Rampone and Cazzani R1 Saxello Heavy Gold Plate Near Mint

Description

This is my first experience with a Rampone soprano, let alone a saxello, and I am pretty impressed. This horn has the best-looking gold plate finish that I have seen on a modern horn, and it is a heavy gold plate that is much more generous than the electroplated horns that you see from other manufacturers today. The pad work feels good under the fingers, and the keywork is comfortable and modern. Although the horn feels modern, the tone is big and warm, more like a vintage Conn than like a Selmer or Yamaha, and that is a big plus in my opinion. The original case is also a very sensible design that will protec the horn very well, and that is light to pack around. I don’t notice any obvious intonation issues, and I’d be happy to play it with a tuner using a similar mouthpiece to yours and let you know what I notice, if anything. All in all, this is one sweet horn, and the saxello configuration is both cool-looking, and more comfortable, because it brings the horn’s weight down onto your neckstrap, and projects the sound out in front of you. These rarely come up for sale, so get this one now, and you’ll be into it way less than the new price, for a horn in near mint condition, with no wait time.

From a dealer website, we find this about Rampone and Cazzani in general: These beautiful Italian saxophones are still made using techniques from the “golden age” of sax making and consequently share many of the same qualities of those sought after vintage classics.

The same family have been making instruments in the tiny village of Quarna Sotto high in the Italian alps for nearly 200 years, in the same workshop and even using some of the original tools! These precious skills have been handed down to the current generation of 9 craftsmen, 6 of whom are family members. No other manufacturer can boast such tradition and this manifests itself in instruments that ooze character.