• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Website of Steve Neff

  • BLOG
  • SHOP
  • MY ACCOUNT
  • RAVES
  • CONTACT

Search Neffmusic

You are here: Home / Reviews / Mouthpiece Reviews / Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews / Tenor Medium Baffle Reviews / Phil Barone NY Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece

Phil Barone NY Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece

May 3, 2011 by Steve 6 Comments

This is a Phil Barone NY model tenor mouthpiece I have for a review today.  As you can see from the pictures, this mouthpiece has been heavily used by some past owners……………not the prettiest mouthpiece I’ve had on here.  The gold plating is all worn off and there is some corrosion on the brass.  Sometimes mouthpieces that look like this make me more curious about them because obviously someone played the tar out of it and loved it at some point.  When I’m looking on ebay at mouthpiece, I’m much more interested in the old florida link that looks awful than the shiny brand new looking florida link that looks like it has never been played.  My first thought is that the shiny one probably hasn’t been played for a reason…………..the awful looking one has been played to death for a reason.

Phil Barone NY 7* Tenor Sax Mouthpiece

If any of you have been with me from the very beginning of this site, you might remember that the very first mouthpiece I reviewed was a Phil Barone NY model that had been refaced 3 or 4 times.  I had a hard time with that piece.  I remember I just couldn’t get any power or projection out of it.  I sent it away to get refaced and every time it came back it was better but not where I wanted it.  I ended up selling it to someone who loved the sound clip I did with it.

Now I should mention, that I did play a NY model way back around 2001 that I received on trial from WWBW.  I ordered 6 or 7 Barone mouthpieces from them to try.  I happened to love the NY model.  I took it on a gig and it was great.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t sure if it was worth the money compared to my Sugal I had then and I sent it back.  I have thought about that Barone NY quite a bit since then.  This was all before I had this website.  I also had 3 jazz models and 2 Hollywoods over those years.  I always got on great with the Jazz models but I played a lot of R&B and Pop music and always ended up feeling like they were too dark for that style of music.  The Hollywoods were better but they lost the dark fat sound I liked about the jazz and were to far on the bright side of things for my tastes.

This NY model reminds me of that NY Barone I tried from WWBW years ago.  It has a fattness and thickness to the sound but also has tons of power and brightness in the sound when pushed.  This  mouthpiece is a good example of a healthy resistance.   I feel like I’m blowing against something and that helps me to shape and mold the sound the way I want.  I have noticed that mouthpieces with this kind of resistance take some getting used to.  My Lamberson J7 is like this also.  You have to really play it for awhile and get used to it.  If you jump to it from a more free blowing mouthpiece it feels stuffy and hard to blow.  My Lamberson is the same way……… If you stay on it though it really feels great after a little while.

Phil has an interesting technique in that he pinches the sides of  his tips so they are much slimmer than in the middle of the tip rail.  I’m not sure why he does this or where he got it from? I’ve never seen another mouthpiece maker do this and I think it is original to Barone mouthpieces.  The reed still seals great and I actually like the way many of the Barones I have played have responded.  I’m not sure if that is because of the tip technique or something else like the facing curve.

Phil is a big fan of taking more mouthpiece into your mouth so that the reed can vibrate to it’s full capacity.  This mouthpiece does play  with a bigger fuller sound when I take in more that is for sure.

Phil Barone NY 7* Tenor Sax Mouthpiece

Take a listen to the sound clips and the other Barone examples on my site.  If your interested in a Barone mouthpiece contact Phil Barone through his website at http://philbarone.com/ .  Let me know what you think.  Thanks,   Steve

https://public.neffmusic.com/BaroneNY2011.mp3

https://public.neffmusic.com/Barone%20Funky.mp3

Funkier sound

Filed Under: Tenor Medium Baffle Reviews, Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: Ny model, Phil Barone, saxophone mouthpiece, tenor sax

Steve

About Steve

Steve Neff has been playing and teaching saxophone and jazz improvisation around the New England area for over 30 years. He is the author of many best selling jazz improvisation methods as well as founding the popular jazz video lesson site Neffmusic.com.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarJared says

    May 25, 2011 at 12:53 pm

    Hey Steve,

    This piece sounds like it has a really strong core and adds a great bottom to your sound (thinking of bob berg). Really resonant without being too edgy.

    One thing about barone’s plating: When he makes mouthpieces, he never adds silver before the gold. Basically, it’s just gold plating on bare brass. It comes off within a couple of weeks of playing any of his pieces. Guardala use to do the same thing for his pieces. it sucks, but at least if it’s bar brass you can send it out to get plated the right way.

    Reply
  2. AvatarEgilF. says

    August 20, 2011 at 7:04 pm

    Nice sound! Does the Phil Barone have a thin tip like the handmade Guardalas or a wider tips like the old Berg Larsen?
    EgilF.

    Reply
  3. AvatarAndysax says

    May 23, 2012 at 3:11 am

    I have one of these little beauties (it`s a 8* opening) and love playing it, I totally agree with you as far as the resistance concerns. Besides, I played mine for a while although it had a very bad facing, the rails and tip were uneven and yet, surprisingly, sound came out nicely on the low ans well as on the altissimo register, no squeaks or stiffness. Amazing. I sent it for a refacing to equalise the rails and I’m looking forward to see if it worth the effort, I`m sure it will be a great piece!

    Reply
  4. AvatarLarry Weintraub says

    January 15, 2018 at 8:13 pm

    Steve: I think it sounds good. You sound good on it. Dan Higgins the Hollywood Studio has said this. “Instead of changing mpcs to get a brighter or darker sound, change your reed. So if you want a brighter sound choose a brighter reed, a darker sound, choose a darker reed.” He uses a STM older metal Link on tenor on just about all his tenor dates.

    What do you guys think it that concept?

    Reply
  5. AvatarGustavo says

    July 21, 2019 at 10:57 pm

    Hello Steve .. I think the darkness or brilliance in the middle end is defined by the cane
    I would like to know what brand and model of tenor saxophone you use in that recording and which one you usually use.
    What do you think of the tenor sax is Phil Baróne and if he compares in quality of construction and sound with some measure of Selmer ( sa80,SBA,MK6,MK7 )

    Reply
    • SteveSteve says

      July 22, 2019 at 11:15 am

      Gustavo, That was a Selmer SBA (Super Balanced Action) I was using. I have used that sax on all my tenor mouthpiece reviews. On alto sax I use a Selmer Reference 54 alto sax. I have never tried a Phil Barone saxophone so can’t answer your question about their build quality. Steve

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Cart

Subscribe to the Neffmusic Newsletter for the latest reviews and best deals delivered straight to your inbox every month. Join now and you will also receive my 40 Ultimate Michael Brecker Licks free!

Select list(s) to subscribe to


Thanks for joining!


NEFFMUSIC PRINTED BOOKS

Testimonials

Steve really changed my way of practicing: I got a whole lot of new ideas for my playing the tenor.  His lessons are really helpful, give a lot stuff to practice and give clear answers to complicated stuff.  Steve has a lot of humor and I wish I had laughed so much in my former days with the horn.  All topics, from Blues to Approach note are dealt with clearness that wet ones appetite to play and practice that great ideas.
Uwe
Hey Steve, My name is Jason Freese and I play keyboards and sax in the band Green Day.  I grew up taking sax lessons from Eric Marienthal when I was a kid and got out of it for a long time. I ran into you on youtube while searching for sax stuff. I bought a whole bunch of your lessons and have been loving it! Thanks! Here is my wikipedia so you can see the albums I’ve played on….Thanks again. It’s sparked my interest in practicing again.   Jason
Jason Freese (sax player for Green Day)

Hello Steve,

I just want to say thank you so much for your unbelievable work, it is just mind opening, thanks for sharing it.

Wolfgang from Berlin

Wolfgang from Berlin
For anyone living in remote areas away from live jazz sax teachers, Neff is the way to go. In fact this is a great resource for anyone seriously interested in mastering the sax. I’ve never been disappointed in a lesson.
Oliver
Steve’s monthly lessons are entirely valuable. Without brow beating, he tells you all the stuff you deep down know you really should be working on, instead of just relying on the same old patterns. In spite of the fact that you’re taking a video lesson, Steve’s presentation is comfortable and “real”. In a little more than a year, he’s developed a library of lessons that seem to offer any player a lifetime’s worth of practice material. I’m just glad I stumbled upon it.… Read more
Grant

Hello Steve, I’m getting so much out of your lessons and books, amazing how much one may think one knows, there is always a new frontier or new way to view something you think you had somewhat down. You have taken it all to a new level and am so grateful. Your lessons are so down to earth and understandable and clear!  Thanks so much Steve! Cheers, Eddie

Eddie Parente
Just to say thanks for your advice and lessons.  I’ve just read your amazing story.  I really appreciate what you do in regards to teaching.  I have bought a couple of your lessons and frankly they’re undersold.   I’ve learned much more with these two lessons than with 2 years of sax teachers.   Thanks so much………..
Mike
I can’t say enough about my membership at Neff Music. Steve has taken the mystery out of playing the saxophone well and improvising both jazz and rock music. Like most struggling players I have a load of all sorts of books on my shelf just gathering dust. Books that I didn’t understand or know how to put to use…or just have the time to go threw them. Steve’s lessons really simplify things and he puts it in a way that I can understand. They inspire me to keep pushing and having him as my guide or… Read more
Ken

Steve,

I have played for many years and have enjoyed going “back to the basics” in some of your lessons!  You have such a gift for explaining concepts.  As I have gotten older, some of the basic things have gotten muddled because I just play, not knowing why.  As I refresh myself with “why”, it increases my confidence and expands my playing.  Thank you so much for using your gift!  You are a blessing!

Julia
I am enjoying your style of teaching, and you’ve done a great job with the videos….good sound quality and well constructed lessons.  Balances the more guitaristic material found on the majority of guitar based programs.  Jazz vocab is what I’m all about at this point in the journey.   I especially dig the fact that you’ve studied with Bergonzi…helps me see his voluminous output in a more  bite sized way.
Milton
By the way, BIG COMPLIMENTS to you, Steve! Not only are you a great player, you are also a great teacher! I, too, am a woodwinds player/teacher. I have new inspiration to play and teach because of you. The concepts and “thinking” is similar to what I already learned in College, but hearing you explain and PLAY the concepts REALLY MAKES THE DIFFERENCE! Also, your written patterns are more interesting than other books I have seen! Keep up the good work. I will be recommending your sit… Read more
I will be recommending your site to others!
I just joined Neff Music last month. I can’t tell you how excited I’ve been to be able to pick back up on lessons. I’ve been in a rut and you got me out! I’ve especially appreciated the Lesson Path section. It was so clear I knew exactly where to jump in and start. Many many thanks!
Karin

After reading your story I will never feel quite right about complaining about any of my MINOR health issues!!    God bless Steve and I really hope that your health doesn’t stop you from fulfilling your calling.    These books have been such a help to open up my jazz vocabulary…   Thanks so much for sharing your story and for providing these great teaching tools…   John Leclerc   Saxophonist / composer/ EWI player and professional working musician of 35 years….

John Leclerc
I have found your videos and publications inspiring and your contribution to the world of saxophone playing is immense. Paul
Paul
I’ve been downloading your lessons for 4 months now (20 lesson) and I have noticed tremendous growth in my playing thus far! I’m so happy that I stumbled upon your site!
Bob
Thank you for the wealth of helpful lessons you’ve provided over the years.  I truly feel as though it has improved my playing more than the 4 years I spent at Berklee… and that’s not a slight on the school as I loved my experience there.
John
John
Hi Steve, I live in a gorgeous but rural area of Oregon-no music store within 80 miles. Your lessons are my lifeline!  Truly the best there are anywhere online. Love your playing. Love your teaching.  Thanks again. Ed
Ed Woodmansee

I must say again how much I appreciate all your material. Including the video tutorials. It help keep me focused and knowing what to aim for. And your laid back teaching style appeals to me too. 

Thanks

P

P

Steve,  Just want to say thanks for all you are doing for all of us. I’ve learned more from you than anyone else in my 40 years of playing.

If you can give some tips on One Note Samba, Ceora, and Wave… that would be cool.  I really like learning how you apply your concepts to actual songs!

Have a great year,

Kevin Ledbetter

I've learned more from you than anyone else in my 40 years of playing.
I want to let you know that your instructional material is transforming my playing.  It is an immense pleasure to learn and play now, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am. The instructional material I got from you is by far the best of any I own (and I have over 100 books, DVDs, and what not). I literally can’t thank you enough! Deric
Deric

I want to thank you again, because, not only are you an inspiration to listen to, you are a fine teacher!

I have been teaching sax and other winds for over 20 years, and you give me that “push” to give my students more!

Mark Peotter

Mark Peotter
Hi Steve, I have been shedding your materials for quite a while now and I love them! They are extremely well organized and presented and there are tons of ’em! I really appreciate your methodical approach and find myself referring students to your resources often.  Thanks so much!  
Kenyon Carter

Never really had lessons before just kinda worked things out on my own. Was in a rut but your lessons are really helpful in opening melodic possibilities. Ur an awesome resource to the saxophone community. Thanks for sharing. 

Anthony
Thanks so much for putting all this great learning material out there. I don’t often have the time to take a lesson with a teacher, so the ability to download lessons is really invaluable. My playing has improved enormously (I think :)) – and the lessons are so varied there’s always something to be inspired by. Incredible value too!
Roger

Featured Video Lessons

  • Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book) Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $19.99 Original price was: $19.99.$14.99Current price is: $14.99.
  • The Secret to Modern Outside Jazz Lines Lesson-Minor The Secret to Modern Outside Jazz Lines Lesson-Minor $9.99
  • Creating Modern II-V-I Lines with Simple Pentatonics Lesson Creating Modern II-V-I Lines with Simple Pentatonics Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson
    Rated 4.91 out of 5
    $9.99
  • The Secret to Altissimo (no one has ever told you about before) Lesson The Secret to Altissimo (no one has ever told you about before) Lesson
    Rated 4.75 out of 5
    $9.99

Now over 600 video and audio lessons to choose from!

Free Lessons

  • Free Lesson on The New Ultimate II-V-I Primer-Major Keys
  • Free Video Lesson on Mastering Altered Pentatonics
  • Free Video Lesson on Mastering the Blues Scale Volume 1 & 2
  • Free Video Lesson on Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale and Language Book 1 & 2
  • Free Video Lesson on Approach Note Velocity Book

Recent reviews

  • Bebop Scale-Altered Scale II-V-I Practice Lesson Bebop Scale-Altered Scale II-V-I Practice Lesson by Noah
  • Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book) Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book) by Andy
  • Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book) Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Russ
  • Creating Modern II-V-I Lines with Simple Pentatonics Lesson Creating Modern II-V-I Lines with Simple Pentatonics Lesson
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Timothy
  • The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Ray Holland

Footer

Recent Comments

  • Perry on Will the Real Michael Brecker’s Sax Mouthpiece Please Stand Up?
  • Steve on Will the Real Michael Brecker’s Sax Mouthpiece Please Stand Up?
  • Perry on Will the Real Michael Brecker’s Sax Mouthpiece Please Stand Up?
  • Dominique on Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
  • Felipe on Drake Jerry Bergonzi Master Series Power Resonance 7* Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

Top rated products

  • Mastering the Major Bebop Scale & Sound (Digital PDF Book) Mastering the Major Bebop Scale & Sound (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $14.99
  • Tune of the Week-Softly as a Morning Sunrise Lesson Tune of the Week-Softly as a Morning Sunrise Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • The Style of Dexter Gordon-Lady Bird Lesson 1 The Style of Dexter Gordon-Lady Bird Lesson 1
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Tune of the Week-Days of Wine and Roses Lesson Tune of the Week-Days of Wine and Roses Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Tune of the Week-Invitation Tune of the Week-Invitation
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99

Product tags

alto sax alto saxophone approach notes audio lesson bebop scale beginner beginner saxophone blues blues licks blues patterns blues scale blues scales diminished scale dominant chords ear training fundamentals II-V-I improvisation jazz improvisation jazz lines jazz patterns jazz sax jazz saxophone jazz standard jazz standards licks Mastering the Blues Scale Michael Brecker modern improv modern improvisation online lesson patterns playing outside practice habits reading music sax basics sax lessons saxophone scales smooth jazz steve neff tenor sax tenor saxophone video lesson video lessons
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • SUPPORT

Neffmusic © 2005–2025