Rossi C12 (Vilas clone...)
- Thread starter Moldyoak
- Start date
kevin qmto
Legend
It was made in the US, just like the Head Vilas. Maybe it was the same factory?NOS/never strung, still w/ original tag and cover (looks like some sun fading). Oh yeah, I'm going to string it and compare it to my incomparable army of Vilas racquets... (!!!)
Grafil Injection
Legend
I wish we got such detailed instruction books with rackets today! Good to hear you will string this up.
I don't care if it's a $10 'collectible' or a $1K collectible, I'm stringing it and using it! It's what they were made to do!
(I will admit, however, that I don't go all Boris Becker and dive/roll around the court with the old woodies...
)I don't know exactly to what era this pack of Bab VS 'all weather' dates, but I have a suspicion it's 1980s and it's black (cool!) so that's what I used. Actually, some of the easiest-stringing gut I've used in quite some time. I took it easy on the frame (for my preferences) and went 58 lbs. 
kevin qmto
Legend
My Head Vilas is 368g strung so not far off. With a 4 1/2 grip size. Honestly wonder if the only difference is the layup, where this Rossi is more traditional in nature and the Vilas has that expanded graphite band in the top of the hoop.
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Grafil Injection
Legend
Expanded fibreglass band you mean of course.
kevin qmto
Legend
Yes sorry
Grafil Injection
Legend
I've got probably 8 or more Vilas racquets in 4 1/2 and 4 5/8, just have not measured them yet. But would make an interesting comparison so will get on that shortly!
I have to tell you, I use woodies pretty much weekly, and I have a LOT of them. I realize everyone is different, but for me, after playing with these Vilas racquets everything else practically feels like slop. Slop I tell you!You're forgiven, but since I'm on a crusade against AI-slop:
Grafil Injection
Legend
My NOS but strung Vilas Tour is 384g, 33.75cm balance, for a LM3. Needless to say it hits superbly.
Grafil Injection
Legend
I have to tell you, I use woodies pretty much weekly, and I have a LOT of them. I realize everyone is different, but for me, after playing with these Vilas racquets everything else practically feels like slop. Slop I tell you!
I guess with 2 graphite laminations, 2 fibreglass facings and 1 fibreglass wedge, the Head Vilas is at the limit of being a 'woodie'.
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In retrospect I probably shouldn't call this a 'Vilas clone' as the Head Vilas is 18X19 and these are 18X20, the Vilas w/ 4 holes through the open throat and these Rossis use 8 (w/ the outer two really wedged into the upper inside curves). Also the Rossi - according to their own documentation - uses only maple while the Vilas looks to use more than just the single wood species. Not sure exactly, but it doesn't look entirely like maple.
Just as a side note, to derail my own thread, does anyone have photos of the prototype monoshaft from Head that Vilas was using concurrently (and apparently very briefly) while the open-throat model was being developed? Should be later half of 76 or early 77, potentially,
Just as a side note, to derail my own thread, does anyone have photos of the prototype monoshaft from Head that Vilas was using concurrently (and apparently very briefly) while the open-throat model was being developed? Should be later half of 76 or early 77, potentially,
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Frankc
Hall of Fame
Actually, makes me sad to see how this Rossi C-12 is just dripping with craft and quality - the attached card settles it in my mind. Miss all this in the world - vanishing all the time.
Back to the attached card - Love Rossignol's emphasis on the best natural gut , tight. Tight quality gut in a small wood frame has a distinctive feel - cannot be captured with composite frames and other strings. (Yet T515 came close in a small frame.)
In the day, if you could afford it or if you were at the very top level, tight natty G was the given with truly premier tennis.
Back to the attached card - Love Rossignol's emphasis on the best natural gut , tight. Tight quality gut in a small wood frame has a distinctive feel - cannot be captured with composite frames and other strings. (Yet T515 came close in a small frame.)
In the day, if you could afford it or if you were at the very top level, tight natty G was the given with truly premier tennis.
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