Klarinet Archive - Posting 000831.txt from 2001/10

From: F. S. Sterns <fssterns@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Best Bari Sax for Middle School?
Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2001 23:56:14 -0400

I've used a Unison bari for about eighteen months now and can recommend
it without reservation. [They were around $2000 when I purchased!] The
intonation is excellent, maybe even better than today's "standard," the
SA-80II. The action is very good but maybe the Yanagisawa bests it, but
not by much. In fact, the horn seems to be a perfect clone of the
latter. The sound one gets seems to depend on the mouthpiece. I've used
a metal RIA 8 and a .110 Bilger/Morgan fine tuned by Jon VanWie. Get a
good "project over the brass" sound, although really edgy on the RIA and
a really nice traditional bari sound [sort of Harry Carney-like but
obviously nowhere near his perfect voice] with the Bilger/Morgan.

Unison has a website and it had a massive list of dealers on it. Don't
remember the URL. When I was searching for a source the spread in prices
was considerable. I got mine from Zep's in Burbank. They gave excellent
service and had the best price.

My guess is: when Unisons become better known the demand for them, and
hence the prices will move up rapidly.

Fred Sterns

On Thursday, October 25, 2001, at 02:34 PM, Tski1128@-----.com wrote:

> A few months ago I tried a baritone Sax make by a company called
> Unison. It was a chrome brass looking thing and it played great!!!! It
> was in the $2500 range and it was built like a tank. It played really
> well in tune and was a joy to play. There is a guy in los Vegas that
> sells them I'll try to get the number for you. but I believe it is
> www.keslermusic.com This instrument I thought played better than the
> YBS 52 by far. That was a 4000 dollar instrument. This is the same axe
> the bari player in James brown's band plays. So You'll feel good!!!!
>
> Tom Puwalski Author of the Clainetists guide to Klezmer.

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