Klarinet Archive - Posting 000148.txt from 1994/02

From: Cary Karp <nrm-karp@-----.SE>
Subj: Re: Buffet Elite
Date: Sat, 12 Feb 1994 22:21:08 -0500

I'm posting this response to a personal inquiry from Jordan Selburn to the
entire clarinet list, just in case others who read my comments on the Buffet
Elite may have registered similar concern. (I apologize to Jordan for not
first having obtained his permission for posting material from a private
communication.)

Jordan wrote:

> One question, however - you mentioned that you thought the one
> bad aspect to the Elite was poor quality wood. How does this manifest
> itself - in the instrument's sound (which I gather you liked quite a bit),
> in reliability (maybe cracking), longevity or in some other aspect?

The wood is probably no worse than anything else that anyone is using. For
all I know, not keeping a particularly close eye on that aspect of current
industry practice, it may even be above average.

What disappointed me was that no apparent attempt was made to match the
wood used for the individual joints in terms of grain or color. For the
premium price I feel that this is something that should not be a problem.
Also, the bell on one of my Elites has a patched knot. Once again,
although it may be hard to find a clean piece of large diameter wood, I
expect the trouble to have been taken with Buffet's flagship instrument.

None of these gripes should have any implications whatsoever for the
mechanical or acoustic reliability of the wood, in either the short or
long term; nor can I imagine that they could make the slightest musical
difference. I have no regrets or second thoughts, whatsoever, about
having popped for the extra bucks.