Klarinet Archive - Posting 000143.txt from 1995/06

From: "Lorne G. Buick" <lgbuick@-----.CA>
Subj: R-13 v Prestige
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 1995 19:23:31 -0400

>From: Talmage Powell <TPOWELL@-----.EDU>
>Subject: Re: clarinet shopping
>
>The difference between R13 and Prestige is silver plating on Prestige keys.
>Period.

Sorry, not good enough. When people ask a question here they deserve a
better answer. I can see from a cursory glance at a catalog that a) the
Prestige has different pads (Gore-Tex, no less!) and that the standard R-13
is available with silver plated keys.

When I played Buffet (five years ago or more) I was told that the Prestige
is made to the same bore specs as the R-13 but from the highest quality
pieces of grenadilla the factory received, and that greater care was taken
in bore finishing and tuning. My experience in trying out several bears
this out- I found the Prestige instruments to have a more homogeneous tone
in all registers and better intonation, yet I personally preferred the
standard R-13's (the best ones, anyway) because they seemed to have a more
lively, colourful sound.

Any list members playing Prestige? Why did you choose to pay the extra
$1,000 (or more as the case may be)? I'm sure it wasn't just for silver
plated keys (or the little silver plaque on the top joint).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
LGB Lorne G Buick Draft III Music
lgbuick@-----.ca Wind Music
Arranging, Copying, Publishing
Have basset horn, will travel