Rampone & Cazzani finishes

[cab888]

Hello,
I have had the opportunity to try a Rampone curved soprano (sanded silver), a few days ago, and was amazed with the power and sound of that horn.

Still, I thought it was pretty ugly in that finish (sorry for those of you who own one of these, tastes are personal... No offense !).

Then I saw a vintage gold plated one and thought it looked great !

I read on this site that lots of you were more considering with the silver ones, and I wondered what could we say about the difference between vintage gold, vintage silver or sanded ones...

I also red that the R1 jazz was less buzzy than the R1, so if the gold is less buzzy than the silver, the gold R1 jazz must be really dark !!!

:?

Any thoughts ?

[Dave Dolson]

cab: I owned two gold-plated Rampones and one silver-plated. The two GP's were a tipped-bell soprano and a sopranino; the silver-plate was an alto. The finish doesn't matter, as has been discussed on SOTW ad nauseum. They were all very nice instruments but I've moved them on to other players. As good as they were, I liked other saxophones better.

I wonder if those who said one model buzzes while another doesn't buzz, are basing that statement on one example? Probably. Any buzziness most likely could be attributed to the individual horn, not its finish.

I think that any well-made curved soprano will leave you believing the thing is powerful. Just the mere fact that the bell comes back in your face creates a feeling (and an earfull) of power. Out front, there is little difference.

The Rampones are fine saxophones. DAVE

[SaxyAcoustician]

Dave, what soprano(s) are you playing now?

[Dave Dolson]

The majority of the time, I use my straight '28 Buescher TT. DAVE

[cab888]

Thanks for your answers Dave,

Still, I was in the shop to try a curved yanagisawa (SC901), and the seller told me to compare it with another while testing it. I usually play a selmer SIII silver sop, and the yani sounded not much more powerful to me. But the Rampone blew me away ! I was completely amazed by it with the power it could have without blowing hard !

So to me, it wasn't only a matter or curved soprano. Or maybe I have been trying an exceptional horn ? I hope not !...

My SIII sop is cool, but I have been trying the RnC curved, and a MkVI, and they both were really fun to play... My idea was to get a rampone because the VI are not always good, and not fun with fingers...


I am looking for a 'top-of-the-tops' soprano, and I was wondering what you were thinking to be your best choice.

Thank you guys !

[Dave Dolson]

cab: ALL saxophones vary, even multiple examples of the same model. The closest I've ev er come to finding mulitple examples of the same model with similar playing characteristics is the Selmer Ref 54 altos.

I had a Serie III silver sop (purchased new) but sold it when I bought a new Yanagisawa S992. I still have the S992 and don't miss the Selmer (which had fatal flaws that have been thoroughly documented here in the past). All of the other Serie III sops I've tried have been mediocre. I know some players love theirs - I've just never had a good experience with one. Same with MKVI's (I owned one of those, too).

My favorite curvy is my own SC902. I almost bought a new Cannonball a couple of weeks ago. It was VERY nice but after doing a one-hour side-by-side with my SC902, I decided I didn't need a second curved sop.

I've played a bunch of curved sops over the years - owned four. My SC902 is the best of the bunch (includes SC901's, SC991's, Conns, Bueschers, CB's, and assorted others). I have not experienced a Rampone curved sop, though. I recognize that any Rampone is probably good. It is just that I have no need for anything other than my SC902. It IS that good.

Like I said before, curved sops are deceiving to the player. Before putting down the money for that Rampone, you may want to take someone else along to listen to several sops from a distance. It is what's out front that counts, although I'll agree that a curved sop can be valuable to the player when playing in tasteless amplified environments. DAVE