R1 Jazz Bari in Vintage Slvrplate Vs. The Blk Nckl SX-90

[jjgold]

After about a 2 hr comparison. I am giving my vote to the R1. I am going to post an extensive finding but thought I would tease you all a little!!! :D

[Randall]

:lol: It took you 2 hours to figure it out!?

Seriously tho, looking forward to reading your impressions.

[jjgold]

Randall you Sly Dog :P Actually...I did not spend much on the SX after playing the Rampone.

KeyWork: I would give this close to a tie. I have never really been a fan of the SX-90 keyboard. I always felt like I was stretching. The R1 is a little different and I think I have already adapted. The Left Hand Palm keys on the R1 are PERFECT. I thought the SX would be quicker but they were very comparable in speed

Sound: Well The bore on the Rampone is BIGGER than the SX-90. i do think the sound is bigger than the SX. I think the eveness of scale is MUCH better on the R1. I seem to be having a little bit of issue with the intonation on the R1. Palm keys are way better on the R1. The R1 seems to also speak better in all registers. Advantage by a decent margin goes to the Rampone.

Intangibles: Well my R1 is vintage silver. It is one of the best looking baris I have seen. Let's face it the SX is killer as well. The hand made attibutes and the nuances of the R1 is realy something. It is kinda neat to know that someone put some elbow grease into this horn.

You know I could of been happy with the SX for a very long time. If I were to compare the 2 before I bought the SX I would of bought the Rampone. This things just got something that is a different animal. I am still inclined to like my Couf Alto(I actually had 2 Superba 1 and a Royalist)as much as my Rampone Alto, but I am much more impressed with the Bari!

[Morry]

Glad you like the R&C. That way, I don't feel so bad taking that crappy JK off your hands. lol

[Randall]

Hey Morry, congrads onthe SX purchase...welcome to the club.
So Morry, do you think I should now send JJ a few pix of MY satin silver SX90R? :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

JJ, I'd love to give the RC a toot myself....

[Morry]

Yeah, I told him that those baris of yours are the most beautiful horns I'd ever seen.

[jjgold]

Well After spending a alot of time on both horns...The Rampone is the FIRST Low A Bari I have ever played that gives me the sound of a Low Bb through all registers. The layout of the keys is still a little odd for me. The top hand seems to have to wrap around the horn. It is the first low a horn that does not seem to putter out also. Regardless of how much air I put through it, it still seems like it will take more...Kinda Like a Good Martin, or King. If I get totally acclimated to the keywork, it could the HOLY GRAIL! The Kelwerth has the more traditional layout (just always far apart). When I compare the sound on each, I feel Like I lose a little bit of nuance or character to the sound on the SX. My right hand is still getting sore I am not sure if it is from A/B the SX but I don't think so.Maybe I am just getting old and any Bari will give this older joints aches. :cry:

[Captain Beeflat]

jjgold.
If it is of any comfort, or indeed comparable, I found the keywork on my R1 tenor awkward & somewhat heavy initially. Now after a year, every other horn seems awkward. If your experience is the same as mine, after a month or so it will be perfect.

[bkiser]

I agree- initially I missed the keywork on my Selmer SA80 alto, but now that Ive been playing on the R&C for awhile, even my old horn which I played for 15 years felt weird (and the sound seemed so totally lifeless).

[jjgold]

More on the Bari...OK....this is THE HOLY GRAIL....I want to say it is not... But I have spent a very hard 15-20 hrs on it. It is the best speaking Bari I have ever played and owned. I find that when I am sitting (when I decide to play in another jazz orchestra, how often do I stand) it is also one of the most comfortable baris to get around on. The response is also better than any bari I have played on. I was gettin around the Omnibook for about an hour and things just kinda fell into place. I did not have to be as cognizant to what I was reading. Anybody who owns a very good vintage horn knows what I am saying...that has always been something that the new horns lack. It is a sort of X factor. My The Martin Tenor seems like it wants to dance and sing. That is the way this Bari is. I have yet to find that in the Rampone Alto. I am not much of a alto player though. Good Horns to me seem to promote the player to play melodically. Am I a)babbling b) making a little sense, or c) just having a flashback from college when someone dropped something in my brew :roll: . Anyhow, I am not sure the negatives. Uh it is a little more of a spread sound, Can't really explain it not spread just more filling, not centered. the bell on this horn is BIGGER than SX. I want to go join my old band so I can't really munch those pesky trumpets and trombones. Anyonw who had the bari chair in a section knows what I am saying.

[jjgold]

Uh there was alot of ? marks I missed and I meant to say "I CAN really munch those...." I hate when jerks get on the web and taught how great something is..... :roll:

[Ratxa_Palhetax]

I have tried a selmer supe action 80 series II baritone and it was great...but expensive also :| .....
the question is:
R&C baritone is better than Selmer series II??????
R&C seems good to me....but here in Portugal I can´t find any dealers! :(

[josephyorio]

I've got an SX from 93. I love it. I've recently played a low Bb Mark VI and I think I realize what I'm missing. I'd love to get a Keilwerth low Bb or maybe a Couf might be easier to come across. I'm excited to hear you say that the R&C has the characteristics of a low Bb with a low A. Where can I try one??? Does saxforte have baritones in stock? I'm real hesitant to up and order a low Bb from Keilwerth. I might be able to try one in Europe. Haven't seen any in the states. I dig the sound of gold. So many options. R&C sounds very inviting!

Thanks for your help!
Joe

[newking70]

there's a couf 2 on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=16233&item=7323761717&rd=1