I've been playing on this instrument for a couple of weeks and find it a revelation for the price.
I normally play a Buffet RC Prestige (Selmer Eb, Backun Bass) but, being a multi-instrumentalist, always wanted to try a plateau model. My fear was that the sound would be stifled and stuffy. After years of searching for a cheap instrument I had to try this RZ.
I couldn't believe how free blowing and open the sound is, or that the tone is no different to my wood clarinets. Intonation is better than my RC Prestige, the throat notes are clear, the bell notes rich and full. There are many adjustment screws to easily keep the keys regulated... what more could I want? Well, the option of an 18th key, an alternative left hand Eb/Ab would be nice, and the keyed B/F# takes getting used to (maybe because if the plateau keywork) also the throat keys have very strong springs, but that's easy to adjust.
I tried several different mouthpieces (Selmer Concept and C85/120, Vandoren M30, Gleichweit 7-1, Lisconstini MM/9) and found that they all worked well but could sound slightly bright until I increased my reed strength. I had been concerned that the barrels supplied (65 and 67) were, for me, long and that I would have trouble getting up to pitch. This was not the case.
Conclusion: a really good instrument with first rate build quality.
I have no reserves about playing it at my next orchestral concert and only wish that RZ would make an 'A' instrument to match. If you live in a climate with extreme temperature variations this instrument takes all those 'cracking' worries away... Wonderful!
