Sellmansberger Symphony vs Baer CC mouthpiece

[MartyNeilan]

I have owned both at one time or another, although unfortunately not at the same time for a back-to-back comparison. They both seem to be designed to do more or less the same thing, and are in the same size ballpark.
Rim differences aside, any opinions from someone who has owned both concurrently or played both back to back?

[Peach]

Having access to both of these here's my take:

(Highly scientific measuring method of using a tapered rod)

Cup depth is basically the same, as is the throat.
The Baer has straighter sides in the cup while the BP-Symph does its not-a-bowl-and-not-a-Helleberg thing.
The Baer has a fractionally more open backbore.

Both fine playing mouthpieces but the Baer sits unused on my shelf whilst the BP-Symph gets plenty of use. Never really got on so well with the Baer rim...

Mal

[ckalaher1]

I liked the Baer original CC until I switched to the PT-50L, but just never could warm up to the Houser-Sellmansberger. For me, the Baer simply had a more comfortable rim, and made for a more resonant sound. Then, like I said, I switched to the PT-50L, and haven't looked back since. I'm sure people have tons of different opinions on this topic as mouthpieces are truly a "to each his own" proposition.

[chronolith]

I was under the impression that there are a couple of Baer mouthpieces out there. I have a Bloke Symphony and a Baer MMVI that I own and have played side by side.

Both are very good mouthpieces but I always run back to the Bloke Symphony. The MMVI offers a very comfortable interface and in general I think is better at "speaking" with little effort. The Bloke with a #2 rim requires a little better set of habits and fundamentals to really get the most out of it, but if I am moving air properly I think it is hands down a better mouthpiece for me personally.

On a PT6 for example I found that the MMVI tends to suck the air out of me more quickly than the Bloke. Ultimately not a sound issue but there you have it. What really sealed the deal for me was the tone center offered by the Bloke Symphony. The core sound of the Bloke is much stronger and "electric". I have a much easier time finding that perfect intonation pocket with my orchestra and I am sure they have an easier time tuning to me also.

On my Neptune, the differences are still there but perhaps slightly diminished. At this moment my MMVI is relegated to rotation and experimentation. Recently I found that dropping the MMVI into my Mira 181 allows me to simulate a slightly larger horn sound for quintet work while helping to smooth out some intonation issues resident in F tubas all over.

So, another vote for Bloke.

[BuzzedB]

I have a blokepiece symphony and my friend had a MMVI at the time and I tried them both side by side and I found that if I was being consistent with my air that I could get much more projection and tone out of it than I could the Baer. Granted the Baer has a very comfortable rim and is a bit more user friendly with inconsistency from the player I still feel that the blokepiece is still a much better mouthpiece and that is why I still own mine and my friend doesn't own Baer anymore.

So +1 for the sellsmanberger on this side too.

[cjk]

Joe offers several styles and sizes of rims, which is one of the bigger 'pluses' to his mouthpiece line. If you really think you like the rim on the Baer mouthpiece, Joe offers something called a C4LA that's based on the same thing on which the Baer rim seems to be based.

[BuzzedB]

Ahh thank you cjk I was looking for a rim on it that would suit me better but I was a little confused as to the dimensions and shapes of them all. Does anyone know if bloke will be at tmea come February cause I would love to be able to try some of his rims (and also that Delrin cup extender thing)?

[stainlessmpman]

I will be at the TMEA in February. If Bloke is on his best behavior, he may be there with me - Dave Houser