I was looking around the forum today, and noticed that no one had posted anything on these German horns yet. I was kinda' surprised, since we do have a number of SOTW'ers here, and they are a big hit on that board. So I thought I'd throw out the first post.
When I went shopping around for a back up bari in 2004, I knew I wanted a low A horn. (Since my main bari is a low Bb Mark VI.) Because I love vintage horns, my choices for low A horns was fairly limited.
The Martin Magna (rare as hens teeth) would be the one I might have been the most interested in, but the chances of finding one would have been slim. And since I would really have wanted to try it before I bought it, the chances would have gone down from slim to none.
So, knowing that I would most likely have to move out of my vintage saxophone comfort zone into the realm of the unknown (to me anyway) modern pro or maybe intermediate horn, I started doing research into the modern pro and intermediate brands. I researched and play tested a lot of new baris.
Since the B&S Medusa models had received such favorable reviews on SOTW, I decided would give them a try as well. I went to the Long & McQuade store and had a chance to try 2 of them. When I started playing the 2 Medusa baris I noticed something about them: they had a complexity to their tone that was lacking in virtually all the other modern pro horns I had already play tested, including the Selmer Series II.
Of the 2 B&S baris, I ended up picking out the one that was more full of overtones, and naturally more edgier sounding than the other. For many musicians this could have been a real turnoff, but for me, and the style of music that I play, (R&B, rock, & blues) the more edge the better.
I can tame the horn, but chose not to. I like to let it run full throttle. Not many baris can hold their own against the nasty effects that pedals add to guitars, but this bari can when it is not restrained. But the horn is versatile enough that if I do ever need it for a jazz gig because my VI is in the shop, I tone it down with m/ps and reeds and ligatures, and it passes as a jazz horn. But just push it a bit, and it will take off even then.
Given it's a pro horn at an intermediate horn price, they were a great bang for your buck. It's a shame the company could not maintain their professional level saxophone line...Even if it meant bringing the prices up somewhat.
If you've not yet had the chance, and ever do get the chance to play a B&S pro model horn, give it a go. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. They're a great horn.
When I went shopping around for a back up bari in 2004, I knew I wanted a low A horn. (Since my main bari is a low Bb Mark VI.) Because I love vintage horns, my choices for low A horns was fairly limited.
The Martin Magna (rare as hens teeth) would be the one I might have been the most interested in, but the chances of finding one would have been slim. And since I would really have wanted to try it before I bought it, the chances would have gone down from slim to none.
So, knowing that I would most likely have to move out of my vintage saxophone comfort zone into the realm of the unknown (to me anyway) modern pro or maybe intermediate horn, I started doing research into the modern pro and intermediate brands. I researched and play tested a lot of new baris.
Since the B&S Medusa models had received such favorable reviews on SOTW, I decided would give them a try as well. I went to the Long & McQuade store and had a chance to try 2 of them. When I started playing the 2 Medusa baris I noticed something about them: they had a complexity to their tone that was lacking in virtually all the other modern pro horns I had already play tested, including the Selmer Series II.
Of the 2 B&S baris, I ended up picking out the one that was more full of overtones, and naturally more edgier sounding than the other. For many musicians this could have been a real turnoff, but for me, and the style of music that I play, (R&B, rock, & blues) the more edge the better.
I can tame the horn, but chose not to. I like to let it run full throttle. Not many baris can hold their own against the nasty effects that pedals add to guitars, but this bari can when it is not restrained. But the horn is versatile enough that if I do ever need it for a jazz gig because my VI is in the shop, I tone it down with m/ps and reeds and ligatures, and it passes as a jazz horn. But just push it a bit, and it will take off even then.
Given it's a pro horn at an intermediate horn price, they were a great bang for your buck. It's a shame the company could not maintain their professional level saxophone line...Even if it meant bringing the prices up somewhat.
If you've not yet had the chance, and ever do get the chance to play a B&S pro model horn, give it a go. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. They're a great horn.
