Mouthpieces Bari Esprit II Alto MP - The clarification thread

DavidUK

Well-Known Member
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NB. For "clarification" read mystification!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See later posts on this thread: http://cafesaxophone.com/showthread.php?11351-Cheap-but-reasonable-Soprano&p=132087#post132087

Also: http://www.bariwoodwind.com/new site/altosaxtnew.html

Having received a Bari Esprit (standard) Alto MP yesterday from Omega and not the Esprit II as ordered I did some research.

Roz at Trevor James, the UK distributor, told me today there are four versions of Bari Esprit II, satin and polished, square and round chamber in each.

Today, TJ sent out the LAST of the Esprit II's in satin with a square chamber. This had been the version they had distributed to date. They have decided to stock the polished round chambered version from now on and are awaiting stocks from the US. This is after listening to customers and finding out which shaped chamber players preferred. Roz said the round chamber produces a sound more suited to orchestral playing.

Hope that helps. UPDATE: Read post #8 below.

BTW, the standard version (not labelled "II") comes only in satin and round chamber.

Also, whereas I ordered the II from Omega and received a standard model, I also ordered a standard model from John Packer (having phoned and been told they had checked the shelf and it was definitely NOT a II version).
http://www.johnpacker.co.uk/Catalog.../Alto-Saxophone-Mouthpieces/Bari#.UkwJutJvNOI
Ordered Saturday, with ligature and cap for £13.53 posted via 2nd class post, this has just arrived today, Wednesday, and turns out to be an Esprit II in satin with a square chamber!

If you want A "II" with the square chamber, JP might be the place to go, but (a) be quick, (b) phone them to ask what you're getting and, (c) don't expect what you order to be what arrives!

Now... which do I keep? The standard round chambered model; the II satin square chamber; or do I wait for a II polished round chamber. Life should be simpler!! Roz has gone off for some coffee.....

Seriously though... what shape chamber is better for a "jazzier" sound? Roz is saying square, with the new round one for orchestra. Is this generally correct, and why?


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To throw another spanner in the works , Hanson are selling a version with the Easy-reed system, it`s shiny and just has Bari on it, Square chamber, two tiny pips for the easy reed which are picked out (they`re on very fine plastic stalks) . good piece, better than a yamaha 4C , opening bigger than a 4C
 
To throw another spanner in the works , Hanson are selling a version with the Easy-reed system, it`s shiny and just has Bari on it, Square chamber, two tiny pips for the easy reed which are picked out (they`re on very fine plastic stalks) . good piece, better than a yamaha 4C , opening bigger than a 4C

I'm fairly sure that won't be labelled "Esprit" ?
 
No as I said, it`s just labelled Bari - looks like the far more expensive HR pieces but without the metal shank and made of plastic, they play well, maybe worth you trying one to compare also .
 
I had the following today from Omega:

"Dear David,Since I last contacted you we have heard from our suppliers that this
version of the Bari esprit alto sax mouthpiece is about to be superceded by
an updated version. Our suppliers in the UK are expecting these to be with
them some time in the next week.
The new ones will only be available in a polished finish with a rounded
chamber.
Please can you let me know if you will be happy to wait for these new ones
to arrive and we will send it on as soon as can.
I am sorry for the extra delay."

I'm still waiting for the one I ordered from John Packer.
 
Now... which do I keep? The standard round chambered model; the II satin square chamber; or do I wait for a II polished round chamber. Life should be simpler!! Roz has gone off for some coffee.....

Seriously though... what shape chamber is better for a "jazzier" sound? Roz is saying square, with the new round one for orchestra. Is this generally correct, and why?

My response, for what little it's worth:

Keep the one you prefer the sound of.

The best one for a 'jazzier sound' is whichever sound, to you, when you play it, 'jazzier'.

Whichever one you reject, use it as a selling point next time you sell a horn. You know, "comes complete with a brand new, boxed, high quality mouthpice made by renowned manufacturer Bari"
 
After a few to and fro messages with Bari in the USA, to cut a long story short Rick Hayman there lastly emailed:

"Esprit II is square chambered. She (Roz) is mistaken.
Thanks
Rick"

So, forget all the above. Esprit is round chambered. Esprit II is, and will remain, square chambered.

Earlier, Rick had emailed:

"David,

Below Roz states: the next batch we get in will only be round/polished. This refers to the Esprit, (round chambered), not Esprit II, (square chambered)

From our website:
Esprit - Alto Sax

•Made of durable hard composite
•Provides a rich, vibrant tone
•Easy response for beginning embouchures
•Value priced for students and school programs
•Available with or without cap and ligature
•Available in Bb clarinet, bass clarinet, soprano sax, alto sax,
tenor sax and baritone sax
•Satin finish
_______________________________________________________________
Esprit II - Alto Sax

•High performance for the beginning and intermediate alto player
•Square chamber helps the player find and hold the center of tone with ease
which is rich with a bit of edge
•Has a nice fresh sound - no stuffiness
•Value priced for students and school programs
•Available with or without cap and ligature
•Available in alto sax only
•Satin or hand-polished finish


The significant point here is that Worldwind (TJ) has chosen to sell the Esprit (round chamber) in a polished finish., therefore, that is what will be available in the UK.
If you wish to purchase the Esprit Alto Sax II Square chamber in polish or matte finish, you may do so through our website.
http://bariwoodwind.com/new site/altosaxtnew.html

Best regards,
Rick Hayman"

Of course the Esprit II is also available via UK retailers.

Is that all clear now? I'll phone Roz tomorrow afternoon and just clarify, hopefully!
Omega have given out wrong info to me and others purely due to TJ (Worldwind) having the wrong end of the stick it seems.

So, I currently have two of (I now believe) four Esprit Alto MPs on my desk. The (old) satin Esprit round chamber UK model, soon to be replaced in the UK by the polished model which I don't have (although Bari's web site only lists this in Satin, as above?); and the satin Esprit II square chamber which will remain the same in the UK although a polished version is available in the US.
 
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Wouldn't have all that fuss and confusion with a Guardala.....you lot should all get Guardala's...that's what you want!
 
...and more just in from Rick at Bari in the US:

"Hi David
That is Worldwind’s call. Whatever they choose to buy will be what is available from them. Please contact them directly to get full knowledge of what they will carry. Apologies, our website is a little clunky. I need to investigate and make sure it navigates to all combinations available. This might take a few days to get corrected.
Rick"
 
Yeah, sounds about right, they`re wider than the equivalent Yamaha 4C in each but not massively so . the Hanson "easy reed" variant of the alto (shiny without Esprit on) falls in line with that too.
 
So... in short...there's the bari esprit in different external finishes for the main saxes and the alto only square chambered esprit II. Is that it?
 
I'm still waiting for the one I ordered from John Packer.

This just arrived. I ordered what was described on JP's site as a "Bari Alto Saxophone Eb Mouthpiece Esprit + cap & ligature" and what I have in front of me is an Esprit II satin square chamber with cap & ligature.

Wonder what I'll get from Omega and when? 🙂
 
Spoke to Roz this morning at TJ/Worldwind. Confusion yesterday.

Up to now they have distributed Esprit/Satin/Round chamber & Esprit II/Satin/Square chamber.
No more stocks of Esprit II will be distributed in the UK.
The Esprit/Polished/Round chamber version is the only one they will distribute to all UK retailers in future.

They sent the last three Esprit II Satin/Square to Omega yesterday.
JP have only 15 Esprit II Satin/Square on their shelf this morning. They have discontinued the free lig/cap as only their previous stocks of Esprit/Satin/Round came with those (they honoured my order by adding a lig/cap). They have amended their web page to reflect this, and changed the description to Esprit II.

In summary, there are Esprit (round chamber) and Esprit II (square chamber) for Alto. Each come in satin or polished finish. Only Esprit Polished will be available in future in the UK. There will be some old stocks of Esprit Satin and Esprit II Satin at UK retailers until sold. All finishes unavailable in the UK are available from Bari in the US.
 
Was Roz sober this time? Can't see the point in not supplying the Esprit II as it has been given a very high rating and the original promise was to produce the Esprit II for both Soprano and Tenor in addition to the Alto already available.
 

Similar threads... or are they? Maybe not but they could be worth reading anyway 😀

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