[JackLi]

Hey Guys,

So I don't really play Bari, I just got my first mouthpiece yesterday and I haven't bought any reeds yet. I'm not sure what strength to get.

I play 4's throughout every horn I play from: Clarinet, Soprano, Alto, and Tenor. I'm just wondering do you guys stick with roughly the same strength reeds as your other horns?

The Bari piece is from a close friend of mine, He gave it to me as a Christmas present. It's a hard rubber Link 7* he used it for about 15+ years. He played and or recorded with Tito Puente, and Pete Escovedo, and Spanish Harlem Jazz Orchestra, John Santos, and Wayne Wallace with this piece. He recently got a really nice Berg so he's giving me his trusty ol' Link.

I'm not sure what sized Lig's fit this piece, he gave me the piece with a Rovner Dark, though I don't hate Rovner's like you guys I would like to experiment with getting a nice fitting metal lig on it. If you guys have any suggestions please feel free to list them.

Thanks in advance,

Jack

 

[mrzel]

Re: Reed Strength

If you don't have a local shop you trust to try a few ligatures i would suggest ordering a Rico H ligature. They are cheap, do a great job and doesn't seem to color the tone.

 

[JackLi]

Re: Reed Strength

If you don't have a local shop you trust to try a few ligatures i would suggest ordering a Rico H ligature. They are cheap, do a great job and doesn't seem to color the tone.

Hey mrzel,
I noticed that my hard rubber Tenor Rico H fit's the piece nice and snug. but should I keep on using the Tenor Lig, or buy the hard rubber Baritone version?

 

[FZ1988bar]

Re: Reed Strength

I do recall hard rubber bari links using roughly the same sized lig as a HR tenor. so if that lig still fits when you get a bari reed on there you should be in the clear. as for what reed to use, you should have no problem using a 3 1/2 rico or maybe a 3. I recommend buying some cheap ricos first to help dial in the strength before going and buying more expensive reeds.

 

[JackLi]

Re: Reed Strength

I do recall hard rubber bari links using roughly the same sized lig as a HR tenor. so if that lig still fits when you get a bari reed on there you should be in the clear. as for what reed to use, you should have no problem using a 3 1/2 rico or maybe a 3. I recommend buying some cheap ricos first to help dial in the strength before going and buying more expensive reeds.

FZ1988bar I heard when Bari players are really desperate for reeds they can resort to using Tenor reeds, I tried that but are tenor reeds suppose to be really free-blowing, buzzy and chirpy, on Bari mouthpieces?

I strapped a brand new Tenor Rico Select Jazz 4S on it and it was pretty free-blowing and would not stop chirping, it felt like I had no control at all.

 

[MPL]

There are those who claim good success with tenor reeds, but I'm suspicious of those claims without hearing them firsthand. The name guys like Smulyan, Cuber, etc. don't use tenor reeds on baritone, so why should you? If you're using a HR Link 7, I'd suggest starting with 3s until you're sure the sound is what you want, and then going stronger if that's your preference.

Ligatures: As with all saxophones, there is no standard or default ligature. A lot of guys like the Rovner because it darkens the sound, and many dislike them because it darkens the sound. I'd use a Rovner if I could find one to fit my HR Yanagisawa piece, but they don't make 'em that big, and the bass clarinet version is too big. However, I sound fine with a no-name metal ligature on this piece, so I'm not really trying very hard to find that Rovner equivalent, either. For the record, I use #3 Fibracells.

 

[JackLi]

There are those who claim good success with tenor reeds, but I'm suspicious of those claims without hearing them firsthand. The name guys like Smulyan, Cuber, etc. don't use tenor reeds on baritone, so why should you? If you're using a HR Link 7, I'd suggest starting with 3s until you're sure the sound is what you want, and then going stronger if that's your preference.

Ligatures: As with all saxophones, there is no standard or default ligature. A lot of guys like the Rovner because it darkens the sound, and many dislike them because it darkens the sound. I'd use a Rovner if I could find one to fit my HR Yanagisawa piece, but they don't make 'em that big, and the bass clarinet version is too big. However, I sound fine with a no-name metal ligature on this piece, so I'm not really trying very hard to find that Rovner equivalent, either. For the record, I use #3 Fibracells.

Hey MPL, do you know how do Tenor reeds stack up to Bari reeds in terms of resistance? Like I said the 4 Soft Tenor reed was super free-blowing and I don't want to spend a fortune trying reeds right after the holiday.

 

[maddenma]

Use a bari reed on bari. There are a few people that use bari reeds on tenor because they like the sound, but as you noticed, going the other way leads to chirping and other issues.

You didn't say was the lay was on the Link, which will matter if you want a real reed recommendation.

Generally speaking, you'll want a softer reed on bari than you use on other horns. Has to do with which end of the instrument you spend the most time on (the bottom), and what it takes to get it to sound at softer volumes. Not to mention that the horn overall just seems to respond better. Too soft, of course, and the palm keys will be flat and reeds won't last long. I use RJS 2H's on a .115 Strathon and a .115/2/S Berg. VD 4's on a Rascher (much more closed tip piece).

 

[Reedscraper]

I've played a HR Link bari mp (#6 facing) for many years and Rico 3 1/2 play consistently well as far as resistance goes. For a #7 I'm betting #3 reeds will be a good match. The HR bari mouthpieces are a weird size. I've tried OPtimum, Oleg, Saxxas and none of them fit very well. The Rovner does however. It does darken the sound but if you're handy with a reed knife you can add the brightness you want. An added benefit is Rovners greatly improve response in my opinion and for the low notes that's a good thing! I personally would avoid using a tenor reed.

 

[maddenma]

Sorry, you did say a 7*. A 3 is probably a good starting point.

 

[JackLi]

I have tried the Vandoren Traditional Blue Box's 3's and they seem to blow too soft for me, plus the cut just wasn't the right match. Should I try some Jazz Selects since I play them on the other horns too?

 

[mrzel]

How about trying some Rico orange box reeds. They are not expensive, sound good with just about any mouthpiece and are easy to work on should you need to modify them. For the record on my hard rubber link I played Legere and Rico Orange box reeds with great success.

 

[docrob]

How about trying some Rico orange box reeds. They are not expensive, sound good with just about any mouthpiece and are easy to work on should you need to modify them. For the record on my hard rubber link I played Legere and Rico Orange box reeds with great success.

+1 ... Also you can buy them in quatities as small as 3 reeds to give a sampling of several sizes without having to spend a ton.

 

[JackLi]

Cool, Rico Orange box's I'll grab a few in 3.5 and 4.

 

[sursax]

Rico Plasticover,2.5