[strimmed95]

Hello SOTW fans. Sean here, and I am excited to let you all know that I finally decided and received my first curved soprano after playing a straight two piece one since the mid-90s. With that said, don’t let it sound like I’ve been playing it for that long lol I took at least a 15 year hiatus from saxophone all together so I am by no means a professional, nor do I even play for money just a fan of the game. With that said, I created a thread a while back, asking about a few different curvies and I pretty much narrowed my decision down to two, the curved Kessler, and the curved Jean-Paul. Originally I was going to go with the Kessler due to the great feedback and reviews however, there were none in stock at the time and being the compulsive type lol I just took a gamble and went with the Jean Paul. Nonetheless, I am extremely extremely happy I did so.
With that said, I will leave that review to another thread for now I am looking for an all-around mouthpiece to play that will suit me well on all types of genres at a cost friendly price point. I have a gift card for $100 from Reverb, I know I might likely have to spend some of my own money on top of that but I don’t wanna go too crazy maybe $150 max in total.
I know a lot of people recommend Selmer on Soprano However, I find them to be a little too bright and strident for my liking.

A lot of people rave about the well-made and consistent BARI brand mouthpiece. However, I noticed that there’s a few different models that they make and I’m wondering which one you all recommend. I know that there is the cheapest of them all in the Espirit, Which I’m assuming is not the one for me. There’s also the Dakota model. Then there’s the classic as well as the hybrid, which is the hard rubber one with the metal shank. There’s also a few different models of metal ones too however I am trying to stay away from metal as I have played metal in the past and still have one but I find it to be too bright for jazz and God awful for classical lol. Anyways, I’m probably looking around the .065-.070” tip opening. Probably .065 would be the best, As I have a hard rubber link tone edge 6 Which Feels like the perfect size for me however, it’s a little bit on the dull side, so I’m wondering if the Bari might Bridge the gap between the tubbier link and the metal DV replica I have.

Im sorry for the long winded post, I’ll try to keep it simple from here on out, but if anyone could point me in the correct direction on which mouthpiece they think is best from BARI. I also took a quick look at some Meyers and I feel like they have a nice warm, sound on soprano, and would like to hear your thoughts on them as well. Thank you all for listening and putting up with my nonsense. Love everyone of you and I hope you’re all doing well.

Sean

 

[SaxNutz]

Some like the Esprit for soprano but I didn't like it at all, pretty bland. The Morgan vintage I have is very mellow sounding if you can find one. I thought the Link was a dud too, very dull. Haven't tried much else except the Yamaha 4 and 6 C , the 6 being better but not as good sounding as the Morgan. Only been playing a year so be warned of my opinion !

 

[strimmed95]

Morgan would be great but aren’t They well over $200? But hey I appreciate you chiming in perhaps I’m wrong maybe this particular Morgan that you speak of is cheaper I’m not sure but yeah I really appreciate your help.

 

[SaxNutz]

The Vintage was the reasonably priced Morgan.

 

[skeller047]

A link 6 is nominally 0.060”. 6* is 0.065” That’s actually a good choice, if you can find a good one. In your price range.

Baris are a little brighter than Links, but more consistent. A 62 or 64 would be about right. However, these are the most popular sizes so you may have trouble finding one.

A Selmer Super Session in F or G is about that size too. I you haven’t played the Super Session, these are worth a try, thou a bit above your price range. Very different from the S80 or S90. Or an old Soloist (the Baris are similar to these), but they are even more pricey.

 

[mmichel]

To answer your question in a straightforward way (i.e., without suggesting a bunch of mouthpieces that you didn't ask about), the Bari mouthpiece that most people are talking about is the regular hard rubber soprano mouthpiece (the one with the metal sleeve on the shank). I don't know if they are still making these (I can't find them on the Bari website anymore) but they are still available in various online shops (they are available here, for instance).

I played on one of these for a while (my first 4 years or so of playing soprano) and loved it. I also own a Meyer, which I didn't like at all and found to play very differently (i.e., with much more resistance and much poorer response) than the Bari.

 

[Tonerbust]

I tried a bunch of soprano mouthpieces and found the Bari rubber piece with the metal sleeve had the best response. I'm pretty sure is wasn't called a hybrid when I bought mine but that was years ago. My tonal target is that of Zoot Sims on soprano. I use the Bari .72 with hemke 3.5 and 4.0 reeds. The .68 I once owned played wonderfully too so that speaks well for quality control.

 

[strimmed95]

A link 6 is nominally 0.060”. 6* is 0.065” That’s actually a good choice, if you can find a good one. In your price range.

Baris are a little brighter than Links, but more consistent. A 62 or 64 would be about right. However, these are the most popular sizes so you may have trouble finding one.

A Selmer Super Session in F or G is about that size too. I you haven’t played the Super Session, these are worth a try, thou a bit above your price range. Very different from the S80 or S90. Or an old Soloist (the Baris are similar to these), but they are even more pricey.

Thank you so much Skeller. Great advice and insight. Regarding Selmer, the only one I would consider would be the s80 or 90 (btw what’s the difference between the 80 and 90) are they both square chambers? Could the 90 just be a slightly different facing length perhaps or maybe a larger chamber? Just guessin.

I really think the Bari is the way to go based on how well everyone talks about them. It’s almost like links are To tenors as Meyers are to altos as Bari is to soprano. Maybe not quit…. as it’s probably most like Selmers for soprano but, we do often hear how well these so called Baris play on soprano. Also I’ll admit, I’m def a bit biased as I really dislike the oboeish timbre that I hear from a lot of Selmer Designs. Definitely I hear that in the SS, and sometimes even in the soloists but I’m not paying that much regardless, so Im glad I don’t like t that much lol. The s80 does sound nice though. But idk. I certainly find my s80 that came with my series two alto a one trick pony. Perhaps it’s much more versatile on soprano, but tbh I’m just really intrigued by these BARIS. I mean I’ve been hearing nearly everyone recommending them to just about everybody and their mothers, plus it’s easily the cheapest out of everything I’ve listed.

someone has got to be able to answer my original question. Which Bari piece Is this mystical creature? Everyone always just says or recommends a HR Bari. But there’s like 4 or 5 different HR models. I’m guessing it’s most likely the Hybrid (the one with the metal shank) or the Classic. Can someone please point me in the right direction? Or if they’re all good can anyone point out the differences between the differing HR models out there?
Are the Bari metal pieces any good? Like I said, I’m not looking for metal unless it’s an extremely dark or warm sounding one.

Anyways thanks to everyone thus far. Great insight despite the fact no one has been able to point out which model is the unicorn of the rest but you all did provide great feedback and other excellent choices which I would never discourage you from continuing to do.

By the way, I’d be enough I believe my favorite sounding soprano mouthpiece is indeed made by Selmer and has to be the concept. I wish I had $250 to spend but yeah unfortunately I don’t. I hear that the SP3 is that what it’s called anyways, I hear that Vandoren has sort of developed a copy of the concept mouthpiece for about half the price. Has anyone ever played it?

 

[strimmed95]

I tried a bunch of soprano mouthpieces and found the Bari rubber piece with the metal sleeve had the best response. I'm pretty sure is wasn't called a hybrid when I bought mine but that was years ago. My tonal target is that of Zoot Sims on soprano. I use the Bari .72 with hemke 3.5 and 4.0 reeds. The .68 I once owned played wonderfully too so that speaks well for quality control.

I’m so glad that you just posted this. I’m sorry I was in the middle of editing something that I just previously posted and thus didn’t see that you got around to responding to exactly what I was looking for. I believe the one that you might be referring to just says BARI in all caps and has like a rectangular box around the font right on the lower body of the mouthpiece just above the shank is that correct?

 

[mmichel]

someone has got to be able to answer my original question. Which Bari piece Is this mystical creature? Everyone always just says or recommends a HR Bari. [...]

Anyways thanks to everyone thus far. Great insight despite the fact no one has been able to point out which model is the unicorn of the rest but you all did provide great feedback and other excellent choices which I would never discourage you from continuing to do.

See my post #6 above. As @Tonerbust says, it's the one with the metal sleeve on the shank.

 

[strimmed95]

To answer your question in a straightforward way (i.e., without suggesting a bunch of mouthpieces that you didn't ask about), the Bari mouthpiece that most people are talking about is the regular hard rubber soprano mouthpiece (the one with the metal sleeve on the shank). I don't know if they are still making these (I can't find them on the Bari website anymore) but they are still available in various online shops (they are available here, for instance).

I played on one of these for a while (my first 4 years or so of playing soprano) and loved it. I also own a Meyer, which I didn't like at all and found to play very differently (i.e., with much more resistance and much poorer response) than the Bari.

if I remember correctly didn’t you just sell three sop pieces. Because I remember the seller specifically, saying that the Bari was the best of the bunch, and that the Meyer was awful. I forget what the third mouthpiece was if indeed, this was you. Man if it was I wish I knew I needed a soprano piece when I saw that ad.

 

[strimmed95]

See my post #6 above. As @Tonerbust says, it's the one with the metal sleeve on the shank.

I just read it. Thank you for that. That’s exactly what I needed. Sorry I missed it. To my defense though I did admit to you all, that I was an idiot. Did I not? lol.

 

[mmichel]

if I remember correctly didn’t you just sell three sop pieces. Because I remember the seller specifically, saying that the Bari was the best of the bunch, and that the Meyer was awful. I forget what the third mouthpiece was if indeed, this was you. Man if it was I wish I knew I needed a soprano piece when I saw that ad.

Nope, it wasn't me. I still have both the Bari and the Meyer, but I haven't sold a mouthpiece in at least a couple of years. However, I do agree with whoever that seller was that the Meyer is awful, and I often recommend the Bari as one of the two best bang-for-the-buck mouthpieces (along with the Morgan Vintage) available for soprano.

If you can't find the Bari in the tip opening you want, I'd strongly suggest going for the Morgan Vintage. It's only about $25 more expensive and it's an absolutely fantastic mouthpiece. Hand finished and my favorite of all mouthpieces of that design (i.e., soloist-style "squeeze throat" chamber).

 

[strimmed95]

Thanks guys. So I did just look up the Morgan vintage and indeed you guys are correct it’s only $149 which I was surprised because I know Morgan mouthpieces are some of the best hand finished pieces. Why this one is so cheap? That I do not know because reading about it on Morgan’s website they clearly state that it is completely hand finished from the chamber all the way to the baffle, rails, and curve. Do you think this might be simply because it is made out of a resin whereas his other more expensive mouthpieces are made out of what he claims to be the best German hard rubber available?

that’s the only thing I could think of. Anyways I’ll definitely take a good hard look at it. I wish I could find one used that would be great. I do see Baris Up for sale here often for quite cheap so I guess that’s something to keep in mind as well. Another piece that garnered my attention Is the Ponzol Ebonite .065. Rarely will I find anything negative about any of his mouth pieces so just curious has anyone ever tried that particular one and if so how does it stack up to the others that we have been discussing? Again I can’t thank you all enough this knowledge is invaluable for me at the moment

 

[buddy lee]

It's weird because I've literally never heard or seen anyone raving about BARI brand anything let alone soprano mouthpieces. I must have missed that part. A friend of mine plays their hybrid tenor model and likes it, but they tend to be brighter than I'd want to be, and especially on soprano I'm not trying to be bright.

 

[strimmed95]

It's weird because I've literally never heard or seen anyone raving about BARI brand anything let alone soprano mouthpieces. I must have missed that part. A friend of mine plays their hybrid tenor model and likes it, but they tend to be brighter than I'd want to be, and especially on soprano I'm not trying to be bright.

i couldn’t agree with last statement any more. Im definitely trying to put out these feelers because I too do not want anything that is bright and edgy on soprano. To be honest, and I know this is not going to be a very popular thing to say here but what the hell I’ll say it anyways. This is exactly the reason why I want to steer clear from Selmer at least the super sessions and the soloists as I find both of them to be very bright and oboe-ish sounding. But then again that’s why opinions are like you know what holes right. Obviously this is just my personal take/opinion on such infamous soprano mouthpieces. So take it with a grain of salt. I can say though, I have heard many great soloists that weren’t to shrill and ducky sounding and then plenty of others that were. However every super session i have ever heard was just not my cup of tea. The only Selmer in my price range I would consider would be the S80 or 90 but once Again I still find them to lean a bit into the focused/bright side of the spectrum. But boy oh boy do I wish I could afford a concept. In my opinion the Selmer concept has the best most sweetest soprano sound around. I believe that they really hit the mark with that unusually shaped beak as it supposedly was designed specifically to work in conjunction with its ridiculously small tip opening By allowing the player to take in more mouthpiece therefore the mouthpiece is supposed to play much easier almost as if it was a significantly larger tip opening. At least this is what Dave Kessler had spoke to me about in plenty of detail. However he said that it has an extremely long facing length however when I read on their website Vandoren specifically says that facing length is short so not sure if Dave just Miss quoted Vandoren or if perhaps Vandoren made a typo on their website. Anyways enough about the concept as it’s unattainable at my price point. Although Mr. Kessler did say that in his opinion VanDoren‘s version of the concept is about 85% as good as the Selmer is at about half the price. If this statement holds to be true and other people agree with Dave, maybe I will take a look at that one as well. The name of it is escaping me right now I want to say it might be the SP3 but I very well could be wrong. Anyways I would really love to hear your thoughts on what they think would be the best all around warm sweet sounding soprano piece in the $150 range.

 

[lydian]

I was also disappointed in the Bari sop mouthpiece I tried. High quality piece, but dull sound and very resistant. I would not recommend. An ordinary Yamaha felt and sounded better to me. My main sop mouthpiece is a Runyon Custom Spoiler. It’s fantastic, which is surprising since I’ve found Runyon on alto and tenor to be terrible. Good luck on your quest.

 

[dexdex]

Did you check Vandoren ? The S25 is a very nice balanced rather rich sounding piece, not shrill or bright. Nice fit with both a YSS-475 and a Selmer S-III. The V16 are nice too.

 

[noelpaz]

I would like to find like the one that I lost BARI 65 with a metal collar on the shank. After I lost it, I got a metal Otto Link and a Barone HR but they were not quite like the BARI. I also got a Morgan which I sold. Finally 2 years ago, I got the Supersession II (still looking for a J) and that satisfied my soprano MP search since 2003. I do like the volume out of the metal Otto Link and I used that sometimes as well for loud gigs.

 

[Mrblackbat]

I played a Bari hard rubber 64 for a while as my main piece. Liked it, much better than the Meyer I had. But to me it lacked a little focus, so I recently got Ed Pillinger to make one of his S series for me, which is fantastic; still have both the Meyer and Bari.