Barone?
GoHabsGo
I'm looking at maybe getting one of his vintage tenors as my
first sax. If anyone has any opinions, please let me know.
Cheers,
Larry
ansermetniac
Barone is the biggest bullshit artist in the business. He has never
had an original thought and copies everybody, unashamedly. Why,
because the modern sound of the saxophone is beyond his understanding.
He thinks Brecker should have played a Link as the sound that made
him the great he is/was is that of a kazoo. What a buffoon. Brecker
was a 21st century Man. Should he play a piece that was designed for
the Music of the 1920s. Barone thinks so.
When you buy a mouthpiece from him you get a brainwashing of how great
he is and how lame everybody else is.
And he was caught counterfeiting.
He is the darling of SOTW-need I say more
Abbedd
HenryD
Competent far eastern (probably China) horns. You'll not get the
final set up or recourse in the event of trouble that comes with
buying from a dealership but in turn it'll be cheaper. Most buyers
have been pretty happy- though only the most enthusiastic would
confuse it with a Selmer or Yamaha Custom. For a bit more you could
go with one of the Taiwanese horns (Jupiter or Cannonball). Jupiters
et al are available from dealers and through the mail. The
Cannonballs will have to come from an actual person store and so may
cost a bit more but will in turn be better supported and you'll have
face to face recourse in case of dis-satisfaction.
GoHabsGo
news:8vuql6l7tv9ufmafg...@4ax.com:
What was he counterfeiting?
So ... what's wrong with SOTW? I did say I was new, so please explain.
They seem like decent folks to the naked eye.
Did Barone brainwash you about a mouthpiece? Have you played one of his
saxes?
Cheers,
Larry
GoHabsGo
8d85a4...@e9g2000vbi.googlegroups.com:
From all the information I have gathered, the Barones are made in the
same Taiwanese factory as the P. Mauriat which retail for a bit more
money, which also have been getting good reviews in some places.
I agree, the Barone reviews seem to be quite over the top but perhaps
they ARE good? They certainly look nice. Does anyone have any first-
hand experience to share, good or bad?
Cheers,
Larry
saxxsymbol
> HenryD <hadu...@comcast.net> wrote in news:f113b453-fb67-44ec-b8de-
> 8d85a483a...@e9g2000vbi.googlegroups.com:
I have had two. Currently own a classic unlacquered tenor as a backup.
Very nice sax, great tone, ease of response, well built and even
timbre. Intonation is near perfect. Huge dynamic range. My horn played
perfect out of the box. Very nice as a main axe or as a backup. Better
than any Jupiter I have tried. Equal to any Cannonball I have tried.
Very similar in feel and tone to a MarkVI. Much better intonation.
I recommend them highly for the price range. There are superior horns
available, but not at that price point.
Tom Joyce
"GoHabsGo" <spambrea...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9E8FA7FCA20Cgo...@85.214.73.210...
Larry,
Welcome to alt.music.saxophone! As you can see, hardly anyone posts here
anymore as it has long been a place for a few mental defects to sound off.
If you're new to sax playing, welcome. You won't be able to hear much
difference among the $1,500 to $2,500 horns so buy the one you get the best
deal on and spend most of your money on lessons. That's where you'll get
the most out of whatever you buy. Phil and Abbedd have had an ongoing
pissing contest in this ng for about 15 years now. At least Phil has other
things to do. I have a couple of his mouthpieces and they're great. I'm
sure his saxes are good enough and they look terrific. Like I said, if the
price is right for you, pull the trigger, find a good teacher and have a
ball.
Best,
Tom J.
ansermetniac
<spambrea...@hotmail.com> wrote:
Barone counterfeited my pieces.
SOTW banned the designer of Brecker's piece for life and called his
opinions irrelevant. The moderators and administrators don't know
their ass from thee elbow
Abbedd
ansermetniac
wrote:
Tom Joyce thinks Phil is God. Take what he says with a grain of salt.
Abbedd
ansermetniac
Correction--Tom Joyce thinks HE is God
There are tow types of sax players--those who know Barone is full of
shit and those who idolize him
Fortunately the latter are a small group of brainwashed fools. But
they are very loud
Abbedd
Iain Churches
Hi Larry.
Get yourself a good teacher, and let him/her advise
you in the purchase of your first tenor.
I live in Scadinavia. Most teachers here recommend
the Yamaha student series (YTS275) as a very good
place to start.
Iain
GoHabsGo
news:ednrl692be6ccgq7i...@4ax.com:
I didn't get that impression. What exactly do you have against Phil? Do
you have any verifiable beefs? I would like to know if there is an issue
before I drop some cash.
Regards,
Larry
GoHabsGo
news:k8nrl6tkgsdbr99p8...@4ax.com:
Do you have proof of this? Are you also in the business of sax
mouthpieces & saxophones? Forgive me if I have never heard of you, I
have just begun my research.
Regards,
Larry
GoHabsGo
@uutiset.elisa.fi:
Is it possible that Yamahas are the most widely available affordable
instruments in Scandinavia? I live in Canada and there seems to be
a very wide selection of low end instruments available in stores such
as Jupiter, P. Mauriat, Yamaha and a bunch of others that I can't recall
off hand. I'm just trying to get some feedback on the Barone tenor since
there seems to be so much good press out on the web with not much down
side. Is it the holy grail of saxes outside the big 4?
I plan on getting a sax first and then book some lessons. I figure
I can make a reasonable choice with plenty of research. I also have a
friend who plays alto who can help guide me.
Regards,
Larry
Iain Churches
> "Iain Churches" <Iai...@kolumbus.fi> wrote in news:q0s7p.12391$mX5.7675
> @uutiset.elisa.fi:
>
>>
>> "GoHabsGo" <spambrea...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:Xns9E8F7470FD352go...@188.40.43.230...
>>> Has anyone on here tried the much hyped Barone saxophones?
>>>
>>> I'm looking at maybe getting one of his vintage tenors as my
>>> first sax. If anyone has any opinions, please let me know.
>>>
>> you in the purchase of your first tenor.
>>
>> I live in Scadinavia. Most teachers here recommend
>> the Yamaha student series (YTS275) as a very good
>> place to start.
>
> instruments in Scandinavia? I live in Canada and there seems to be
> a very wide selection of low end instruments available in stores such
> as Jupiter, P. Mauriat, Yamaha and a bunch of others that I can't recall
> off hand.
Hi Larry,
We have the whole range too, through cheap Chinese
horns to Selmer Yamaha and Yanagisawa.
> I'm just trying to get some feedback on the Barone tenor since
> there seems to be so much good press out on the web with not much down
> side. Is it the holy grail of saxes outside the big 4?
Never even seen one, so I am not the person to answer that
question. Like you, I am quite a novice tenor player (late
bloomer of just18 months) But I did a lot of careful
comparisons, and listened to a lot of advice before putting
down my hard-earned cash. I have worked as a pro
recording engineer all my life, so I know what a good
saxophone should sound like:-)
> I plan on getting a sax first and then book some lessons.
You might be wise to pick your teacher first, and then
take his/her advice about the choice of tenor. If he/she can
come with you to try them out, then so much the better.
> I figure
> I can make a reasonable choice with plenty of research. I also have a
> friend who plays alto who can help guide me.
>
There are so may things like ergonomics and intonation
that a novice (and his friend:-) might not notice. And
even different saxophones of the same model can sound
and feel different (one of the reasons that so many
teachers recommend Yamaha - their quality is consistent.
Many good shops offer a rental agreement too.
It takes a while to really get to know a saxophone.
If at the end of the rental period you decide to by
the horn, then the rental is deducted from the price.
Just my 2c (Canadian of course:-)
Regards
Iain
GoHabsGo
@uutiset.elisa.fi:
Part of the problem with Barone is that it is direct buy from
Phil Barone. His saxes are not available in retail stores. This is
the reason why the price is much lower than other comparable saxes.
I really don't have the luxury of buying a starter sax, then moving up
later. It seems that a Barone might be the answer to get one sax that
will last me for life apparently for the price of a good student sax.
It may sound like my mind is made up but really I'm just starting out and
don't plan on laying down cash for probably a couple months. I'm just
looking for options and so far, no one has had anything bad to say about
Barone except for someone who seems to have an agenda.
OT: Are you in Finland, Iain? My Grandmother was born in Honilahti back
in 1901 and later emmigrated to Canada where my mother was born. I have
some long lost relatives in Finland for sure.
Regards,
Larry
Iain Churches
> Part of the problem with Barone is that it is direct buy from
> Phil Barone. His saxes are not available in retail stores. This is
> the reason why the price is much lower than other comparable saxes.
Do you have the possibility to travel there and pick one out, or
do you have to be satisfied with what they send you? Do they
offer a standard warranty?
> I really don't have the luxury of buying a starter sax, then moving up
> later. It seems that a Barone might be the answer to get one sax that
> will last me for life apparently for the price of a good student sax.
Yes. I undersdtand your point of view. In actual fact a good student
tenor (like the Yamaha YTS275) holds it's price well. I could sell
mine now for what I paid for it.
> It may sound like my mind is made up
Yes, it does:-)
> but really I'm just starting out and
> don't plan on laying down cash for probably a couple months. I'm just
> looking for options and so far, no one has had anything bad to say about
> Barone except for someone who seems to have an agenda.
You might be wise to sound out opinion on SOTW, there are some
very well informed and very helpful people there.
Join up. There are section for all saxophone players at all
levels
>
> OT: Are you in Finland, Iain? My Grandmother was born in Honilahti back
> in 1901 and later emmigrated to Canada where my mother was born. I have
> some long lost relatives in Finland for sure.
Yes. I am in sunny Helsinki. I am actually from the UK but have a
Finnish wife. I came here on holiday in 1980..........
Regards
Iain
GoHabsGo
Snip ...
> Do you have the possibility to travel there and pick one out, or
> do you have to be satisfied with what they send you? Do they
> offer a standard warranty?
I could travel but it would be about an 8 hour drive each way. With
little experience inspecting and playing a sax I'm not sure the expense
of travel would be worth it. If the sax turns out to be a dud, I think
that Phil offers a money back guarantee - not sure for how long.
>
>> I really don't have the luxury of buying a starter sax, then moving
>> up later. It seems that a Barone might be the answer to get one sax
>> that will last me for life apparently for the price of a good student
>> sax.
>
> Yes. I undersdtand your point of view. In actual fact a good student
> tenor (like the Yamaha YTS275) holds it's price well. I could sell
> mine now for what I paid for it.
That is one point against the Barone, I guess. Its name doesn't yet hold
a high resale value. But then again, I'm not looking for an investment so
much as the best bang for less bucks. I really don't want to get into
Selmer MK VI pricing territory but still want something that is known to
be a quality sax.
>
>
>> It may sound like my mind is made up
>
> Yes, it does:-)
>
>
>> but really I'm just starting out and
>> don't plan on laying down cash for probably a couple months. I'm
>> just looking for options and so far, no one has had anything bad to
>> say about Barone except for someone who seems to have an agenda.
>
> You might be wise to sound out opinion on SOTW, there are some
> very well informed and very helpful people there.
>
> http://forum.saxontheweb.net/
>
> Join up. There are section for all saxophone players at all
> levels
I have joined up for a couple of days already. That's where I'm reading
all the rave reviews of the Barone.
>
>>
>> OT: Are you in Finland, Iain? My Grandmother was born in Honilahti
>> back in 1901 and later emmigrated to Canada where my mother was born.
>> I have some long lost relatives in Finland for sure.
>
> Yes. I am in sunny Helsinki. I am actually from the UK but have a
> Finnish wife. I came here on holiday in 1980..........
>
> Regards
> Iain
Regards,
Larry
ansermetniac
<spambrea...@hotmail.com> wrote:
He counterfeited my mouthpieces and has bad mouthed me for years. And
he bad mouthed Brecker too
What I say is true
Abbedd
ansermetniac
<spambrea...@hotmail.com> wrote:
From 1977-2003 I was CEO and Chief Engineer at Dave Guardala
Mouthpieces
Abbedd
GoHabsGo
news:p04tl69vepsja6shq...@4ax.com:
I am asking for something verifiable, Abbedd. Did you take Phil to court
and win? My understanding is that the mouthpieces are hand made much
like a piece of art. Maybe his are better than yours and you are holding
a grudge? I guess I would too but unless you have something better to
offer me than he has bad mouthed you as a reason not to buy a Barone then
I am afraid I can't find your argument very convincing.
Regards,
Larry
ansermetniac
<spambrea...@hotmail.com> wrote:
Search the Federal Courts for Guardala vs Sugal et al and stop buying
Phil's brand of bullshit
Wanna hear the tapes between Sugal and Barone and how jealous they are
of Dave and I
Phil makes crap. Learn it before it is too late.
Phil has no clue about wind playing , musical sound nor mechanic,.He
is a complete phony
You can listen to me or not. I don't lose when you give Phil money,
you do.
Abbedd
GoHabsGo
news:b8atl69s28r1i8jmk...@4ax.com:
OK Abbedd, I don't have a clue about how to search the federal courts.
I understand you have a beef with him. I don't. However, if you could
point me to a few tenors that are best bang for your buck, I'll gladly
check those out.
Regards,
Larry
ansermetniac
<spambrea...@hotmail.com> wrote:
Used Selmer MK VI or Balanced Action
Used Old Conn or King
Used Guardala
Abbedd
GoHabsGo
news:vrdtl61e233hsiept...@4ax.com:
Do you have any suggestions for new models that won't break the bank?
Is there something wrong with Taiwanese horns these days? Even P.
Mauriat seems to get great reviews. I know they sponser SOTW but that
should not prejudice your opinion on their quality. What about Jupiter?
One more question. How long have you played saxophone and what kind(s)
do you use?
Regards,
Larry
ansermetniac
<spambrea...@hotmail.com> wrote:
I don't play. I design. I play the french horn. I handled wind playing
and musical sound. Dave handled mechanics. I also handle the CNC
A used Conn or King will cost less than a shit oriental horn
Abbedd
GoHabsGo
news:meitl61a1m6m5mq15...@4ax.com:
> I don't play. I design. I play the french horn. I handled wind playing
> and musical sound. Dave handled mechanics. I also handle the CNC
>
> A used Conn or King will cost less than a shit oriental horn
>
> Abbedd
>
you may be correct, but these are very few and far between in my parts.
Buying one of these sight unseen would likely be a crap shoot at best, in
my opinion.
I still fail to understand why you put down the oriental horns,
specifically some of the newer Taiwanese which have been garnering some
good reviews of late.
What specifically makes you bundle them all together as excrement? Do they
fall apart when blown into? Give me something here man. I don't get it.
Regards,
Larry
ansermetniac
The Sax is the most difficult instrument to make. The Orientals are
not up there yet in knowledge and experience. And the Chinese are way
behind on pride of workmanship
Yamaha in 1963, Yamaha was laughed at. As was anything made in Japan .
Will the others progress as the Japanese id? Pride will tell Based on
the crap coming from China they will never make anything good
Abbedd
Design and Manufacturing Engineer
Introducer of CNC to the ENTIRE Music industry and still the only one
who uses it properly
p.s What I would like to see? The late 70s Habs and the early 80s
Isles in a game. Of course Oh Canada has to be sung by Roger Doucet
GoHabsGo
news:udotl61g73mrlovur...@4ax.com:
Abbedd,
You still fail to give me specifics on why Taiwanese are junk. I'll
guess that they are not the same as a new Selmer or other big name but
unless they are prone to failure or sound like a kazoo instead of
a Sax, what makes them so crappy to you? Since you don't play yourself,
perhaps you are only judging them by their design and flaws you see. If
you could point something like that out, it would clear up your position to
me.
I am impressed if what you claim is true that you introduced CNC to the
ENTIRE musice industry. Did you introduce it to the guitar manufacturers
also? I have to disagree with you that you are the only one using the
technology correctly. Taylor guitars has been very successful using CNC to
produce some very fine guitars. Of course that is a subjective opinion but
so it is with saxes as well.
At this point, all I see is prejudice. How do you know I am not
Asian?
Perhaps your assumption is based on the fact that I am a Habs fan. I am
old enough to remember the 70s Habs and of course the 80s Isles. Doucet
did have a voice remembered fondly. Of course, I am still a fan of the
current Habs even though they have changed since then as has the game of
hockey.
I did do some reading about your beef with Barone and Sugal. I can
certainly see why you feel the way you do. I would too, perhaps more so,
but why does this carry over to all 'Asian' saxes being junk. If you can't
express why they are junk then maybe they aren't so bad for the money.
Regards,
Larry
ansermetniac
<spambrea...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>At this point, all I see is prejudice. How do you know I am not
>Asian?
Go fuck yourself and buy a piece of crap
Abbedd
GoHabsGo
news:3cstl6d37ep6ea3b2...@4ax.com:
I guess that gets you out of answering my questions which
I thought were quite legitimate. Since you don't have answers
to my detailed questions you must resort to childish answers. Maybe
it is because you are prejudiced and painting all 'Asian' horns with the
same brush, despite the fact that you don't play sax. I ask you to
give me some design flaws and I get your answer above. Obviously
you have issues with Asian manufacturing that you don't care to share.
The only information I have to go on is your legal issues with one
company who happens to make horns in 'Asia'.
I don't plan on buying crap, which is why I am hoping to
get some advice from experienced players. Obviously you
don't have anything constructive to help me there.
This thread seems to have taken a bad turn here. I'm not sure I want
a Barone but I don't have enough for a Mark VI. If anyone else is
reading along please chime in and help me choose my first/lifetime
Tenor? One that has good build quality, easy to play great dark tone and
range?
Larry
ansermetniac
<spambrea...@hotmail.com> wrote:
You are totally clueless. I am the top design and manufacturing eng in
the sax business and you call me prejudiced. Maybe you are a fuckin'
asshole
Learn some respect.
Abbedd
GoHabsGo
news:ev0ul69b52t4vujoi...@4ax.com:
Respect is earned. You have perhaps earned it from otheres close to you
but my first impression of you is not worthy of respect. You can't even
show me respect of answering my questions. You get respect by showing it
to others. Answer my questions and retract your insults and maybe I will
show you the respect you say you deserve.
Larry
ansermetniac
<spambrea...@hotmail.com> wrote:
I answered your questions. But it was not what you wanted to hear so
you called,me prejudiced. Fuk off and die you disrespectful asshole
You want to buy a piece of crap oriental horn and you want my
blessing. You ain't gonna a get it. I told you what to buy
Abbedd
GoHabsGo
news:6v1ul6hi1d3qr5tm2...@4ax.com:
You only answered the questions you wanted to and avoided your
reasons for not liking the Asian horns.
I'm not asking for any blessing since I am still a long way from
deciding what to buy. What I am asking for is information. Too bad you
choose to avoid these questions. With your qualifications you may
have been able to give an informed answer.
Larry
Tom Joyce
This is God speaking. Don't forget to take your meds tonight and thanks for
your incisive commentary.
God.
ansermetniac
wrote:
>
It is small group of morons that believe Barone's bullshit. Why are
you one of them? Foolish little man
Abbedd
Iain Churches
Larry,
I would be very wary indeed about buying any saxophone that I
had not been able to try first. People's opinions and expectations
differ wildly.
Can you get the Barone on sale or return?
Regards
Iain
Gary51
> ansermetniac <ansermetn...@hotmail.com> wrote innews:6v1ul6hi1d3qr5tm2...@4ax.com:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Fri, 18 Feb 2011 23:48:13 +0000 (UTC), GoHabsGo
>
> >>ansermetniac <ansermetn...@hotmail.com> wrote in> >>> <spambreakerNOS...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >>>>ansermetniac <ansermetn...@hotmail.com> wrote in
>
> - Show quoted text -
Larry,
Jeff (Abbedd) is extremely intelligent in the ways of
saxophones,mouthpieces and how they work together. It would be in your
best interest to listen to what he says.
Gary
ansermetniac
wrote:
Thank you, but you can get not a lot of trouble here saying that
Abbedd
evan1
When I started again I bought one of his Vintage model tenors and a Jazz model mouthpiece. The horn is amazing, a lot like a Conn 10M but with a much more user friendly keyboard and the mouthpiece is also like a fantastic Link with a lot more power. I also bought one of his Hollywood models. I use them both and I prefer them over any mouthpiece I ever played and I’ve played them all.
Same with the horn. It’s even better than my old Selmer. I also bought a Classic model tenor which is a lot like a Mark VI but it has a fatter sound and better intonation. I just ordered a second tenor and a second soprano as backups and so I can leave them at the school where I teach.
After having such great results with the tenors I bought a soprano which I am also thrilled with. It has a big sound, not like a lot of sopranos that sound thin and whiney. Phil’s is warmer and has a wider sound but the intonation is fine. I alternate Phil’s Vintage mouthpiece that came with the horn and a Yamaha mouthpiece.
I can’t say enough of good things about Phil and his products. He’s spent countless time with me in an effort to help me sound the way I want to and his price’s are so fair it’s ridiculous. I don’t know how he does it but horns that I know aren’t as good cost much more. You can get one of Phil’s tenors in bare brass with a compact case, one of Phil’s necks and mouthpiece for about thirteen hundred dollars. That’s crazy. If you want to know more just email me. Evan
Phil_Barone
> Has anyone on here tried the much hyped Barone saxophones?
>
> I'm looking at maybe getting one of his vintage tenors as my
> first sax. If anyone has any opinions, please let me know.
>
> Cheers,
> Larry
On Feb 18, 6:48 pm, GoHabsGo <spambreakerNOS...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> ansermetniac <ansermetn...@hotmail.com> wrote innews:ev0ul69b52t4vujoi...@4ax.com:
> Larry- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Larry,
The Taiwanese have been making saxophones for fifty years, the Chinese
for about fifteen so it's true that the Chinese are not quite ready
but they will be. The Taiwanese make HP computers and just about all
the computers being made today. I don't know how old you are but I
remember when the Japanese made junky toys and when they just made low-
end stuff but today they're know for luxury cars and high-performance
motorcycles and the Taiwanese are now becoming what the Japanese
were. We taught the Japanese how to manufacture and the Japanese
taught the Taiwanese and the Taiwanese are teaching the Chinese. The
horns coming out of Taiwan are first rate and the names of players
playing them are proof of it. James Carter is just one of them but
there's plenty of them.
As far as Jeff is concerned, he seems to have some personal problems
but I respect him. However, he is not the only guy that can make a
good mouthpiece. He's angry because before Mike Brecker passed on he
went to a lot of other mouthpiece makers, me being one of them and
Mike played my piece before he died. He even recorded on it on a
Kevin Mahogany CD called "My Romance". He's on two cuts and on one he
plays the Guardala and on the other he plays my Hollywood. Let's just
say that he liked my mouthpiece enough to record on it. Dave Guardala
and Jeff Powell went out of business and Dave went to jail for about
five years so I guess that also contributed to Jeff's affliction.
Below are all the emails that I received after receiving one of my
horns. Now mind you, I really don't care one way or the other if you
buy one or not because I don't make that much money on them, I'm more
concerned with people slandering them. I've sold three hundred horns
and I've only received three back. I offer a money-back guarantee if
you don't like it and I give you more than anyone in the industry. In
addition the the horn you get a professional compact case valued at
$225, a Phil Barone mouthpiece that I normally sell for $250 and is
played by Mike Murley and a Phil Barone neck that I've been making for
ten years and that I sell for about three hundred dollars depending on
the finish. Good luck on your quest for a saxophone. Phil Barone
Phil_Barone
>
> - Show quoted text -
Saxophone Endorsements
Hi Phil, the sax is awesome! I played it at my sax quartet rehearsal
tonight and the other 3 members were very impressed with the raucous
sound. The mouthpiece is perfect too.
Thank you,
Laurie
Hey Phil, just wanted to send MASSIVE props about your Vintage tenor
once again. Recent auditions for college studies for Music Education
went absolutely smoothly without any troubles from the instrument.
Even better, my top choice accepted me on the spot, no waiting or
deliberating. I know that the player accounts for most of what comes
out of the bell, but I could not have done it without your top-notch
horn.
These are killer instruments Phil, keep it up!
Best regards,
Josh Heaney
Phil,
I just played finished playing my second gig with the new sax and I
wanted to drop you a line and tell you that the horn performed beyond
my wildest expectations. After each performance, my band members
complemented me on my tone for the first time in years. I also play
guitar and comparing your sax to my 'soon to be ex' Yamaha sax is like
comparing my Victoria tube amp with my Peavey solid state amp. Both
your sax and the tube amp have full, rich overtones while my Yamaha
and my solid state amp sounds weak and 'tinny'.
Regardless of price, this is the best tenor sax that I've ever
performed with and I've played more gigs than I can count. The
intonation was spot on and the ergonomics made the sax feel like an
extension of my arm. I've played the P Mauriat version of your sax and
it plays very well and it's well worth the money but the addition of
the Phil Barone vintage mouthpiece and the custom neck really puts
your sax light years ahead of the P Mauriat in terms of value.
Speaking of mouthpieces, the included vintage mouthpiece is so
amazing, I'm thinking of retiring my Dukoff. BTW, I ditched the
synthetic reed like you suggested and although it's a little more
work, I'm back to natural reeds and I've rediscovered the joy of cane
reeds.
I can't thank you enough for putting this outfit (sax, mouthpiece,
neck and case) together for the price that you sell it for. You'll be
hearing from me again in the future as I will be buying other Phil
Barone saxes and mouthpieces.
Thanks for everything!
Don
Hey Phil...I played this Classic Sax Friday, and Sat. night. This is a
great horn. I'll be honest Man...I don't miss my Mark VI one bit! No
B.S. I think this horn is more in tune, the middle D which was always
an issue with most of the Mk's that I have played is not an issue with
this horn. I have told a few Pro players in my area about it, they all
want to come try it out. I am already saving to buy another, in a
different finish. All I can say is Wow! Thanks for the Sax! Jim B
Phil....I got the Horn today. It's pretty smoking....plays down low
easily.....very nice. I will probably get another soon as I get enough
spare cash. Thanks......don't let them change anything about these
Saxes...they are the best deal going....period!! Thanks Jimmy
Bays
Phil,
I wanted to drop you a line to say that I picked up the sax today. I
spent a few minutes playing it and I've got to say, it's the best
sounding, easiest playing and most in tune sax I've ever played. The
finish is drop dead gorgeous and I'm looking forward to spending a lot
of time with my new baby. It's been a real pleasure dealing with you
and I'm sure I'll be ordering a few more Phil Barone saxes (alto and
soprano) in the future. I can't wait to show it off when I go my band
(82nd Airborne Division Band) reunion this spring!!!
Thanks again,
Don Estrada
Yo Phil,
I got the sax back from the repair tech and what a piece of crap you
sold me ! This f**king horn is the worst investment I've ever made,
and I made a lot. You should be ashamed to sell such worthless items
like this.
How dare you deceive me to such extent ? OMG I have never been so
delighted to play a saxophone so in tune from top to bottom in my
life ! All I can say , is this one nicely put together saxophone .
Thanks,
Adam
Phil,
“First impressions is that it has a F**K. BIG FAT SOUND. Free blower,
with that small bit of resistance. Essential to vary palette. These
horns Phil are the classics of the future; I am BLOWN AWAY. Adrian”
Well, since I sent the last email I've had a bit of a go on the
horn... friggin fantastic. Every bit of it is stupidly easy and smooth
to play and even makes my weak technique sound bearable. I love this
thing... thank you!!!!!
Jeff Kryvicky
Hi Phil,
I am in love with the horns. Thanks so much. I've owned a beautiful
Mark VI, Yamaha Customs, Bueschers, a Series II and several other
horns. I've sold everything else. Your horns are the best I've ever
played. I wanted to pass along the small article and some great
pictures of them on the job. www.ottawajazzscene.ca
They are attracting attention. I hope that you see some business your
way.
Cheers!
Rich
Hi Phil,
I'm glad to inform that the tenor is perfect. The horn is superb! The
metal mouthpiece is amazing as well, with the right balance between
edginess and control. Thanks Phil! I've never sounded so good on
tenor!
Best regards,
Koh Hong Kwan
Phil:
My PB Vintage tenor and NY mouthpiece that came with the horn are the
greatest! I don't even care to play my 3 other Selmer tenors.
Everyone commented that it sounded better and asked me why my sound
was different. I said because this is my brand new super sax. They
said it looks old. You sell a monster horn.
Thank you, Charles Allen
“I had the pleasure of meeting a nice fellow tenor at community band
who happened to own none other than a nice 60's Mark VI tenor. We
swapped for a playtest. He remarked on the great response and free
blowing nature of my horn (he was using an STM of some sort) and the
ease of the auto f, finally noting its great build quality. He called
it, "A great Mark VI copy, but has something unique to offer, its a
great horn!". He let me play his Mark VI and well, let me just remind
you that what I am going to say is just my opinion. I like my Barone
better. A lot better. I know I can't expect miracles from randomly
picking up a horn, but the immediate sound is just not for me. I
prefer the spread of my Barone and I realized just how nice my action
really is. Just my two cents.”
Carl Heanard
My son is thrilled with it..... played it for about 45 minutes right
out of the case. "Finally, i've got a horn that looks as good as
it
sounds."
One note about the packing..... the metal mpc that was put in the
bell [in a box] came out of the box and the mpc and lig were
floating
around inside of the horn.
I think that could be remedied with a piece of tape on the box, just
for future reference. Other than that..... thanks again. You are
doing a service, my man.
Kelly [and Cole] Plumber
Hey Phil,
Got the sax in the mail today. WOW...just what I was looking for. This
horn is so "Selmer" like. It's like a cross between my old SA-80 and a
Mark VI. The abalone touch pieces were a great surprise (absolutely
stunning). Very good balance and weight distribution. Great
craftsmanship...absolutely awesome !! The HR mouthpiece matches very
well and responds very nicely. I had a HR PB mouthpiece at one time
and didn't like it. I now believe it was because it did not match the
horn I had at the time (Rampone & Cazzani R1 Jazz....huge bore horn).
This mouthpiece suits my new sax well. The Alto piece plays very well
also. It's very close to my old Meyer New York 6M that I once had.
Very nice bottom end on the piece. Very uniform sound from bottom to
top. Good altissimo on both pieces.
Phil, I want to thank you so much for your help and your fine
products. I also want to thank you for your patience with me in the
selection process. Continued success with your business my friend and
I will be keeping in touch.
With Much Thanks and Gratitude,
Greg
Hey Phil,
The horn came today. I've played it until my lip bled and so far so
good; seems to be about perfect. Action is amazing, sound is new to
me. Not like a six, more like a balanced action, or an old Conn.
Very little resistance and a really dark but open, centered sound.
You were right, it’s really nice! I'll take it out to a gig tomorrow
if everything stays the same.
Anyway, congratulations on an outstanding value and great service.
This is truly a pro level horn and something I'll be working with for
years.
Bill
Phil,
I received the horn today and I am thrilled with the purchase and
dealing with you has been nothing short of amazing I will have the
horn set up next week and let you know how things went thank you also
for the mouthpiece advice.
Brian Murphy
Phil,
Thanks for the great horn! I love it. It's got balls. I got it last
Wednesday, unfortunately I had to leave town on Thursday so I haven't
had it set up yet. I'm taking it tomorrow to have my tech take a
quick look over it and make sure everything is set appropriately. I
have to say you've done a hell of a job with these horns. I'm
impressed. I like the focus of the classic model you sent me. Thanks
also for giving me the option of the metal mouthpiece. I'll write a
review for you in another week or so. I'm really enjoying practicing
while not having to fight intonation differences on every single
note.
Sincerely, Eric Brown
Phil,
Your baritone is great. I can't understand why schools are spending
at least 1 and a half times more for a Yamaha intermediate (52
series). The intonation on yours is spot on, and the low notes make
your hairs stand up and your arms tingle. What more could you ask
for. My son just loves it, as well as the curved soprano we got from
you. His teacher even wrote in some soprano solos for him at the last
concert. It sounded great as well.
Sincerely, Steve Huff
Phil, I'm just touching base to let you know my sax arrived yesterday
- in perfect shape. The tone of this horn is incredible! I'm using
an Otto Link (7) metal & Vandoren ZZ reeds. I'm in disbelief that this
Taiwanese sax is richer in tone than all of my former horns with the
same mouthpiece/reed setup (Selmer Series II Tenor, a Keilwerth Peter
Ponzol Tenor, and a Selmer Series III Alto. What a great value!!
The action is great and the ergonomics of the keys fit my hands
perfectly. I learned about your horn from the folks at Tenor
Madness. I understand 100% why they like this horn. Even if I'm able
to afford a VI one day, the horn I bought from you will be with me
forever.
Thanks again & take care, Alex
Hey Phil,
Now THAT'S a horn! Got to play the horn tonight when I got home from
work. Been playing on it for the past half hour or so, and to be
honest I was pretty surprised. Taiwan can make horns THIS good? At
first I thought "This reminds me of that cherry Conn 6M I should have
never sold" but 5 minutes later I thought "No, this is a great
classical horn, like than Yani A992 I had" etc.
It seems to be a very versatile horn. I found the sound was fat, not
too spread, there's still some focus but it gives you the option it
seems like. A rich tone, I wouldn't call it bright nor dark. If it
had to lean one way, I'd say it leans towards the darker side with
good brilliance and clarity on the notes. Not an exceptionally edgy
horn but I like that. Intonation is fine across the range, overtones
popped right in place with no issues.
Overall, I'm floored Phil. This horn plays with a richer, fatter
sound than the Reference 54 I owned for years, and reminds me of the
best vintage horns I've ever had through my hands, but with the action
and intonation of modern day horns. This beats the piss out of a
Mauriat 67R I owned for awhile, and I have no idea why. It DOES
remind me of the PM, but this one is more open, the sound is a little
fatter, and the palm keys don't thin out like the PM did.
Interesting, huh?
All my best, Bill
Hey Phil. Just wanted to let you know that this saxophone is truly
a
work of art. I cannot believe the difference between my Yamaha
Custom
and the Vintage Tenor. I tried it out for a Berklee trumpet student
and he said that I am a completely different player with your horn.
What a change! So much more, responsive, free-blowing, rich,
full - too many adjectives to list here. I am now able to get the
sound I have been searching for. My Jazz 7* mouthpiece and Vintage
Tenor are sure things.
Thanks - many times over!!!
Thad Noland
“I've had my PB Classic tenor since mid August. Played it on a couple
of gigs and at least one jam session per week, and I'm lovin' it. It
sounds great, looks great, and seems very solidly built. I let a mark
VI playing friend of mine play it, and he said the action was quicker
than his VI.”
Posted on Sax on the web by Ellysey
Here’s a short update on my experience with my gold plated Barone
(Classic) tenor. I’ve been playing this horn as my main axe for almost
a year now and really couldn’t be happier. After some initial setup
issues the horn has been problem free. I’ve probably played 10 gigs
and put around 250-300 hours on it (I know but I don’t practice as
much when I’m not playing gigs most of which have dried up for us).
Anyway, the fit & finish has held up extremely well with no wear
showing on keys or body. Unlike my mid 90’s Selmer Series II alto
which routinely dropped corks and felts (not to mention the left hand
thumb-rest button) I’m happy to report nothing has fallen off this
horn. The rods have stayed true and haven’t developed any play and the
springs still look and work perfectly. Pads and resos still look fine
with no rust and minimal sticking. For the first 8 months or so I’d
take my Yamaha out every couple of weeks to compare but I prefer both
the sound and intonation of the Barone so I’ve put the 875 in its case
in the back of a closet and left it there.
Overall, I have very few complaints. The only thing I don’t find great
about this horn, mostly due to my fairly small hands, is the layout of
the keywork. The action is fine- very smooth and quiet but the reach,
on the left-hand pinky table especially, is a little long for me.
Those folks waiting with baited-breath for the first report of a
Taiwanese (Mauriat, Barone, TK Melody, etc.) horn falling apart may
have a lot longer wait then they first expected.
Lastly, while still not perfect by any measure, I would give some
kudos to Phil for listening to his customers and trying to deal with
the major issues. When I bought this horn last March the three biggest
complaints were; 1- there’s no website where one could see photos of
the horns, 2- the horns are not packaged well for shipping, and 3- the
horns don’t arrive setup well. Phil has at least tried to address each
of these with a new website (including pricing), shipping at least
some of the newer horns with corner protectors and better packaging,
and paying extra to have the horns setup better. I suspect if his
business continues to grow, the economies of scale should allow him to
increase the quality of both the packaging and the setup since the
cost can be kept reasonable by spreading it over more units.
So, in the tradition of many buyer’s guides-
Buy If;
You’re an intermediate or hobbyist looking to upgrade for an excellent
price
You’re a pro looking for a nice inexpensive gigging horn or a double
You want a pro quality “player’s” horn without the cost or marketing
hype
Pass If;
You’re a collector or investor and money is no object
You have very small hands
Peer-pressure, your ego, or an inflexible music teacher won’t allow
you to play anything that doesn’t come from the land of “wine and
cheese”
My $.02 after a year of playing this horn,
Keith
From Sax on the Web
This thread is located at:
http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=101363&goto=newpost
Here is the message that has just been posted:
***************
I wanted to take the time to also mention that Phil was kind enough to
do some additional work on a vintage 7 soprano, namely to extend the
facing a bit to help altissimo, and modify the baffle. It has turned
out to be quite the mouthpiece for me, as I had originally stated that
I wanted something that was really, really dark, and this hits the
nail on the mark. So while this isn't a "standard" vintage model, I
can say that I really like what was done, and I am not going to part
with the mouthpiece, considering all the compliments I've gotten since
I started using it.
For me, the biggest wave of positive observations came from people who
listened to me perform this weekend--people mentioned that they
normally expect woodwinds like the soprano to be bright, edgy,
etc...but the way I sounded was nothing like what they had come to
expect. The fact that this came from someone else who is also a
respectable musician made me really feel like I had something good
going on.
In a nutshell, this really beats the Selmer SS hands down for me--the
SS, while very good (the best I had used prior to the new barone),
did nevertheless have some things about it that I didn't quite like.
The new barone takes all the good things I liked about the old SS and
adds some new tonal qualities and flexibility that I am really liking.
***************
Hi Phil,
I had the new alto set up a couple of days back, and have started
playing/playing with it.
I've had a couple of pro's play it, and both were most impressed with
the sound.
The guy who taught/is teaching me was knocked out by the alto. It is
far superior to his, and he paid almost A$4,000, double what I paid.
The tech also played the tenor, and was very enthusiastic about it; he
loved it and said it was right up there with the best available.
Thanks again, and it's been a pleasure doing business with you.
All the Best
Ross
“I can only say this...recently I made a trip up to Phil's place in
New York to check out some of his horns, namely the classic and the
Mac 8 tenor. I'm primarily an alto player, but have been eagerly
trying to get into more tenor more, and just want one for the sake of
having one. I've had the chance to play on some AMAZING tenors, from
Mark VI's, to Conn's, Martins, etc., with the Mark VI almost always
being my favorite among the vintage varieties, and the Cannonballs as
my favorite tenors among new horns. Without even taking price into
consideration (which is a HUGE incentive to like his horns) I can
honestly say that without a doubt, the Phil Barone tenors are the best
new horns that I have ever played. They outplay everything that I've
touched from the other non-Japanese Asian manufacturers (Cannonball,
P. Mauriat, etc.), and really are the closest horns that I've felt can
compare to the Mark VI among NEW horns. Some people say that because
the Barone horns are made in Taiwan, they are really the same as
everyone else's horns being made there. Not true. The fact that Phil
has his horns come with his own Phil Barone neck is enough to separate
his saxophones from the rest of the crowd in Taiwan. I was so pumped
about his horns that I will actually be buying a black nickel Mac 8
that I play tested this weekend.
So, to answer the original question, no, they are not the same. Each
manufacturer has different standards and specifications, and there can
always be a lemon that rears its head among the final products.”
DJCuba908
“Recently I have become the proud owner of a new Phil Barone PB Mac 8
black nickel tenor saxophone. The journey that took me to purchasing
this horn, let alone discovering who the hell this guy Phil Barone
was, is somewhat interesting and relevant, so try to follow along…
I will admit this was the LAST thing I was looking at when I was on
the market for a tenor. Coming from alto, and owning a Cannonball and
Yamaha alto, I immediately started my search with what I knew. I knew
that I definitely liked the Big Bell Cannonball tenors and much as my
alto, but I wanted to see what else was out there before I made the
leap into another Cannonball. I broadened my search to include
vintage horns just to see if I could find a good deal (everyone knows
stories of someone who came into a Mark VI at a forehead slapping
price). During my search, I played on some amazing tenors. I took a
trip to USA horn in Union, NJ and had an in-depth conversation with
Mark, the owner/tech, regarding what type of horns I liked, and a
bunch of other stuff in general. Without side tracking too much I
have to say that Mark runs a great business at USA Horn and was very
straightforward and honest even though I didn’t end up buying a horn
from him. Definitely check out his website if you’re in the market
for a hot vintage horn (he also carries a good inventory of new
horns). Anyways, while I was there I played on some amazing Mark VI
and Series III tenors, some King Super 20’s, and Conn 10M’s so I had a
baseline feeling for what a good horn was.
After doing some reading up on SOTW about other Taiwanese
manufacturers I came across Phil Barone and his products, and began to
email individuals who owned his products and eventually came into
contact with Phil himself. I cannot say enough about Phil or the way
he has handled business with me thus far. All I will say is that I
could sense from the get go that this guy has a passion for his work
and for helping people striving to improve their musicianship. After
meeting with him in early May at his place in New York to play test
some PB Classic and Mac 8 tenors, I knew the Mac 8 was for me. I
ended up purchasing the same black nickel Mac 8 that I had play tested
and had Phil ship it to me in Jersey several weeks later after I had
sent him the check.
The Arrival – The horn was shipped via UPS, no shipping damage of any
kind was sustained. After tearing through the box a thought came to
my mind as I looked at the case that concealed the saxophone – this
was the nicest case I have ever owned for any of my saxophones.
Honestly, I couldn’t give a damn about what size, shape, color, etc.
the case ever was for any of my horns since you’re supposed to buy a
horn for how it plays not how cool it is in the case, but damn the
case is nice. It’s a black hard shell “gig style” case with a
shoulder strap, and with the sax, only weighs 18 lbs (at least that’s
what UPS had it as). The horn also comes with a polish cloth, neck
strap, mouthpiece (I played on it once just to check it out and threw
it back in the case), and ligature.
Aesthetics – This is one good looking horn. Again, I normally don’t
give a crap about how a horn looks, but with all the finish choices
available on Phil’s horns, there is something for everyone. My tenor
is entirely black nickel (neck, body, bow, bell, keywork) with the
black pearl key touches. The engraving on the horn cuts down to the
brass which really stands out nicely against the black nickel finish
for good contrast. The engraving covers the entire horn down the
neck, body, bow, bell, and into the bell lip. In brighter light, the
black nickel finish actually looks like it could be a dark silver
finish.
Ergonomics/Build quality – I felt right at home holding and playing
this horn. Nothing feels out of place or funky; it’s a solid, well
built keyboard that’s made to keep your fingers moving. The only
thing that I have noticed is that the right hand side key that you
would use to play E3 with the traditional fingering has the slightest
bit of side play, and I am definitely nit-picking here. It can’t be
more than 1-2 mm in either direction. I will be taking it to a tech
this week to get his overall opinion on the horn, so I will update
this thread with that visit later in the week.
Intonation – It is important to note that being an alto player, I
don’t have what one would consider to be an adequate mouthpiece for
tenor (Phil noticed this right away when I was play testing the horns
without even knowing what I was playing on). Currently I’m using a
Selmer Brilhart 5* (bought it in high school while using a school
tenor that I had to double on for one of the ensembles I played in)
with Vandoren Java 3’s (I use the same on alto so I just went with
what I knew). That being said, it was fairly easy for me to keep the
vast majority of the horn’s register in key. The most noticeable
intonation issue that I have incurred is the difference between palm
key E3 – F#3 fingerings vs. altissimo fingerings. When playing E3 and
higher using the traditional palm key fingerings I am always in tune.
When using the alternate altissimo fingerings I am finding myself to
be slightly flat. More practice on my part should alleviate this, or
a decent mouthpiece.
Altissimo – This has taken me a while to get used to, and will need
more practice before I’m comfortable with it on tenor. On alto I
don’t have much of a problem; on the Mac 8 I was able to get out G3
after 5 minutes or so, and A3 without too much trouble. Again, I
would attribute this to my lack of tenor experience and my mouthpiece.
Overall Sound – In a word, fantastic. For the money there is
absolutely no better horn that you can get that’s brand new and sounds
this great. It’s close to what you would get from a Cannonball big
bell tenor, but still different. The upper register is open, doesn’t
thin up on you when you put more air through it, and just sounds very
full without being overly free-blowing. Low register and bell tones
are just stunning, and everything in-between is just great. The horn
is slightly on the bright side, which is what I was looking for. It
will cut right through an ensemble or band if you need it to, or you
can hang back and play in the pocket just as easily. However, this
horn begs to be taken to the limit. Instead of having to accommodate
for the horn, it does what you want it to do without a struggle.
I can’t possibly say enough about this sax. I will say that even
though there are other Taiwanese manufacturers that are offering horns
with similar quality and price, none of them have a name like Phil
Barone to back them up. Even if Phil’s horns were exactly the same as
another manufacturer’s for the same price, just dealing with Phil
would be enough to win me over. We have talked regularly since I
decided to buy the horn, and I plan on ordering a Hollywood 7*
mouthpiece from him over the next month to compliment this amazing
horn. I would highly recommend this sax to anyone from the aspiring
student to the traveling pro. Honestly, there is no better deal out
there. Incredible sound, great intonation, beautiful cosmetics, and
solid build quality are what you are going to get from one of these
horns. With shipping, I paid $1880; if I would have bought a horn
from the next cheapest manufacturer, I would have spent at least $3000
and not have gotten anywhere near the service that I have gotten from
Phil, let alone the horn. Oh, and believe me, if this thing starts to
fall apart for no reason, you’ll be the first one to know besides
Phil…well Phil might get a personal visit since I know where he
lives…but seriously I don’t expect any major problems. I have owned
my Cannonball alto for almost 6 year, which is also made in Taiwan,
and other than getting new pads as a result of regular horn use, I
have had zero issues. The Taiwanese are serious contenders in this
market, have a great product, and combined with Phil Barone are a near
unbeatable and winning combination.”
Jonathon Muniz
“Phil - The PB MAC 20 Copper Alto arrived today but I only got to it
tonight, so just 20 minutes of playing, but so far it is FANTASTIC!!!!
IT even played fine with the included mpc - by the way - here are a
few shots- look closely at the mpc that came with it. It has your
logo on it but no number or model written on it.
Is the MPC a factory MPC with your name on it, or is it really one of
your mpcs? Its not one of the mpcs on your website as this one has a
rounded indented shank. I think it is a factory mpc with your logo on
it. (Is that a Mike thing?)
It played fine out of the box except for the low B flat gurgle. I
tried another mpc and that was the same - may need some minor
adjustments.
Not the usual plastic case - leather exterior - nice touch.
Thanks,
Conrado”
“Phil,
Just to let you know, had the horn out for its first rehearsal
tonight...it worked a treat. One of the guys has a Reference 54 and i
gave him a blast and he thought it was good. But when i played it, it
blew people away. I really couldn't be happier, as I've really only
played it a few times (due to exams!!) and already I'm getting a great
big sound, even fuller than my YTS62!”
Neil J
”Hey Phil!
I just wanted to let you know that I got the horn set up and got the
shipping issues taken care of.
The horn plays GREAT!!
It's big, and every note in every register plays easily. I love it!
The silver neck is the one I usually use at work, but last night, I
used the copper one, and while it was less bright (this is a funk/r&b/
blues job where I need to cut through), it seemed to be fatter and
fuller...
I can't wait to play now, since I don't have to over-compensate for
the problems on my other tenors.
And while I don't usually care what a horn looks like, I can't stop
staring at this one! I still can't use the case though, unless I wrap
a towel around the neck to keep it from moving around.
I really thank you guys for making a wholesale purchase of this
quality available.
I want to get a soprano at some point. I have an entry level Amati
that I bought 23 years ago, and a curved Prestini. Kirk Whalum is a
friend of mine, and he plays a Yamaha, and I love the way it sounds.
Are your straight ones one-piece?
Thanks a lot, guys!!!”
Derrick L. Williams
“I recieved a new Phil Barone PB Classic a few days ago. I am very
picky about how a horn performs. The Barone plays so good, that I am
selling my mint 82Z Tenor which costs twice as much. I played both
side by side for hours and gigged with both of them. The Barone
responds better and is easier to control. I was pleasantly surprised
to say the least. Barones' horns are amazing and so are their prices.”
Eric M.
“So, it is the same story again and again...
I received my horns (a tenor and a soprano) a week ago. They played
very good right out of the box, my tech was very pleased with build
quality and setup and they sound FANTASTIC. The tenor made me put
aside my SBA and Mark VII for now, so that’s a somewhat sad story ..
it was meant to be a backup.
Also, a warning to all future Barone buyers: make sure to practice
some before you order, because when the horn comes you will feel like
you do not want to stop to play ..
Phil, if you ever think about adding a new model think about a smaller
bore, so those who really want that extremely focused sound with a
thin upper register can sell the old Selmer’s to the collectors. Oh,
don’t forget to throw in some notes that play out of tune ... “
Sbaction (Sax on the Web)
What I can tell you is that my PB MAC 20 is hands down my nicest horn.
It is solid, has a smooth quite action, a big warm sound and its
versatile. I use the Vintage MPC that Phil sent me free for buying the
horn and it’s perfect for this horn. It’s easy to play but has just a
tad of resistance so I can shape my sound, its nice and warm in the
bottom but with sparkle when its pushed.
The build quality of the horn is spot on and as good as any top 4
horn.
For me this was the perfect horn, and the price was amazing, Phil and
Mike have been great and the free vintage mouthpiece is now my
favorite tenor piece hands down.
Jim
Hi Phil,
“I only played the tenor yet but I think it’s fantastic! I played a
SBA for years and recently a mark VII but I really like the Barone
better, at least for right now. Thank you so much for making these
amazing horns happen at the even more amazing price.”
Oliver
“Today I purchased a clear lacquer tenor with black mother of pearls.
I was comparing it to the bare brass tenor off the same line. Both
played beautifully and I was to say the least, blown away. The ease of
sound from low b flat to high f sharp is phenomenal and the sound is
dark and huge. The key work also is tight and very responsive. There
isn't anything I don't like about this horn. I ultimately picked the
lacquer because it had the detailed engraving and the black mop which
I liked a lot, even though I like bare brass better than lacquer. As
far as playing both were amazing. Thanks for the great horn.”
Sincerely, Ricky Scheuerle
Hey Phil,
This soprano is great! I didn't really know what to expect, but its
value far surpasses the price. I am by no means a professional player
but I have played for many years and I currently play in a local jazz
band. I've played a Selmer Series II several years ago, a Series III
more recently and a Cannonball (all borrowed) and this easily
approaches them for the creamy texture in the upper register
especially and flexibility between classical and jazz and at half the
price!
I also love your Vintage mouthpiece--smooth, dark sound, but I'm going
to need to work with it some more to develop the old diaphragm. I saw
on saxontheweb.net that you're selling a whole range of saxes of this
caliber. In the next few months, I will be buying a tenor, possibly
the dark antique lacquer.”
Thanks you, Tim Plemmons
Hi Phil,
I'm going to be honest here. I needed an affordable tenor immediately
and your offer was good enough to purchase it right away. (with a
Barone neck and a Barone vintage HR piece). However, I was little
curious about the quality of the horn even though I heard many good
things about these horns.
I received the tenor today and I was very impressed with the tone and
the immaculate cosmetic condition of the horn. With little over a
grand, I don't think you can't get better horn than this one. I have
to admit that you really did it Phil.
The only problem was a front E3 was muffled but after a simple
tweaking it speaks as well as any horn on or off the market.”
M.T
“I love my Phil Barone tenor. It’s a fabulous modern horn with plenty
of expressiveness, fun to play, not stuffy or dull at all. It’s bright
and punchy enough to be used with my slightly tubby Link Rubber# 8.
Most tenors are not playable with this dark piece, only the liveliest,
most responsive horns work with it, but when it works, it’s a luscious
and sexy sound. It also works fine with my Guardala and Berg
Rubber... It’s as loose and exciting as my MK VI, but it actually has
a bigger sound, it performs flawlessly and is easy on the eyes.
Especially for the price it’s awesome. I highly recommend this sax.”
John S.
Dear Phil,
“The horn arrived in good condition. Nice compact case and beautiful
finish. I love the snappy action of the PB keys throughout the horn.
The most obvious difference from some other less expensive horns was
the excellent intonation and range of the PB. It locks in like a
Yamaha but just using the ear all adjustments were easy to make and
the fat body of tone on the bottom and excellent full tone throughout
especially altissimo are very impressive.
So it has “flexibility” in pitch and tone but plays in tune and the
harmonics lock right in. The altissimo is easily accessed and held.
The intonation through the altissimo is very good and I can use the
same altissimo fingerings on this horn as I use on my Mark VI. To my
senses it sounds so much like a Mark 6 but has a huge sound like a
Conn on demand.
The horn needed to be setup like all new instruments but of course I
did not spend $3,000 on the horn either. Even with these repairs
(which I do myself) I am having some much fun playing this horn I
don't want to send it back but I think , based on my impressions and
others about these more inexpensive horns you should factor in a set
up cost into this horn (a couple of pads, spring tensions, etc). I
would guess that this is true of most new horns these days.
All being said, and based on my short time on the horn, I think this
is a great deal for a fine horn. Phil's communication and follow
throughout this deal were excellent .Once he received the horn
delivery was very fast. I enjoy playing on his Vintage mouthpiece
also. I am not familiar with the some of the other Taiwanese horns
around other than reading posts on SOTW and checking out their
websites but many of the positive posts about them seem to match my
impressions of the horn. Big sound, resonant, flexible, great bottom,
very good intonation and nice fast ergonomics.”
Mark J.
Phil,
“Love the sax, great key action, super responsive. Very, very good
low end and great intonation through out. The tone is great, very,
very, very, very, impressed and happy with the purchase. You have a
good thing going there with these saxes. I like the mouthpiece, the
sound feels so big compared to my usual mouthpiece. I'd love to check
out one of your higher end metal pieces once I get some more cash
flow.
I just wanted to thank you for the sax. You really should be selling
these for
way more than what you are but at least wait until I buy a soprano
and alto off you before you raise the prices, okay!”
Thanks for everything... God bless you.
Mark
Phil,
I have never had the pleasure of playing a Selmer Mark VI and at
today's prices I probably never will. But if the Mark VI sounds much
better than the sax you sold me recently, then it must have some sweet
sound.
I held off writing to you so that I would have a chance to break in
the sax and so we could do a little bonding with each other. Man, I
gotta say that I am loving the sound of this thing. I picked up a used
Jody Jazz ESP off of eBay for a good price and that thing really lets
me wail or play with feeling. You might be interested to know that the
guy I bought the Jody Jazz ESP off of decided to keep his Phil Barone
Hollywood and let the Jody Jazz go.
So, in case you have not figured it out yet, I am a very happy
customer. If you can continue to find quality horns like these and
sell them for a reasonable price, I think you will have a very
marketable item.
Thank you, William
Hey Phil,
“My new soprano sax arrived last night. While I have played the alto
for over 30 years, I am a novice on soprano, with only 5 years actual
playing time on this instrument (and I am not a sax pro, so we're
talking about a small slice of those 5 years during which I'm actually
blowing on a soprano). I have been playing my (old) soprano more
recently, and I was ready for an upgrade. Here is my initial review,
after less than 1 hour of playing.
Ergonomics are very good, and all the key movements are very solid -
no vagueness (is that a word?). The evenness of tone for all the notes
from bottom to top excellent - there are no stale notes, and no notes
that "stick out" louder than the others. I had previously tried out
some used sopranos (Yamahas and other moderns) priced in the $1800 -
$2000 range, and with each of those I had noticed at least one or two
notes whose sound was either stale or "stuck out". This was at a good
sax store in NJ which has a large selection and reasonable prices, so
I don't think they were priced over their market value. I had also
tried out a new Selmer La Voix which had been priced at $2300 at Sam
Ash, which I thought played very nicely. With all of these horns I
mentioned, I took my electric tuner with me when I tried them out, and
I have a pretty good memory of what I saw on the meter as I tried each
one out. Now that I have played my new horn, the best intonation I
have seen for any of these sopranos mentioned here is with the new
Phil Barone I just got.
Perhaps this is not a 100% fair test, because I am playing my new
soprano with the Phil Barone 7* mouthpiece that came with it, and I
had tested the others with the "BARI" brand mouthpiece that I used
with my old soprano. I had been ready to shop for a new soprano
mouthpiece for my old soprano sax before I recently learned about the
Phil Barone soprano saxes here on SOTW, so I guess this is part of the
value of getting one of his horns.
I have attached 3 pictures of this horn. For 2 of the pictures I tried
to get good shots of the mechanical stuff, which I think is more
important than how pretty the keys look from the front. Everything
*does* look very pretty and shiny on this horn, and I have yet to see
any flaws in the finish, so any smudges in the pics are my
fingerprints.
The horn was well packed in a rectangular shaped hard case, and had
cork inserts to keep certain keys closed during shipping. It is keyed
to F#3, and came with both a straight and a curved neck, but I have
only been trying the curved neck so far. Trying to be as objective as
possible, and considering the other horns I had tried out, I really
think this is a lot of horn for the money”
L.J.
Phil,
I think this horn is just great! The intonation throughout all
registers might be the best of any horn I have played. The tonal
qualities are rich and full throughout ranges of horn. The horn is
beautiful looking and the workmanship is very, very, good. I am very
pleased and look forward to getting another of your horns (soprano) at
these awesome prices when I amass some more shekels. Phil has been
honest and helpful through all.
J.H.
Phil:
The word is getting out. The young prodigy phenom I take lessons from
occasionally gave my daughters soprano a test drive last week. He was
blown away. His comment was "I would gig with this horn right now".
When I told him I much I paid for it, then he was really floored.
Anyway, he is looking for a bare brass tenor as a backup for his bare
brass Mark VI.
A
Hi Phil:
I received my sop yesterday but I couldn't play it until today because
I got in late yesterday. You were right, I love it!!! Physically it is
very beautiful, and I like the ergonomics a lot. I feel very
comfortable playing it. It feels great in my hands. Also the engraving
is beautiful and the golden keys look great.
Well, I have to say I am very happy with it. The mouthpiece is great
too. I am using Vandoren Java 3 1/2 with it. Sound wise, I have to say
never having played a sop before that I even liked how it sounds very
much. The lower octave sounds very rich; I Just love it.
Can't wait for that Bari.....
Thanks a lot,
Esteban
Phil,
I am thoroughly amazed by how well this horn plays. I can play up down
and all around this horn ALREADY! I wish I could improv better. I
enjoy playing the tenor. It plays as well if not better then Yamaha,
Yani, Selmer, you name it. The ergonomics are great! It feels like a
VI.
I got a Black Lacquered Tenor. I will have pics up soon. The worst
thing about this horn I’d have to say was the wait to get it. It plays
great top to bottom. I can get up to altissimo D with out too much
effort. It growls. It does everything I did with a Series III I played
last week.
The neck that came with the horn is beautiful, the mouthpiece is
great!!! I have to work on my tenor playing to help get some of the
acoustics right with it but!
It’s the best damn tenor I’ve played! I plan on picking up a few more
horns from you. Now all I need is the money!!!
Harry
Phil,
“ I gave my Barone bare brass tenor to my tech today (a very reputed
guy who has been mentioned many times on SOTW) so he can check for
leaks and adjust the horn.
He said that the horn was perfectly adjusted and that there were no
leaks (despite shipping). He also said that in terms of build quality,
the horn is one of the best he has ever seen.
He only complained that many techs avoid working on horns for which
they can't get spare parts. He said sooner or later, every sax needs
repair, and if a tech can't get spare parts, this might be a problem.
He therefore suggested that Phil should build a catalog with spare
parts people can order. He said that this might not be a big problem
because this horn is a fairly accurate copy of Mk VI and that most
parts will fit, but harvesting a Mk VI to get spare parts for this
horn seems a bit crazy.
He couldn't believe when I told him how much I paid for it!”
Stefan E.
Phil,
“I'm blowing it, and its incredible! What's more, the mouthpiece
too - looks like I'll be selling my other Hard Rubbers
- fuller sound even on my others two tenors! Phil
you are a star! Wonder what your metal pieces are like.”
Rico G.
Uncle Phil:
“Just wanted to report in after having had the new axe for a week.
I've spent many hours with it now, and it and I are getting
comfortable with each other. I have to say, it's a spectacular horn --
more horn than I dared to hope for at that price. I know there's
argument on SOTW about the quality of the materials and workmanship of
Taiwanese horns; I see virtually nothing about this axe that is not
first rate in my opinion. Out of the box it plays great. The low A is
a killer note; I'm very used to my low B-flat axe, and I have to say,
it's more important than I would have thought to have that A there.
The horn has great timbre, and wonderful responsiveness: it's round
and fat and booms but if pushed it opens up easily. I've gigged with
it 4 times and it works wonderfully for me. Lots of compliments from
the audiences: many folks haven't heard a lot of bari players out and
about around here.
There are no intonation problems, or none beyond the ordinary player/
instrument interface. Once I figured out where the mouthpiece needed
to be on the neck (pushed way in, over too much cork in the
beginning), there have been no problems there.
Also, what's your stock of sopranos like at the moment? I'm pretty
sure I'll be wanting one from you in the not too distant future.
Thanks for making this happen, Phil; I love my Baronitone.”
Terry
Review from Sax on the Web
“Ok guys, here it goes....
First of all, the case. Have to say, great case. Hard and big,
separate compartments for the mouthpiece, neck, a small one for reeds
or something (a polishing cloth came in it) and one for the rest of
the stuff you want to carry. Also, it latches in 4 places and can be
locked with a key. I really think the sax is very well protected in it
and the material looks durable. Not too heavy. Oh, and the best part,
it has wheels.
Next up, the finish: I ordered a gold-lacquered one. The whole finish
looks very good, very even. No spots on the finish anywhere. And the
engraving: it has the extra engraving on the body besides the one on
the bell. It looks, very nice.
I had ordered beforehand a Rousseau 6R to play on it. I tried it with
this one and the stock mouthpiece that came with it. The stock
mouthpiece was a little bit longer than the Rousseau, but is not an
open mouthpiece. Plus it is brighter. I’m using Vandoren trad 3’s and
also tried it with a Fibracell Premier 4.
Before starting (and after removing the cork pieces keeping all the
keys closed) I checked all the keys and the movement. Very free moving
keys, liked the ergonomics. Not sure about any leaks, don’t have a
light to check it, but I will take it to my tech to check it out. It
didn’t seem like it had any, but my tech will let me know if there
are.
So I put on the stock mouthpiece and started blowing. It was great!
Great sound all around. Very even up and down the scale. I Noticed the
scale is very even, no flat or sharp notes. Just played it for a bit,
but had to run, so I decided to take it to band practice on Sunday. So
I did.
The director is a sax major and he tried it out. He loved it, very
good sound and intonation. Very even scale. No issues with palm keys
or anything. It sounded much better when he played it, too, because he
has more experience playing bari. I just loved the sound of this horn.
Another sax player tried it too. Both liked it very much. I played
full rehearsal, 3 hours. No problems at all. It kept in tune very
well, strong sound. It was very even all around, good response, great
ergonomics.
Have to say I am very happy with it.”
RS
Phil:
“I got the alto. Love it!!! The horn looks great and the build
quality seems as good as most of the big name brands. The sound is
dark and spread like an old mk6. But what I like most is how
responsive it is. The ease and variety of articulations and tone is
most impressive and lots of fun. It also offers very even resistance
and the harmonics work real easy and well.
Super good horn. It is a looker, especially nice with all the
engraving and that awesome neck.”
Thanks, Randy Keen
Phil,
First of all, the case. Have to say, great case. Hard and big,
separate compartments for the mouthpiece, neck, a small one for reeds
or something (a polishing cloth came in it) and one for the rest of
the stuff you want to carry. Also, it latches in 4 places and can be
locked with a key. I really think the sax is very well protected in it
and the material looks durable. Not too heavy. Oh, and the best part,
it has wheels.
Next up, the finish: I ordered a gold-lacquered one. The whole finish
looks very good, very even. No spots on the finish anywhere. And the
engraving: it has the extra engraving on the body besides the one on
the bell. It looks very nice.
Before starting (and after removing the cork pieces keeping all the
keys closed) I checked all the keys and the movement. Very free moving
keys, liked the ergonomics.
So I put on the stock mouthpiece and started blowing. It was great!
Great sound all around. Very even up and down the scale. Noticed the
scale is very even, no flat or sharp notes. Just played it for a bit,
but had to run, so I decided to take it to band practice on Sunday. So
I did. The director is a sax major and he tried it out. He loved it,
very good sound and intonation. Very even scale. No issues with palm
keys or anything. It sounded much better when he played it, too,
because he has more experience playing bari. I just loved the sound of
this horn. Another sax player tried it too. Both liked it very much. I
played full rehearsal, 3 hours. No problems at all. It kept in tune
very well, strong sound. It was very even all around, good response,
great ergonomics. Have to say I am very happy with it.”
Esteban A
Hi Phil
“I arrived home last night to find a new saxophone had been
delivered. I passed on dinner and immediately went to try it out. It
was absolutely beautiful when I opened the case - the gold plating
really makes the horn look magnificent. It took me about 5 minutes of
fiddling to reset a couple of springs and to adjust screw tension on
the cluster keys. I hooked up my Otto Link NY and took it out for a
spin. Phil, your horn absolutely rocks!!! The sound was very clean
and very resonant. I pushed the horn as hard as I could and the sound
just got better, the harder I pushed. I also could not believe how
responsive the horn was - I tried some licks I was struggling with on
my Mk VI and they were spot on the first time when I played them on
your horn. Overall, this is the best horn I have played in years. I
think my Mk VI is going into its case for a while. I also should get
off my backside and get my soprano ordered as well.
K. Jones
Hi Phil!
“OK, my Barone bare brass sop arrived today, with a 7* Barone Vintage
mpc.
Seriously, the horn is beautiful. It looks a little different from my
Baronitone (Barone bari) in bare brass, finish-wise, presumably
because this one has been what Phil called "dipped," and the bari
hadn't been: the brass looks a little riche. I like it because the
brass responds to being rubbed with the enclosed polishing cloth.
For security reasons, I had the instrument delivered to my office. I
couldn't wait to get home for a play test, so I spoke to the people in
the office (fortunately we're all writers and artists around here) so
the little ones wouldn't be frightened, and gave the sop a little test
drive.
Wow! This horn has balls. I'm very pleased both with the timbre and
with the intonation. It definitely puts my old B&S in the SHADE, man,
so just from that point of view alone, it's a winner. However, beyond
that, so far I'm willing to say it's the equal of any sop I've played.
I think. I went through a big play testing phase awhile back.
I tried some Cannonballs (liked 'em fine, wasn't wowed), a Selmer
Serie III (funny horn; great construction, of course, but no
character, which maybe just means I needed to spend more time with it
to find the center, the core, the sweet spot, something, but meanwhile
it was very vanilla flavored; maybe that's a better horn than this
one, but from 15 or 20 minutes of play testing, I can't say so), a
couple of Yamahas (fine, but nothing special), and a couple of Yanis,
which were my favorites. Oh, yes, a couple of Keilwerths, which I
liked pretty well.
Overall, this instrument seems somewhere in between the Keilwerth and
the Yani. I liked the Yani's ergos (this one is just as good) and its
very centered tone; I didn't like the Keilwerth's ergos nearly so
much, but I did like its rather spread tone. The Barone has the ergos,
and it has a timbre somewhere in between the K. and the Y, which is
good for me, as I find myself playing a lot of different kinds of
music. I have a feeling that after I've worked with it awhile I'll be
able to move it more toward the Yani kind of thing if I want, or more
toward the Keilwerth thing if I want. My impression is that it's a
flexible horn. More time will tell me more.
Intonation is excellent through the whole range, at least according to
my ear; I'll try it against the tuner later on.
I'll report in again when I've spent more time with the horn, but so
far, I'm delighted with it, and you’ve been a prince.
OK, I couldn't wait, so I spoke to the people in the office
(fortunately we're all writers and artists around here) and gave the
sop a little test drive.
The only teeny problem I could detect was a sticky bis key. I did the
dollar bill trick on it and that cleared it. No big deal; as you know,
it's
usually the G# key that sticks all the time, and that worked great.
Otherwise: wow. This horn has balls. I'm very pleased both with the
timbre and with the intonation. It definitely puts my old B&S in the
SHADE, man, so just from that point of view alone, it's a winner.
However, so far I'm willing to say it's the equal of any sop I've
played. I think. I went through a big play testing phase awhile back.
I
tried some Cannonballs (liked 'em fine, wasn't wowed), a Selmer Series
III (funny horn; great construction, of course, but no character,
which maybe just means I needed to spend more time with it to find the
center, the core, the sweet spot, something, but meanwhile it was very
vanilla flavored), a couple of Yamahas (fine, but nuttin' special),
and a couple of Yanis, which were my favorites. Oh, yes, a couple of
Keilwerths, which I liked pretty well.
Overall, this instrument seems somewhere in between the Keilwerth and
the Yani. I liked the Yani's ergonomics (this one is just as good) and
its
very centered tone; I didn't like the Keilwerth's ergonomics nearly so
much, but I did like its rather spread tone. The Barone has the
ergonomics,
and it has a timbre somewhere in between the K. and the Y, which is
good for me, as I find myself playing a lot of different kinds of
music. I have a feeling that after I've worked with it awhile I'll be
able to move it more toward the Yani kind of thing if I want, or more
toward the Keilwerth thing if I want. My impression is that it's a
flexible horn. More time will tell me more.
Also, the Barone Vintage 7* is a terrific piece. Thanks for that too.
Man, I'm a happy camper. Much obliged.”
Terry
“Have spent about an hour playing the sop now, and all my first
impressions are ratified. Great axe.
Also, your mouthpiece is terrific. My Super Sessions J is now retired
in favor of the Barone Vintage 7*. You're killing the Selmer people on
all fronts. Great stuff.”
Terry H.
Hi Phil,
“I played the horn some more this morning before work, and it REALLY
grew on me. It practically plays itself. In a way, having a horn
that sounds really nice but really DIFFERENT is actually about the
best justification of all for keeping it.
I would suggest sending me a middle of the road Vintage facing- maybe
a 7*, which is the middle facing of the series on the web site. If I
can get the low C to speak with subtones with a reed hard enough to
make the palm key notes still wail, it will be perfect.
Again, real, real sweet horn. Thank you so much! My search is finally
over.
Jim B.
From Sax on the Web
“I would tend to agree with sasquatch. I have a gold plated Barone
tenor, a bare brass alto, and a gold soprano. I have played the
soprano for about 4 months and the tenor for about one month and the
alto somewhere in between. Quite a few comments, as to how nice they
look and mostly as to how nice they sound. They all seem to be built
well, and they all play great. I like that they all have the same
keywork, they all work well, blow easy and respond well. It is
possible to get them to sound pretty much like I want them to. Lots
easier to play than the old 6m or zepher. I have not had any problems
with them. A little adjusting on the soprano that I was able to do
myself after a month or so. I could not justify spending more for a
top name after playing the Barones’. I also think the soprano has
truly great sound and the tenor is not far behind.
***************
Hello sports fans!
I have to tell you fellow players about my new purchase but first let
me "qualify" my opinion a bit by telling those of you that do not know
me, about myself. I play for a living, I've been with many "ghost
bands" around the country, such as the Nelson Riddle, Jimmy Dorsey,
Bob Crosby, Benny Goodman etc. and many shows, reviews and horn
sections so I consider myself a journeyman player. I only say this
because many times in these pages there are reviews of horns but we
don't really know the experience of the reviewer.
Recently had many medical bills at home to pay so I had to sell my
"backup" horns but the bills have been paid and I came into a bit of
money and decided to replace my "backup" bari sax. I decided to try a
Phil Barone after hearing good things about them. I made an
appointment with Mr. Barone and took the 75 mile drive from my home to
his to try (and I did buy) one of his bari saxes. In short I was blown
away by the overall quality, feel, look and sound of the gold plated
low A bari I tried.
Regardless of what the legality of the "rumor" is, to me this bari is
identical to the Mauriat's I have seen, owned and played and the price
was about half of what the branded item costs. The ergonomics sound
and scale are first rate and I really can see my Yani 991 being
relegated to becoming my "backup" bari. I'm in total awe of the way
this Barone bari plays, responds and looks!
Mr. Barone mentioned that some of the previous buyers found they
needed to adjust the necks but I found that a bit of cork grease and
the horn was right on the money needing absolutely no adjustment and
has a thick warm and very resonant sound.
Add to this that Mr. Barone also graciously did a re-facing on one of
my worn rubber bari pieces at a reasonable cost and I came away as
happy as the guy that got two scoops of raisins!!! I highly recommend
that anyone wanting to purchase a new horn go try one of these Barone
saxes they are outstanding amazingly reasonable and those of you that
know me know I don't give out praises lightly.
Regards to all,
Brian Axelrod
Phil,
I got the sax set up by my repair guy yesterday and I'm very happy
with it. He was a bit reluctant to believe that good saxophones can
come from Taiwan, but he ended up calling it an "awesome horn." I'm
actually using it in a rehearsal setting this morning in 30 minutes
for the first time, in a trio. It's been a lot of fun to dink around
with so far. Anyway, thanks for selling these! Oh, and the
mouthpiece is working out. The overall sound is bright but in a very
good way.
Thank you and take care,
Ben
From Sax on the Web
Its been about 7 months since I weighed in on this thread. My bare
brass tenor is developing a handsome patina, still has a long way to
go and I'll enjoy the changes. I love the horn and play it all the
time. I keep a couple of vintage tenors that I love, I just don't play
them much anymore. I've not had to have the horn in the shop for any
reason even with a good amount of use. It holds up well to taking it
out of the house for teaching and gigs regularly. And I don't miss the
Mark VI that the Barone replaced, not at all...still blows my mind how
damn good these horns are.
Kritivi
“Just a little testimonial footnote here: I bought a bare brass low A
bari from Phil just about exactly a year ago, and a bare brass soprano
about 2 months after that. Both came packed exactly as described
above; both arrived in perfect condition. I've been playing them
fairly heavily for a year, and have had no significant problems with
either instrument.
The question comes up in these reviews: how well built are these
instruments? The answer, often, is: time will tell. A year in, these
horns are rock solid, as well as being terrific saxes. The bari in
particular is a killer (I love the sop too, but I'm just more into the
bari). I have also a Selmer Ref. 36 tenor and a Naked Lady alto: the
horns are different, obviously, but I'm about equally happy with the
whole group (the Naked Lady needs some tweaking: no, no, hands off
fellas!).
I might also usefully add: the finish on the two bare brass horns
evolves nicely. Over the course of they year, they went from very
brassy yellow to cloudy to darker, as you'd expect. Clearly this
process will continue (forever, I suppose), and I can't tell where
they'll end up, but I'm well satisfied by the visual aesthetics of the
instruments.
Keep Uncle Phil in bidness! These horns are too good to have 'em fade
away from the market.”
Reedsplinter
From Sax on the Web
“I purchased a PB Classic with an antique brass finish and have been
playing it for approximately one month. The horn is exceptionally
well built, free blowing - I can achieve a remarkable amount of volume
with the 7* Vintage HR mouthpiece7, and it did not need to be
regulated by my tech after shipping from overseas. It is the best
value I was able to find after months of research. It was worth the
wait. Thanks Phil”
Rick D
ansermetniac
<philb...@philbarone.com> wrote:
>
>As far as Jeff is concerned, he seems to have some personal problems
>but I respect him. However, he is not the only guy that can make a
>good mouthpiece. He's angry because before Mike Brecker passed on he
>went to a lot of other mouthpiece makers, me being one of them and
>Mike played my piece before he died
You are so full of shit, as always.h eplayed mine till he
died-remember the kazoo
Abbedd
ansermetniac
<philb...@philbarone.com> wrote:
>Dave Guardala
>and Jeff Powell went out of business
Full of shit again Phil
Abbedd
ansermetniac
All these people pay for a horn and get a horn and a brainwashing
session
Phil is full of shit and will always be.
His knowledge of wnat he is doing is nil. he is a copier and a
counterfieter
There are two types of sax players
1_ Most who know Phil is full of shit
2) Those brainwashed and too stupid to know
Almost all the negative things said about Dave and I come from Phil
and his "soldiers" Wanna hear the tapes of how jealous and ignorant
and competent he is
Phil-Brecker sounds like a Kazoo on the piece eh played from
1985-2007(his death)
Phil really understands the modern tenor sound as defined by
Brecker_NOTTTTTTT
Phil thinks Michael should play his 21st century Music on a piece
designed for Music of the 1920s, what a clueless buffoon. Guess what,
Michael knew it and was afraid of Phil due to his Macavelian behavior.
Michael tried other pieces because Dave and I stopped visiting him and
trying new things is part of being an artist. He always played mine.
One track does not make a career Phil. Stick with Lawrence Feldman and
the crap you made for Roger Rosenberg who has a lot of nerve to sound
like THAT in public
Abbedd
ronald....@gmail.com
Pros:
-Great open tone, very easy to play.
-Great tuning and intonation through the whole horn using a Meyer 6 HR
-Response is feather light throughout all registers. Low end is particularly easy blowing
Cons:
-A bit picky about mouthpieces- tuning changes a bit more than I would like from mouthpiece to mouthpiece
-Action is a tiny bit stiff for my liking
Overall, I am definitely satisfied with the horn. It has that super free blowing resistance that I have only ever seen on Keilwerth horns (almost as free blowing as the Keilwerth Shadow series). To me it plays as well as many "lower-end" professional horns, but at a significantly lower price. Bottom line, for the price point, it is a no-brainer purchase in my book.
As for the feud over mouthpiece designs, as a jazz player I could care less- If it plays well, it plays well. Personally I feel like Abbedd is trolling for sympathy here and just wants to make a scene. If you want anyone to take you seriously as a music industry professional, at the very least USE PROPER GRAMMAR. I am not going to buy your mouthpiece just because you whine non stop about how he "counterfeited your design". In fact, the amount of complaining and circumstantial claims you make without evidence causes me to NOT want to buy your pieces. Just sayin.
ansermetniac
wrote:
There are two types of saxophonists in the world
1) The very few who don' know Barone is full of shit
2) The rest
Why would I need sympathy. I designed Brecker's Mouthpiece. My place
in history is cemented in stone
Abbedd
