Thanks! The mouthpiece gets a lot of credit as well!

I'd love to hear this sax playing with a cello, I bet it must blend in really good!

Thanks! This was the tonal happenings c. 1860. Much to learn about hearing the instrument close to its original intent of the tonal sensibilities of the time, and its relationship to orchestra settings.

It's a totally different tonal concept from today's classical saxophone@@paulcohen2556

Yes, it is a sad commentary of the state of classical saxophone playing. Tremendous advances in technical playing, but musical and artistic playing, including tonal nuance and awareness, continues to rapidly recede.

Thanks for your kind words about my Saxophone Journal Columns that were titled "Vintage Saxophones Revisited" They were a delight to write! I also love Renaissance and Medieval music, and on my upcoming saxophone quartet CD, Dances and Declamations, you can hear my adaptation of Renaissance songs and dances in my "Renaissance Book" for SATB quartet. The CD wil be released in April! Previews coming soon.

Great to hear that you are getting a similar tone to that of my Adolphe Sax baritone and original mouthpiece. Yes, those early Mark VI baris sound beautiful. The design of the S80 C* is acoustically diametrically opposite to that of the original mouthpiece that I used. The difference in chamber size is huge (Selmer is much smaller), and the chamber size is a key determinant of tone color, large chamber is dark to small chamber bright. So bravo to your strong tonal imagery to make your baritone sound as in the video!

@@paulcohen2556 I have question for you! I want that tonal characteristic that I'm getting, but with the ability for more volume. I feel like I max out this mouthpiece when I need to really push some air and get more volume. During those times it gives out on me and feels like there's just nothing more it can do. Would an S80 with a larger tip opening accomplish that? Maybe an S80 E or something like that?

@@jessekerley8625 I need to know a little more about your playing. What genre of music? What reed setup? Getting a larger tip opening is not always the best solution, as tone quality, intonation and response often degrades. Let me know more.

@@paulcohen2556 I’m playing a variety of music. On my own mostly classical, so the s80 c* is great and has plenty of volume. But I’m also playing in the local city band, which is where I’m maxing it out and need more volume. It’s a variety of music, but lots of faster stuff and quite a bit of more patriotic music.

A high compliment! Thanks!

Thanks for the kind words. Sax's original intent was to create a low reed woodwind for the orchestra to fill out the woodwind section sonority compared to the enriched brass and strings that were becoming more sonically enriched. At the time neither the bass clarinet or bassoons had either the flexibility or volume to provide that enrichment. The bass sax, first of Sax's saxophones, was designed to fill that gap. Playing outside and in military bands came later, and was a boon to Sax.

@@paulcohen2556 I see! Great history lesson! Thank you 🎷

Thanks for the kind words. Another essential component is the player's concept or image of tone that he wants to sound from the instrument. The instrument, mouthpiece and concept work well together with this bari.

It is the original (wood) mouthpiece, from the 1860s, by Adolphe Sax

Yes, I am the saxophone teacher at Columbia. You can study with me at Columbia and take part in the Manhattan School of Music saxophone orchestra and other groups. Email me with questions. Paulcohen.saxo@gmail.com

I've lost track as the numbers keep changing, but it is around 250 these days.

@@paulcohen2556 Wow. Jealous, but very happy for you.

Don't be jealous! Come visit my museum in the NYC area and try it yourself!

Next time I come to New York, I’d absolutely love to meet you and check out some of your saxophones. I also have some nice rarities in my collection and I’m fascinated with every aspect of saxophones, including repairing them et cetera. I used to read your magazine supplements. do you have a G mezzo soprano from my friend in Denmark in your collection? Best wishes

That is an "actual" bari sax. It's just an older, "vintage" bari, one could say.

@@TrashCanBoiBoi oh that’s cool

It's silver plated - most saxes now are lacquered brass, but there are a few silver plated ones still made, and a lot more were made back then. I have a Buescher baritone that's around 109 years old now, and is silver plated like this one. I have a couple of altos (including a lovely silver plated Hawkes & Sons 'Double Century' from the 1930's), a tenor (just a cheapo 1970's East German one, but it suits me), and the bari, and out of all of them the baritone is the most satisfying to play - you can feel the notes through your body! There used to be an Adolphe Sax alto floating around my home town. I tried it once, but pretty though it was, it was a bit of a dog, and having two octave keys was just too confusing for me.