works reasonably well with the New King bari - that's something to write home about, the Keilwerth is a very fickle horn indeed. The Ricos provide the best way to control the intonation on this horn, by the way. For the price, the B7 is a very, very good mouthpiece. The Metalite M7 (especially my older one) still comes out on top, though.

M.

 

Great mouthpieces and inexpensive. However, the Graphtonite B5 and Metallite M7 I have both came with crooked lays, too wide side rails, and an improper table. In their original condition, probably machine made, they can cause the instrument to play less well in tune, especially in the LH 2nd register. Thus, a careful refacing with narrowing of the side rails, checking and fixing of the tip, and the needed concave table in both directions, can make these quite good. My M7 has a high baffle while the B5 has a low baffle. But they played ok out of the box, surprizingly enough. The concave table will let the reed vibrate!