Saxophones My New(ish) Baritone

[GJ77]

After having been baritone-less for a great many years since selling my old Conn Crossbar I've finally taken the plunge again. After much deliberation, trying different horns and travelling around the south east on the hunt I finally bought a 1979 Selmer Mk6 with low A.

I've had it for a couple of months now and wanted to delay posting anything until I'd got to know it, gigged it and found it's foibles (all horns have them). I have to say that despite all that you sometimes read about the inferiority of late Mk6 saxes and low A baris, this thing is glorious. Ok so the transition across the break to D/Eb took a little getting used to but it's really just been a case of me learning about this horn in particular and getting something resembling a bari embouchure back.

It can scream, it can whisper and anything in-between...is it possible to fall in love with an inanimate object?

 

[Jeanette]

Looking forward to hearing some clips 🙂

Jx

 

[GJ77]

It's on my list of things to do over the next couple of weeks.

 

[Chilli]

Having both a Crossbar and a late Low A Mk VI (1977), I can understand your struggle with the D break. I play the Conn much more than the Selmer but have to use the latter once a week (low A required) and I have to adjust to it every time... The Selmer is great indeed. It was my first bari and it was that one that let me know that bari was definitely my horn.
But I think that if I didn't need that low A, I'd sell it and keep the Conn ('m looking for an 11M, BTW). That said, my Mk VI is currently in my tech's hands so I might change my mind when I have it back.
Congrats and enjoy! 🙂

 

[GJ77]

Fortunately it was an easy enough problem to get around, it's just a little less forgiving than some saxes with regard to air speed and the throat aperture. You've got to make a nice round 'O' shape.

 

[DavidUK]

But I think that if I didn't need that low A, I'd sell it and keep the Conn ('m looking for an 11M, BTW).

Noticed an 11M here, with low A: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Conn-11M-...t=UK_Woodwind_Instruments&hash=item27f477f068

😵

 

[thomsax]

.... Conn ('m looking for an 11M, BTW).

Why do you want a Conn 11M?


Conn Artist 13M low A baritone and King Model 682 Baritone might be alternatives? Both are mady by UMI in Nogales, AZ, USA in the mid 90's. It looks like Conn 11m shares the tube and bell with 13m baritone/682 baritone. I think the late UMI saxes were good.