Rampone Saxello

[mountainman]

Can anyone give us a good read on the R&C saxello. How does the sound compare to a Selmer or a Keilwerth and how does it stack up from a playability standpoint?

[Dave Dolson]

I bought a new R&C tipped-bell sop from WW&BW a few years ago (gold-plated). It was a nice horn in all respects. I played it at a trad-jazz festival in Montana and some of the other well-known sop players just HAD to try it. Everyone was impressed with it. I had the same response at the San Clemente festival. A jazz reviewer even commented on the horn's tone after the San Clemente experience.

But like I've posted many times, the horn was difficult to lay down on stage when playing the alto or clarinet. I ended up hanging it upside down by the bell on a baritone sax stand. Not ideal - and risky. Never had a mishap with it but I was always apprehensive about the horn's safety.

I traded it away for a nice silver Buescher TT straight sop and never looked back, even though I got the small end of the deal financially.

I think it is difficult to compare brands - R&C to Selmer, etc. There are too many variables among saxophones, even of the same model. For sure, my R&C never had to go back to a tech once (multiple times for my Serie III soprano which eventually led me to sell it). If you have a line on one, I'd say take it. DAVE