Klarinet Archive - Posting 000652.txt from 1995/03

From: Lynn Thomas <thomas@-----.ORG>
Subj: Re: Buffet vs. Yamaha vs. Selmer :)
Date: Sun, 26 Mar 1995 16:33:21 -0500

As one of those 10G players with the bright piercing tone (the 333rd one
ever made, no less), I figure I wanna put my two cents in here.

I bought my B-flat about 22 years ago, at which time I tried out 13
Buffets and the 10G, and weeded it down to one Buffet and the G. At that
time I was playing on a Leblanc Noblet, my starter instrument. They
didn't make Yamahas in those days, and I don't know if I'd have bought
one of those at that time if they *had* made them. I've played on many
Yammies and they just don't sound, well, personal enough for me. That's
my taste. Back then, too, the Buffets that were being put out were made
of unripe wood and were terribly out of tune. However, at this point I
do recommend both Buffet and Yamaha student model horns to any student
who is not looking for a professional instrument, but wants one of some
decent quality. If you find that a lot of clarinetists in Texas are
playing Yammies over the Buffets, tho, I can bet you it's because they
have better salesmen in Texas than those of Buffet!

Recently I had the opportunity to play on some premier professional
instruments which Vince Marinelli brought back from the Buffet factory,
as my SO is looking for a new horn. These were horns that Vince (and
Marc Jacobi, his partner of sorts) thought should be reserved for only
the best professionals in the business. We both decided that his old
Buffet was still better, and that "even" my 10G was a better horn than
these were. BTW, Vince has opened his own shop outside of Wilmington,
for anyone interested.

I also have an old Selmer 10 A and Bb set with the articulated G# key,
plus a major dose of metal in between the middle joints...they were found in
the attic of an old pack rat, bought for a song, and rehabbed by Mike
Hammer, who dubbed them the "battle-axes." Vince says it would take a
sledgehammer to make them crack...They have very dark sound, more like a
Buffet than a Selmer, and I am looking to sell them if anyone is
interested. I've been using the A as my primary horn, but really want a
10G A - I have a thing for this bright sound, sorry, guys.

I guess the point is, no matter how many horns we try in our lives, we'll
always think there's something, or nothing, better out there. And it
*does* take work in finding one that's right for you. And then when you
do, you play it so much you blow it out and have to start all over again...

:) Lynn