Should I buy a baritone

jonf · Jan 18, 2007

Well, I've been playing for about 25 years, mostly one Tenor, but also sop, alto and clarinet. I've never even blown a bari, but am really intrigued by the idea of playing one. The thing is, I've just got a promotion at work, and can afford one as an indulgence for the first time in my life. I could buy a used one, or I've discovered a guy who hires them. What do you think - buy, hire or just stick to playing my lovely tenor? What do you baritone players think?

david_tannahill · Jan 18, 2007

Jools Holland says that they are the sexiest instruments on the planet....

Linky Lee · Jan 18, 2007

I think they're the sexiest instruments on the planet. Forget about Jools!

No seriously If you're curious enough to be contemplating it you obviously like the idea of one so go and give a few a blow in the shops.

I think you can only really make a decision once you've spent time with some, so maybe it would be a good idea to hire one for a couple months to see if you get on with the instrument in general. Though if you don't like that instruments quirks don't let it put you off the Bari completely, as you well know every sax is different. There are great baritones and awful ones. I've only played three different Baritones but one has been fabulous, a Yanagisawa fairly top line one, one is great sounding but a right pain to get your fingers around. Again another Yani but very old, circa 1930's I believe. And the other was a Selmer which to be frank sucked. It wasn't in bad condition it just didn't feel like it had any thought, love or ability put into it.

If I had the money I'd be in the hunt for a Baritone myself. I'm seriously contemplating using my Student loan when I get it to buy me one as I've got money set aside for University fee's. I think can afford to run a bit dry for a while, for a Baritone anyway.

There have been some great things said about the Hanson Baritone, I'd give one a blow if I were you, you can hire those as well I believe.

jambo · Jan 18, 2007

I agree with Linky. Hire one before you buy, just to make sure if you really want one

Bobby G · Jan 18, 2007

Definitely, do it while you can Jon. I can't advise about bari's as I've never blown one, but hiring before buying seems the sensible thing to do. But then who wants to be sensible? 😉

Do it! Do it! >:)

Cheers, Bob

Jules · Jan 18, 2007

provisional to having a car, go for it- dragging a baritone case around on public transport is a right pain! BTW- I'm with Linky, Selmer Baris aren't that great. Not a patch on Yanagisawas

Linky Lee · Jan 18, 2007

The strange thing is I don't really rate Yani's for Alto's or Tenors, I've just really liked the Yani Bari's I've played.

Maybe it's because of the highly contemporary feel and sound they produce, I do prefer a bit of the older vibe saxes like the Mauriats and anything that doesn't appear to be silky smooth and polished.

Go on. Buy one, then you can join the club for people with silly grins stuck to their faces :w00t:

mfox · Jan 19, 2007

i got a bari.. the only real problem with it is storage..they are heavy and i would hate my wife to try and move it for any reason. think where you can put it..but they are great fun

pauloalto · Jan 19, 2007

I wonder what the Hanson Bari's are like?

Linky Lee · Jan 19, 2007

I think Pete's had a blow of at least one if my memory serves me correctly, maybe he'll drop in some time soon?

The frosted looks rather nice on the Bari with it's special engraving, though I think it could look fabulous in silver as well. I've got no Idea about how they play or sound though.

Linky Lee · Jan 20, 2007

There is a relatively nice baritone for ?900 on www.woodwindandbrass.co.uk in the second hand section.

jonf · Feb 12, 2007

Well, I got one in the end - bought from Nachoman. It's a Buescher 400, with a couple of good mouthpieces. Not the prettiest sax in the world (like I care!) but it roars. Felt wierd for the first ten minutes, then I got used to it, stopped playing it like tenor and started having fun. It absolutely roars - fantastic, it's like playing a whole different instrument, rather than just a bigger sax.

Highly recommended :w00t:

Bobby G · Feb 12, 2007

I'm still keeping an eye on the Buescher baritone on ebay - it would be very tempting if the price didn't go too much further than where it is now, less than 300 with a couple of days to go, but these things tend to go stratospheric just before closing time.

Having said that, there was a mk7 alto that finished yesterday with only 1 bid at 750, too much for me but sounds like quite a good deal if it doesn't need too much doing to it.

Cheers, Bob

tris · Feb 13, 2007

Hmm,

If I were buying any Selmer I would want to play it first. I think of them like Levis jeans, just because the pair you have is the best pair of jeans you own does not mean that the next will.

There are loads of MKVI and MKVII for sale but they are the "iffi" ones. The great ones can be bought but they are ?5000+. Not good value for money at all. (I am a B&S devote anyway!)

I really fancy something lower than a bari myself but there is no way I could accommodate it in our house at the moment, besides I would like a B&S tenor next, or maybe at Apple G5 for my studio, or a great valve pre-amp or...... you get the idea.

I have to draw the line between want and need!

I hope you are having fun JonF. I am a envious! 😉