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The baritone and bass saxophones are truly unique within the saxophone family. Of the 14 different varieties of saxophone originally conceived by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s, these two instruments produced the deepest, lowest notes, much different from the alto, tenor, and soprano saxophones you are probably most familiar with. That's not to say these instruments don't have a place in the history of popular music, quite the contrary actually. The bass saxophone played an integral role in building the drama of West Side Story thanks to Leonard Bernstein's famous score. Even today, bands and artists such as Arcade Fire, Bon Iver, Feist, and Tom Waits all make use of the incredibly distinct bass saxophone on their records and during their live shows. Baritone saxophones, on the other hand, are very popular with military bands as well as in jazz and blues circles. Both of these instruments are highlighted by deep, rich tones that are certain to captivate.
One thing that you should be aware of is that baritone and bass saxophones are rarely a "starting point" for musicians. Usually saxophonists will fine tune their skills on one of the more common saxophones like alto or tenor, and then make the leap to this level. Because of this, most bass and baritone saxophones are designed with intermediate and professional players in mind. Of course, this fact can make shopping for your saxophone a far more straightforward process. Many of these saxophones come in several different finishes which can affect your sound, including bright sounding silver-plating and warmer sounding gold-plating. Have a look around here, with so many options, you will have no trouble finding the perfect bass or baritone saxophone for you.
Woodwind & Brasswind carries top brands such as P. Mauriat and Yanagisawa. There are also many saxophone resources such as Saxophone Buying Guide, How many saxophones should I own? and Tips for becoming a saxophonist.
