Lot of folks looking, but no feedback. I wonder if this means nobody keeps their R&C's very long.....kinda doubt it. Maybe long term impressions aren't great, but that would get me back to people not keeping their R&C's and there would be a lot more used horns for sale... wouldn't there?

 

I don't have a tenor but I do own one of the R1 Jazz sopranos. Bought it new, gold plated in 2006. After an initial setup (minor tweaks) by my favorite tech it hasn't bulged at all in these past 10 years. I just love it and would not trade it for any other soprano.

 

Grazie. I appreciate the feedback.

 

Maybe PM Pete Thomas, he plays a Two Voices tenor model

 

Buddy - Thanks I'll do that.

 

Similar experience here.
Bought my R1 tenor new in 2004...heavily gold plated with burnished gold keys & bell interior.
Really gorgeous sound; I chose not to have the R1 Jazz in that the sound is in the player not the material.
Despite owning several tenors including a Grassi Pro 2000, nothing approaches the sound & ease of playing of the R&C.
I adore it.

 

Captain - Thanks for the feedback. I really love the look of these horns, but with no US distributors anywhere in sight the chances of seeing one in person or trying one out is nigh on impossible. The feed back from the owners on this forum (and cafesaxophone) are the only things to go on - so again much appreciated. Also wish you all the best based on the post from Jazz Is All.

 

my hands tend to get sweaty though less so as I've gotten older.
How would that effect unlacquered brass or gold or silver plate?

thanks

 

my hands tend to get sweaty though less so as I've gotten older.
How would that effect unlacquered brass or gold or silver plate?

Gold is inert, so that is least affected.

I have owned/played a Borgani Jubilee in silver plate for almost 10 years, and it shows no wear. I wipe it off after playing, and that's about it. I understand that the R&C silver plate is similarly heavy (thick), in contrast to the plating on many Taiwanese brands that seems to wear quickly.

Unlacquered brass is the most reactive, and, if not rigorously wiped clean of sweat, will show verdigris. Sweat will likely take it to green.

 

What do they cost, new?

 

http://www.sax.co.uk/?searchStr=rampone+tenor

 

You can make huge deal with used R1 Jazz.
Even if you with and older version (pre-2009 horn).

You get it for less than a half of the price new.
You get a Mk II or (now) a Mk III.
A good overhaul... and that's it.

Honestly I (definitely) don't like the way the horns come, setted up, from the factory.
Some top shops (like Sax.co.uk) have all instruments to setted up for a proper operation, including R&Cs.

I tried a brass-silver Two Voices tenors, originally bought from Sax.co.uk... they "replaced" many things on the instruments and they fixed every issue (minor and major).

A good technician (skilled and sensitive to a non-standard type of instrument) and you have made the deal... if you are into this kind of instrument.
A R1 Jazz is not a Mark VI, you can't have it setted up like VI: it comes out a nightmare to play!).



Lupifaros, I guess, they are just another vintage Selmer-style instruments, with a good strong marketing.

 

You can make huge deal with used R1 Jazz.
Even if you with and older versione (pre-2009 horn).

You get it for less than a half of the price new.
You get a Mk II or (now) a Mk III.
A good overhaul... and that's it.

Honestly I (definitely) don't like the way the horns come, setted up, from the factory.
Some top shops (like Sax.co.uk) have all instruments to setted up for a proper operation, including R&Cs.

I tried a brass-silver Two Voices tenors, originally bought from Sax.co.uk... they "replaced" many things on the instruments and they fixed every issue (minor and major).

A good technician (skilled and sensitive to a non-standard type of instrument) and you have made the deal... if you are into this kind of instrument.
A R1 Jazz is not a Mark VI, you can't have it setted up like VI: it comes out a nightmare to play!).
Lupifaros, I guess, they are just another vintage Selmer-style instruments, with a good strong marketing.

This is a rather old thread,so forgive the update, yet I'd like to offer a bit more information. I purchased a R&C Bronze tenor with SS neck a while ago form the same Sax co. UK. I was able to compare it with many other top horns and it had something different that I liked, but was set up horribly, yet without much effort fixable. I hung around the shop trying out various other horns while they did the "adjustments". Eventually it came back and was magic. It only needed one other bit of adjustment to make the pinky C# to Bb smoother and the sale was done. The horn has not varied at all since. The tone is spread with heaps of harmonics (what I like) and the bottom end luscious. The only real thing that's different or (for some) could be more difficult, is that the horn takes a lot of air compared to any other horn I've played. If you can give it more air there is almost no limit to how loud this horn can play...but it can also whisper.

 

That's the spirit! What is fun about a vacation without visiting a sax shop or two? R&C and/or Borgani are in my visit list next time I go to Italy. Enjoy!

 

I wanted to spend a day or afternoon in the paris selmer store.

But my wife and I had only one week in Paris. And really, with all the stuff to see and eat and do in Paris, I could not fit it in. Maybe in the future...

I would love to visit the R&C company in Italy. It sounds so idyllic.

Wished I could try one near me. The big bore described by Tzadik feels a little daunting.

 

I had a Selmer Signet coin silver closed hole flute as my second flute in the early 70's.
The bore was bigger than any other flute that I saw.
I was somewhat of a beginner (maybe 3 years of playing) but even so I could tell that it took more air and sounded darker than other flutes.
Maybe it's that way with R&C.

 

..........it took more air and sounded darker than other flutes.
Maybe it's that way with R&C.

This is my thinking as well and it seems to be generally supported by the reviews or impressions people have shared of the R&C's - it is also one of the things that draws me toward these horns. I really like that dark, warm, lush sound.

Tadzik said.....

...................

Honestly I (definitely) don't like the way the horns come, setted up, from the factory.
Some top shops (like Sax.co.uk) have all instruments to setted up for a proper operation, including R&Cs.

I tried a brass-silver Two Voices tenors, originally bought from Sax.co.uk... they "replaced" many things on the instruments and they fixed every issue (minor and major).

What didn't you like about the setup? What did Sax.co.uk replace?

..........I would love to visit the R&C company in Italy. It sounds so idyllic.

That's another motorcycle trip no my bucket list - the Alps. All it takes is time and money. Both of which are in short supply lately.

 

I had the R1 jazz tenor for a short period of time. Loved the tone but the intonation was really tough. Changed the key heights, put some crescents, tried different MPs. After that and getting used to the horn, I became able to manage the intonation some how. But was still tough and so different than my other horns. So I sold it. It was before they came up with the different necks. I wish I still had it to try their other necks. If the intonation was more easy, then it would be the best modern horn for me.

 

That is surprising. I have no experience with their tenors but my soprano's intonation is spot on across the entire horn. Never had an issue with that.

 

I was into pop music... so I had to pay attention to everything concerning the performance. So I need the horn as much in tune as possible.
The factory setup can't give me an even pitch (and tone to me) through the all register... not as easily as after the accurate setup I had on my instrument.


The horn I tried came from Sax.co.uk (London store) but was not mine and I didn't tried there.
Awesome horn!
But I'm not a fan of Two Voices R&C... I don't like the sound: too hollow.

 

Hey I enjoyed reading this thread. I still play my R1 alto and sopranino. The R1 Jazz Bari not to often. When I get discouraged reading tgreads like this helps. I think the horns are different especially the baritone. So I am encouraged that I just need to work at it and it will come.

 

For those of you lucky enough to have some of the newer Rampone & Cazzani tenors (R1 Jazz) would you share your long term impressions of the instrument. From the forum it seems that people love these horns when they try them and first buy them, but how about a few years later? How have they held up/performed for you over the long haul? Initial build quality seems to be high. How has the finish, or lack thereof, held up/aged over the years? How have the various mechanisms held up?

Thanks

Old thread, but I thought I might add to this discussion. I've been playing a R1 Jazz Tenor (2006, silver plated) for 11 years as my only tenor horn. It holds up very well, nothing to complain about in the build quality, good mechanics. Finish holds up good.

Still satisfied with the horn, works great in blues and older jazz (very fat and big sound), but when I play more modern music I miss owning a Mark VI or similar. Another long term impression is that this horn needs to be practiced on. I find it harder to control than a Selmer, Yamaha etc, especially in the higher note range.