[tjontheroad]

What do think is the current title holder of the best modern saxello (or tip bell and bent alt neck combo)? Is it Rampone and Cazzani, P. Mauriat, Cannonball or someone else?

No, I'm not looking to buy one right away. But, I have been staring at purty pictures lately

 

[Dr G]

R & C

 

[Dave Dolson]

I've played them all (at least that you listed, plus a couple of others - brands forgotten) and owned an R&C. I voted R&C. DAVE

 

[Guest]

My vote goes to Rampone as well and what with all the options you can ask for to get your handmade sax as personal as you want I think R & C are by far the most accomdating!

 

[bbbouklas]

I play tested the R&C saxello comparing it to several yanis s6, 901,991(with stock and silver neck), and the silver body Elimona model and a true tone poorly set up..
For me tone-wise the true tone(even though it was poorly set up) and the s6 were the best, then came the silver Elimona (split body), then the R&C and then the rest of the yanis.
Ergos on modern yanis were the best, s6 and true tone have some issues that are easy to overcome but the R&C was the WORST(by far) .. some features on the key layout were made in a way that made me wonder what was in their mind when they were designing this mechanism. The owner of the store and the tech agreed with me..
I went to that store and I really wanted to like that silver r&C saxello but after trying to play it there is no way I will ever buy one..
I don't know if this happened because I have large palms (this has never been an issue on any other sax, ever) , maybe it will fit someone with smaller palms.
Or maybe if I play only this horn for a month I would get used to it..

I haven't played on the Cannonball or Mauriat saxellos but I surely would not buy the R&C eventhough it looks amazing..
Clearly the toughest key layout out there..at least for me.

 

[tjontheroad]

They do "look" amazing. Makes me wonder why Yamaha and Selmer don't put out a version.

 

[Dr G]

I wonder why they don't make curvies... Certainly a straight body is the easiest to manufacture. Borgani uses a screw-on bell on their Jubilee straight sop - I should that that would be an easy avenue to make their straight sops with removable necks into saxellos.

Hey, you could have interchangeable necks AND bells! You heard it here first.

 

[wmclean]

I have never played the Cannonball, but the R&C Jazz beats the PM hands down

 

[Yellowhorn]

RC!

But, you are missing a major one from your list, I think: Borgani!

 

[Yellowhorn]

I also agree with wmclean that the PM is not in the same league as the RC (I have owned both).

 

[tjontheroad]

RC!

But, you are missing a major one from your list, I think: Borgani!

I knew I missed something :scratch:

 

[Michael Ward]

I've been entranced by the saxello for a long time because of Roland Kirk, Elton Dean and Bennie Maupin and when I first saw the Rampone I thought it looked nice but when I got one in my hands it felt a little flimsy..I was advised by a couple of people if I wanted the saxello "sound" to get an original King which I did. The Rampones I've heard sound good but to me sound like a modern soprano sax whereas the King sounds different. It has a lot of individual and unique character and I love this thing. Of course on looks alone it is amazing but the sound is the thing and the focussed power.
The ergos are fine. It has it's quirks but all of these can be got around and the payoff is well worth it. I find I'm picking it up more than my old V1 which I also love.

 

[tinpalaceroach]

I'll agree with Mike on this and the most important difference between a King Saxello and these modern tipped bell sopranos is the bore. none of these modern ones wether they are cheap or top dollar will ever sound like a King Saxello, some do go for the looks if nothing else.hey Mike i'll trade you a Selmer nino mark vi for your refurbished Saxello my fellow.

 

[Reedsplinter]

Is a tipped bell/curved neck sop the same thing as a saxello? We use the term interchangeably, but the King saxello had quite a different configuration, didn't it? Does any modern company make a 90-degree tipped bell? And does that make a difference in the end result?

 

[tinpalaceroach]

Reedsplinter, that is a good clear picture of a decent King Saxello, now take a good look at the smaller in size tone holes of this sax. i still say the bore is the biggest difference in comparing this and what other people call Saxellos today. the 90-degree tip of the bell is not what makes a Saxello sound the way it does. the quirkiness and intonation of these horns is a result of the bore and setup plus a mouthpiece that can bring out it inherent sound. an old teacher of mine John Purcell has one and plays it true to it's sound character. he use to play lead sax on it with the World sax Quartet and long ago when Jackie Byard's big band the Apollo Stompers played New York John was in the sax section playing only Saxello. on those nights when he wasn't sitting in there was a violinist sometimes in the second alto sax chair. it had a sound that stands on it's own in most settings.

 

[Michael Ward]

William how cool to see you here. Hope you're feeling better and resonating. As usual your anecdotes and knowledge are an inspiration..now 'bout that nino..

 

[CONN-hunter]

I'd like to hear Pete Thomas' opinion about this because he played some saxellos on the last music exposition in Frankfurt last month.
He told me he'd take a taiwan saxello instead the R&C.

good Taiwan sax have good craftmanship and the R&C's got bad reviews on the past concerning the finish quality (tone holeshave been uneven for example)
and for the price that they cost I' have the bias to choose a taiwan saxello.

The thread has the name "best modern saxelo" (not the same as best sounding saxello right?)

So, I'm going to own soon a CE Wings gold plated saxello made in Taiwan.

It sounds decent good, has a very good finish quality and cost much less (I confess it is not my review, I will can make my own report in some weeks)