R&C for classical?

[RedBeren]

I'm finally in the market for a new horn, and I've heard a lot of great things about the R&C altos. I know how their sound is so different from the big 4, but how well does it contribute to playing classical (which is most of what I do)? I know their main line has "jazz" in its name, but I'm not sure if I buy into marketing hype. Do any of you out there use a Rampone for classical, or can give a comparison between the R&C altos and the Yanagisawa altos? Thanks.

[Dave Dolson]

RedBeren: Welcome to SOTW. I owned an R&C alto recently. It didn't sound any different than the seven other altos in my closet. If that's what you believe, it looks like you may have already bought into SOME hype.

And, I'm sure an R&C that is leak-free would be fine for classical - or jazz -or R&B - or CW - or whatever kind of music you want to push through it. The idea that one horn plays a type of music better than another is just more hype - or myth.

I've also owned two Yanagisawa altos. They were fine players - the one is now being played by my grandson in high school jazz band and he sounds fine in the lead alto chair.

We all have our favorite brands (mine are Buescher and Yanagisawa, but I also have three Selmers of various vintages), but the truth is that any well-made saxophone without leaks will work. DAVE